BUCHAREST CITY

Bucharest – Romania’s capital, the political, cultural, scientific and the most important economic center of the country, is also the main tourist center. But not only because there are the main institutions and organizations of the country, but also because the largest city of the country offers a wide range of valuable and interesting touristic objectives, which makes the number of visitors to be always growing. Bucharest city is located in south eastern Romania, in the Romanian Plain, on the Dambovita river about 60 Km. north of the Danube river and at about 120 Km. south of the Carpathians ridge, with an average altitude of 70-80 m.

The date of city founding is not known. An old legend assigns the foundation of the first settlement to a shepherd, Bucur, who would camed down from the Fagaras Mountains and would be settled in the beautiful water meadow that Dambovita and its affluent Colentina formed in the huge Vlasia Forest that stretched at that time for a large part of the plain between the Sub-Carpathian hills and the Danube. From the descendants of this shepherd –the Bucurestii – the village that became prosperous city today would inherit its name.

Archaeological surveys have revealed a number of items that prove the presence of humans on the current hearth of the city since the old stone age that is at least 150 thousands – 200 thousands years ago.From Getae-age were revealed vestiges in the Flower Market from downtown, on the borders of Tei lake, in districts of Damaroaia, Militari and Fundeni places where there were settlements in the prefeudal age (Xth to XIth century).

Although the man has set on these lands for so long, the existence of Bucharest is not attested in documents until September 20th, 1459, in a charter of Vlad Tepes, who raised a castle on the Dimbovita riverside. But at this time the settlement was already developed, otherwise it would not have been chosen as the capital of Wallachia, a hundred years later, when Mircea Ciobanu reinforced the fortress and built on the site of the current Flower Market the first princely court. The capital returned to Targoviste in the next century, but after 1659 it remained permanently in the town of Dimbovitei banks. The city has grown continuously, reaching during the reigns of Matei Basarab, Serban Cantacuzino and especially of Constantin Brancoveanu, an important economic center, more and more merchants and craftsmen settleing here. The development of the city was chaotic, but having the appearance of a large rural settlement with an urban center. Being built of wood the houses of Bucharest were often renew during the years, as fires, robberies, invading armies and earthquakes destroyed the city at least once every century. The city has relatively few ancient monuments (200-300 years ago just the churches were built of stone and brick) and the new is the characteristic feature of the city today. Instead, Bucharest has many places that remember historical events, many along the time and important for understanding its development and the important role played in the history of the country.

Among them we include:

The Hill of Patriarchate, where took place the uprising of Seimeni and gendarmes in 1655 which included the entire oppressed population of the city and also the uprising of rufeturilor (of guilds) from 1764 to 1765.

The Plain of Liberty – (the high terrace of Liberty Park today) the place of gathering of people’s mass participating at the popular revolution of 1848 and at the movement for union decisive in choosing the ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza as prince of Wallachia (24 ianuarie1859) Act which made the Union of Wallachia and Moldavia.

Bucharest is and was a true living museum: the streets, houses, monuments, markets carry not only namings in the pulsatile history country, but they are themselves vestiges of the heroic struggle of the Romanian people for social freedom and national independence.

Once named ,,Little Paris” the city has achieved its own pesonality, it became a big city. The various architectural styles, from Neo-classical style to the Byzantine style, from the Romanian folk influence to the silhouette of the big block of steel, concrete and glass, blend into a whole, harmonious, pleasant looking surprinzing to its visitors.

The sightseeing spots are aligning every step. Bucharest’s economy presents itself as an organic whole on the foundation of which lies a complex and varied network of economic links that have been established between its various units in the production and exchange, as well as between different branches of production and subbranches.

Besides the fact that Bucharest is the first economic center of the country he represents also the largest center of education and culture. Therefore we mention: scientific research institutes, institutes of higher education, many secondary schools, technical education, central libraries, university libraries, documentation libraries, public libraries, permanent theaters, symphonic orchestras, tens of museums and many others are just some of the culture institutions that made the capital of our country among the major European cultural centers. In Bucharest is located the famous Romanian Athenaeum concert hall (the seat of Enescu festivals), here it is also found the Palace Hall with a capacity of 3,000 seats. In the center of the town rises the monumental building of the National Theater where the beautiful decorations combine with the most modern equipment.

Business Bucuresti is renowned for the variety and elegance of its products, luring also with wonderful creations of the Romanian-craft products from clothing and ornaments to the furniture and interior decorations. Some of the restaurants have a long tradition : Athenee Palace, Ambasador, Capsa, Carul cu bere, Gambrinus offering both inexhaustible list of international cuisine and famous Romanian preparations, including the unbeatable barbeque. Summer gardens in which the music of tarafs (folk music bands) resounds, restaurants accompanying silver chain lakes of Bucharest, alleys generous in roses are part of the old and picturesque city.

Museums of the city impose their rich collections: Museum of History, Museum of Art (with its valuable treasures of national and universal art, works of Brancusi, Grigorescu, Luchian, Petrascu among high masters of the Renaissance or modern schools), the Museum Village – a synthesis of the architectural style of homes from all regions of Romania, monuments of architecture of Bucharest, inspired combination of different styles periods, present a special interest for tourists. In Bucharest there’s also many world prestigious hotels -Intercontinental, Lido, Ambasador, Athenee Palace.

Poets have dedicated lyrics to the city, composers played “Beloved Bucharest”, and painters have immortalized its colors.

For tourists, the capital of Romania opens widely its gates and inviting them to the most attractive and variated recreation and entertainment programs. Well arranged in the green mantle of the trees, with multicolored carpet of flowers spread out the alleys and boulevards, Bucharest seems bathed in a huge overflowing of vegetation. The big parks stud the city, places that reflect many spledours that gave Bucharest the metaphor of city-garden.

City Parks and garden are oases of peace and joy; among them are included: Herastrau Park, Garden Cismigiu, Liberty Park, Botanical Garden with stylish bowers, with lakes crossed by sailing ships, with arteziene wells.

Along with these beauties we mention:

-Baneasa forest (with glades bathed in the sun, with beautiful campsites and restaurants) seems like a magical land,
-the Secular Forests of Snagov, disturbed only by the flight of birds;
-Mogosoaia park – with its cool forest with the majestic palace reflected in water, with the pier dressed in color, statues and trees emit a unique charm;
-the Forest and the Lake – Cernica,
-the lake and the forest Pustnicu,
-the park and the lake Buftea – all gems of a chain of Bucharest’s beauties – offer to the trip lovers or water sports fans, hunting passionates and fishing sportives, all nature lovers – all the joys of a holiday.

We can organize Tours including this objective – BUCHAREST CITY.

So do not hesitate to Contact Us if you want to visit them, or take a look in the Tours page and for sure you’ll find an interesting tour.

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