Bucharest is one of the European cities most recognized for its charm and beauty. The capital of Romania is one of the best tourist destinations in Europe, due to its great cultural offer . In this post, we will pay tribute to this great city by showing you the 6 places to see in Bucharest that are essential for any tourist who visits it. If you are thinking of traveling, include this destination among your options and enjoy its charm, always taking into account health recommendations. Here we go!
What to see in Bucharest?
Patriarchal Cathedral of Bucharest
The first of the places to see in Bucharest is its imposing cathedral. This wonderful building dates back to the 17th century and is famous for its tranquility and peace. It is located at the top of the Metropolitan Hill , located in the center of the Romanian capital.
Historically, this construction has great significance for the city. It was there that Barbu Catargiu, the Prime Minister of Romania, was assassinated in 1862 while walking with his chariot .
As for its architecture, it reflects the Brâncovenesc style , a mixture of Ottoman, Renaissance and Baroque. Its ceiling is crowned with three beautiful domes and 4 majestic towers and its interior attracts attention thanks to the Byzantine frescoes by the Romanian painter Dimitrie Belizarie .
The cathedral is accompanied by the 17th century bell tower, the chapel of the Patriarchal Palace and the Patriarchal Palace , seat of the Romanian Parliament until 1997.
Choral Temple
The Choral Temple is the largest synagogue in Romania and is located in the center of the capital. This temple was built between 1957 and 1967. Its architects, Freiwald and Enderle, sought the similarity with the Leopoldstadt-Tempelgasse, a former synagogue located in Vienna that was destroyed during “the night of the broken glass ” in 1938.
During the dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu , both the Jewish quarter where the Choral Temple was located and the synagogue itself were destroyed to occupy the area with large state buildings. Despite this, in 1945, this Jewish area was restored and a cemetery was built in honor of the deceased.
Architecturally, its façade is in the Moorish style and alternates red and yellow bricks that make it stand out from the rest of the buildings.
Parliament Palace
This imposing white stone building is the second largest construction in the world , behind the Pentagon in Washington DC, with 365,000 square meters. In it, a total of 480 crystal chandeliers illuminate its rooms, ostentatious and gigantic.
Its construction was ordered by Ceausescu, after his trip to North Korea, where it occurred to him to make a radical remodeling of the city. In this, both houses and historic buildings were condemned to demolition and a total of 40,000 people were left homeless .
Today, it is the seat of both houses of the Romanian Parliament and a frequent conference center. In addition, in its west wing is the National Museum of Modern Art in Bucharest .
Cotroceni Palace
This beautiful mansion is currently the official residence of the President of Romania . However it was not always so. In its beginnings, this building was a monastery that Prince Alejandro Cuza began to use as a summer residence. Years later, in 1882 it was destroyed to become the official residence of the monarchs .
Today, the building also houses the Cotroceni National Museum, where the political history of Romania and all its great events are displayed. Its architectural style is a mixture of classic Venetian with romantic air .
Stravopoleos Monastery
It is a small church located in the historic center of Bucharest. The original construction dates from 1724. However, a series of renovations were carried out at the end of the 19th century by the architect Ion Mincu. In these restoration work, the Romanian artist added a small open cloister to the construction .
His colorful and striking style is a clear example of the brâncovenesc that was triumphing in Romania at that time. In addition, the church is accompanied by a 20th century building in which a collection of works recovered from the religious buildings destroyed during the communist dictatorship is displayed.
Victory Avenue
We finalize the list of places to see in Bucharest with its most iconic street. This old avenue runs through the city from its historic center to Plaza de la Victoria. Its history dates back to 1692, when the prince of Romania wanted to build a road that would connect the royal court and his palace to the north of the capital .
After more than a century, it became the first lighted street in the city and the first also to be paved. It is known for being the most expensive and exquisite street in the city , where haute couture brand stores and large chain hotels are housed. In it are the Romanian Athenaeum , the National Museum of Art of Romania, the Revolution Square and the Museum of National History.
Without a doubt, Bucharest is a city that offers a lot of history and culture. Its combination of modern buildings and almost destroyed constructions give it a magical and special air that differentiates it from other cities . Also, if you have the time, you can rent a car and get to know some of the other wonderful places that the Romanian country has to offer.
