Description 

Southern part of Wallachia, close to the Danube.

It used to be called the Paris of the East and the architecture of the old part of the city can prove the French influence. Old houses, imposing landmarks, parks and monuments are anchored along its main avenue, Victoriei. The center is the University Square.

Bucharest became the capital of Romania late in the 19th century. First mentioned as "the Citadel of Bucuresti" in 1459, it became a residence of the Wallachian prince Vlad III the Impaler. Bucharest was established as the summer residence of the court, later competing with Targoviste for the status of capital after an increase in the importance of the southern part of Muntenia, because of the dominating power from the south, the Ottoman Empire.

Burned down by the Ottomans and briefly discarded by princes at the start of the 17th century, Bucharest was restored and continued to grow in size and prosperity. Its center was around the street "Ulita Mare", which starting 1589 was known as Lipscani. Before the 1700s, it became the most important trade center of Wallachia and became a permanent location for the Wallachian court after 1698. Partly destroyed by natural disasters and rebuilt several times during the following 200 years, the city was wrested from Ottoman control and occupied at
several intervals by the Habsburg Monarchy and Imperial Russia. It was placed under Russian administration, and an Austrian garrison took possession after the Russian departure. Additionally, on March 23, 1847, a fire consumed about 2,000 buildings of Bucharest, destroying a third of the city.

In 1861, when Wallachia and Moldavia were united to form the Principality of Romania, Bucharest became the new nation's capital; in 1881, it became the political center of the newly-proclaimed Kingdom of Romania. During the second half of the 19th century, due to its new status, the city's population increased dramatically, and a new period of urban development began. The extravagant architecture and cosmopolitan high culture of this period won Bucharest the nickname of "The Paris of the East" (or "Little Paris", Micul Paris), with Calea Victoriei as its Champs-Elysee or Fifth Avenue. After World War I, Bucharest became the capital of Greater Romania. As the capital of an Axis country, Bucharest suffered heavy losses during World War II.

During Nicolae Ceausescu's leadership (1965-1989), most of the historic part of the city was destroyed and replaced with Communist-style buildings, particularly high-rise apartment buildings. The best example of this is the development called Centrul Civic (the Civic Center), including the Palace of the Parliament, where an entire historic quarter was razed to make way for Ceausescu's megalomaniac constructions. In 1977, a strong 7.4 on the Richter-scale earthquake claimed 1,500 lives and destroyed many old buildings. Nevertheless, some historic neighborhoods did survive to this day.

Criminality is lower compared to the rest of Eastern Europe, a bigger problem being the countless stray dogs in Bucharest. Economically, the capital and the surroundings account for about 20% of all the country's GRP. City's GRP/capita is over 80% of the EU average and double than the country's average. Bucharest's public transport system is one of the largest in Europe, including a 67 km long subway network; when it was finished in the 70's, it was the 4th largest on the continent. Henri Coanda (in Otopeni) is the main airport of the city (5 mil. passengers) while Aurel Vlaicu (in Baneasa) is operating low-cost flights (2 mil passengers).

PARKS AND GARDENS
Cismigiu Gardens
...a public park near the center of Bucharest, Romania, spanning areas on all sides of an artificial lake. The gardens' creation was an important moment in the history of Bucharest. They form the oldest and, at 17 hectares, the largest park in city's central area. The main entrance is from Regina Elisabeta Boulevard, in front of the City Hall.

Herastrau Park
...is the largest park in Bucharest. It has an area of about 1 sq km around a big lake. It was opened in 1936 and a part of it was dedicated to the open-air Village Museum. Small boats are allowed on the lake.

The Botanical Garden of Bucharest
...is located in the Cotroceni neighborhood and has a surface of 175.000 km2 and has more than 10,000 species of plants. The gardens were opened in 1891, when the building of the greenhouses finished. In the Garden there is a Botanical Museum where more than 5,000 plant species are displayed, including 1,000 exotic plants.

LANDMARKS
Lipscani
...is a street and an old district of Bucharest, Romania, which in the Middle Ages was the most important commercial center of Bucharest and the whole Wallachia. It is located near the ruins of the old Princely Court built by Vlad III the Impaler. All trades were found in the area, many guilds having their own street. During the Communist period, the whole area was scheduled to be demolished, but this never came to fruition. The district became neglected, and nowadays many buildings are in a deplorable state.

The Old Princely Court
..."Curtea Veche" is placed in the heart of Lipscani neighborhood, was built as a place or residence during the rule of Vlad III Dracula in the 15th century now operates as a museum in the centre of Bucharest; It is also at the center of efforts to restore the historic center of Bucharest. The Curtea Veche church is the oldest in Bucharest, built around 1550 and served as a coronation church for the kings of Wallachia.

University Square
..."Piaţf0 a Universitatii" is located in downtown Bucharest and it is considered the center of the city. It is connected to the other 3 large plazas of Bucharest: Unirii Plaza to the south and Romana Plaza and Victoriei Plaza to the north. The National Theater, the main University building and the Intercontinental Hotel (one of the tallest buildings in Bucharest) are also located near University Square.

Victoriei Avenue
..."Calea Victoriei" is a major avenue in central Bucharest. It leads from Splaiul Independentei up to Piata Victoriei. Major buildings and monuments along the street include (from north to south): George Enescu Museum, Romanian Athenaeum, National Museum of Art of Romania, The library of the University of Bucharest, Kretzulescu Church, Revolution Square, Odeon Theatre, Casa Capsa, Cercul Militar National, Vilacrosse passage, National Museum of History of Romania, CEC building.

The Romanian Athenaeum
..."Ateneul Roman" is a concert hall in the center of Bucharest, Romania and a landmark of the Romanian capital city. It is the home of Gerge Enescu Philarmonic. Opened in 1888, the ornate, domed, circular building is the city's main concert hall and home of the "George Enescu" Philharmonic and of the George Enescu annual international music festival. In 1919, the Atheneum was the site of the conference of leading Romanians who voted to constitute Greater Romania. The overall style is neoclassical, with some more romantic touches. Inside, the ground floor hosts an ornate conference hall as large as the auditorium above.

Kretzulescu Church
...it is an Eastern Orthodox church built in the traditional Romanian Brancovenesc style, located on Victoriei Avenue. Built around 1720, the church was on the Communist Party's list of demolitions but was saved due to efforts of some local architects.

Stravropoleos Monastery
...built in 1724, Stavropoleos is currently functioning as a church; it has a constant involvement in Byzantine music through its choir and the largest collection of Byzantine music books in Romania. The name means "City of the Cross" in Greek.

Patriarchate Hill
..."Dealul Mitropoliei" in Romanian, is a small hill 10 minutes away from Lipscani where the heart of the Romanian Orthodox Church is located; the head of the Orthodox Romanians is also here. Started around 1650, the old monastic complex was surrounded by walls. In the center of the site, you can find the Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral. The complex also hosts the Patriarchal Palace and the Palace of the Chamber of Deputies, nowadays it is administrated by the Church.

The Romanian National Library
...placed on Victoriei Avenue, it is the largest library of Romania, with over 13 million books and 162 incunabula (valuable pieces printed before 1501).

MUSEUMS
The National Museum of Art of Romania
...in Romanian "Muzeul National de Arta al Romaniei" (MNAR), is located in the former royal palace, completed in 1937. It features notable collections of medieval and modern Romanian art, as well as the international collection assembled by the Romanian royal family. The collection includes works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Monet or Sisley.

National Museum of History of Romania
...the largest and most important history museum in the country hosted by a neoclassical building finished around 1900.

Museum of the Romanian Peasant
...or Muzeul Taranului Roman (MTR) in Romanian, is placed nearby Victoriei Plaza, the northern end of Victoriei Avenue, this place is one of Europe's leading museum dedicated to folk arts and traditions. It has a considerable collection of textiles, ceramics, religious icons and other traditional artifacts (about 100.000 objects). It was designated the European Museum of the Year in 1997. The building is following an old Romanian architectural tradition, called Brancovenesc style.

The Village Museum
...is an open-air ethnographic museum located in the Herastrau Park, showcasing traditional Romanian village life. The museum extends to over 100,000 sqm and contains 272 authentic peasant farms and houses from all over Romania.

ARCHITECTURE
Its eclectic architecture is a mix of neo-classical, Bauhaus, Art Deco, Communist and modern. Lots of building have a French flair. A major part of Bucharest's architecture is made up of buildings constructed during the Communist era, replacing the historical architecture with "more efficient" high density apartment blocks.

EDUCATION
University of Bucharest was founded in 1864 and has 34.000 students. Politehnica University is a technical superior school established in hte same year and having 15.000 students. Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies' main building is dominating Plaza Romana area and has 46.000 students. There are several other public and private universities located in Bucharest.

SHOPPING
Cotroceni Mall, Bucharest Mall, Plaza Romania, City Mall, Liberty Mall.

PERFORMING ARTS
Sala Radio
...hosts the National Radio Orchestra, the most prestigious symphonic orchestra in Romania.

The Atheneum
...is home to George Enescu philarmonic. Enescu Festival, one of the most important in the region happens here every year.

Romanian National Opera
...it is one of the four major National Operas of Romania and the most important one. It has a 2.200 seats capacity and is located in Eroilor Plaza.

Caragiale National Theatre
...founded in 1852, it is located in the Universitate plaza; the largest hall accomodate over 1,100 guests.

Also see:
The Jewish Theatre, Comedy Theatre, the Nottara Theatre, the Bulandra Theatre, the Odeon Theatre, and the Constantin Tanase Theatre.

EVENTS
George Enescu Festival
...started in 1958, honoring the greatest Romanian composers of all time. Some of the greatest orchestras in Europe are in Bucharest in September, every two years. The next even will take place in 2011.

B'estfest
...the most important music festival in Romania takes place every July in Bucharest; around 50.000 people attended the previous editions. In 2009 among others, they were invited the Killers, Patrice, White Lies, Moby, Franz Ferdinand, Santana, The Ting Tings, The Charlatans. The previous year, Alanis Morissette, Cypress Hill, UNKLE, Kaiser Chiefs, Manic Street Preachers, Nouvelle Vague, Manu Chao, Stereophonics, Roising Murphy.

Dakino
...the international film festival is organized every year in November and is focused on short-movies and documentaries. It is the first film festival in Romania.