A city like Bucharest, which is hundreds of years old, has plenty to do. The history of the city alone is quite interesting. It was the communist Ceausescu who had about 20% of the city demolished for his Palace of the People. In addition to this palace, there are plenty of other sights in the city and the surrounding area.
General
The city of Bucharest was founded in 1462 by Vlad Tepeş, the son of a knight from the Order of the Dragon. Vlad was a Wallachian prince, who always signed his documents with the name Dracula. Literally translated, this name means ‘son of the dragon’.
Besides the Palace of the People, the largest building in Europe, Bucharest of course has many more sights.
Arcul du Triumf
On the spot where the current arch stands, an arch was placed in honor of independence in 1878. In 1922, this triumphal arch was replaced by a monument erected in honor of the fallen soldiers of the First World War. Initially it was made of wood, but in 1935 the architect Petru Antonescu built the current arch.
It is a concrete structure 25 meters high. Decorated with sculptures by national artists such as:
- Jalea
- Medrea
- Paciurea
George Enescu Museum
A great composer, the greatest in Romanian history, born in 1881. When he died in 1955 he had left behind many masterpieces. The building where the masterpieces are housed was designed by Berendei. Enescu himself lived in this building for several years, it was built in the neoclassical style. In addition to works by Johann Sebastian Bach, manuscripts and musical instruments by Enescu can be viewed.
Ataneul Roman
This is a concert hall in the city. The building was designed by Albert Galleron from France. It was officially opened in 1888, a building with a high dome and colonnade at the main entrance. The Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra is based in this concert hall, because this is where the composer of the same name once made his debut.
Cismigiu Park
This 19th century park is located in the middle of the city. It is a drained piece of swamp and is a true green oasis. This park, once built by the German Mayer, is the most visited and oldest spot in the city. More than 1,000,000 people visit the park every year.
Stavropoleos Church
This church was built by order of Ioanichie Stratonikeas, a Greek monk. It was built in the Brancoveanu style, a combination of Baroque and Renaissance. The official opening of this church was in October 1724. The church is richly decorated with icons, frescoes, wrought iron and wood carvings, both inside and out. A beautiful painting is the fight between the biblical Samson and the lion.
Unfortunately, the building was so badly damaged during the earthquake of 1838 that the government ordered the church council to repair it two years later. In mid-1888 it is reported that the church is almost a complete ruin, it is impossible to determine whether the previously ordered repairs were carried out and were useful.
In 1897, Ion Mincu, the architect, was commissioned by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to draw up a restoration plan. This restoration started in the early 1900s, after the church had already been declared a historic monument. After Mincu dies, his student Zagorit takes over. During the First World War the work came to a standstill and then Professor Dumitrescu took over the work. The paintings were restored by V. Damian, a priest who was also a painter. The church is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List.