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BucharestThe downtown of Bucharest, somewhere near the Amzei Church & Market reminds us like Paris. From the 1870s until the late 1920s the city began its most beautiful metamorphosis from a giant village with muddy streets to Eastern Europe's most attractive destination, and the world renowned reputation of being 'The Little Paris'. Entire neighborhoods were designed by French architects or Romanian architects tributary to the French school and some results are still here with us today. For the more attentive observer, some balconies have statues of babies. Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Époque buildings and a reputation for the high life, Romania's capital was once known as the "Little Paris." Romanian legend has it that the city of Bucharest was founded by a shepherd named "Bucur", whose name means "joy". His flute playing reportedly dazzled the locals and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders, who gave his name to the place. Remodeled, in the late 19th century, by French and French-trained architects Bucharest even features a Triumphal Arch on the elegant Soseaua Kiseleff, a boulevard longer that Paris' famed Champs-Elysees. Communist rule interrupted Bucharest's cosmopolitan days. Many years after the overthrown of the communist regime, the "House of the People" — the world's second largest building after the US Pentagon — reminds Romanians of the communist years. Only Romanian materials and products were used — local marble, cherry and walnut paneling, crystal chandeliers, specially commissioned hand-woven tapestries, carpets and draperies — to build what supposed to be the headquarters of Romania's last communist leader. Now renamed the Palace of Parliament, this magnificent building of 1,000 rooms reflects the work of the country's best architects and artisans. Bucharest is one of the few cities in east-central Europe with gambling. Many 18th and 19th Century palaces and mansions now house elegant beaux-arts casinos, where guests can play blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat and other games of chance, dine on sumptuous buffets and dance all night to live music. Today, Bucharest — the capital and largest city of Romania — is experiencing renewed vigor. The city reflects an interesting heritage of mixed cultures influenced by: the old Romanian aristocracy educated in France, the German King Carol I, and the communist society. Recommended hotels in the centre of the city: Bucharest history
According to legend, Bucharest was founded by a shepherd called Bucur , who built a settlement amid the Vlasia forest. It was recorded as a nameless "citadel on the Dâmbovita" in 1368, and named as Bucharest in an edict from the time of Vlad the Impaler. Middle Age
During the early Middle Ages, Bucharest became a commercial centre, important enough to enable the XIV-th century voivodes build the Princely Canot - known as "The Old Court" - which constituted the nucleus for the development of the medieval town. The first mention of the name of "Bucharest" is dating from september 20, 1459: the mention appears on a document issued from the chancellery of the voivode Vlad Tepes (the Impaler).
Mathew Basarab (1632-1654 repaired the Old Court, and built the churches "of the Saint Apostles", Sarindar and Plumbuita. By 1640, because the voivode’s relations with the Turks worsened, Mathew Basarab moved his Capital back to the town of Targoviste. Bucharest still remained a voivodal residence. In May 1654, the voivode Constantin Serban Basarab (1654-1658), Mathew Basarab’s successor entered Bucharest for a short period of time, as, after the revolt of his mercenary troops, in February 1655, he left Bucharest for Targoviste, ordering Bucharest and the Old Court to be set of fire.
During the rule of Serban Cantacuzino (1678-1688), several important buildings were built in Bucharest: the voivodal houses in the Zlatari district, the churches of Magureanu, Doamnei, Cotroceni, the great Inn "Serban Voda". Voda's Inn (demolished in 1890, now National Romanian Bank)
In the time of Constantin Brâncoveanu (1688-1714) new bazars houses were built along the Calea Victoriei, the churches "Icoanei", "Coltea", "Fundeni", the "Constantin Voda" Inn, the New Saint George’s Inn a.s.o. An increasing number of artisans are recorded in the town. His sons
In 1716, the "Fanariotes’ epoch" starts Greek origin rulers were appointed by the Ottoman Porte; all caming from the same quarter of "Fanar", in Istanbul. The Ottoman influence reaches a climax. Commerce and manufactures, are flourishing. XIX. century
Capitalist elements of develop, in the Bucharestan economy. The number and variety of the manufactures increase.A new administrative structure is formed between the years 1806-1812. The streets are repaired.
The "Manuc" Inn (1808), the "Philantropy" Hospital (1812), the first Bucharestan theatre at the "Cismeaua Rosie" are built. In 1813, a plague epidemic starts, known as "Caragea’s Plague", by the name of the moment’s voivode. French Romantism
The "Fanariote" period ends in 1822; The first romanian ruler was Prince Grigore Dimitrie Ghica. 1822-1829. In May 1857 – Bucharest was the first city in the world with petrol lamp illumination.
In 1860 are setting up the higer school "Gheorghe Lazar" si "Matei Basarab". The first streets are paved with stone. In 1864 are setting up the Universitaty, In 1869 – the first railway station in Bucuresti, (Filaret - point terminus for Giurgiu-Bucuresti). Bucharest of 1870 there were from the hill and monastery Mihai voda, Curtea Domneasca and Vacaresti, Lipscani street and si "ulitele" (narrow streets) Franceza, Smirdan, Bacani, Selari, Covaci...), Coltii and Podul Mogosoaia, till Golescu House (now Royal Palace). In 1871 – The first tramway from Nord Railway to the Obor Place. In 9 May 1877 –Is the day of Independence of Romania against the turkish occupation. Bucharest, the small Paris of the East
"Bucharest is a creation of our own nation, it expresses our originality, it is what were able to do(...) By its own vitality, Bucharest has managed to impose itself as a unique Capital, that had received all the attentive care of some great personalities we have not fully understood, to show then the gratitude they deserved" Nicolae Iorga "The History of Bucharest", 1939.
A walk in time, on the streets and boulevards of this beautiful town, by the end of the nineteenth century - under the vaults of the boarding trees, so pleasantly shady during the summer heat - will lead us through a town that is no more and which fully deserved its name. We shall observe the French influence on some city squares with radical streets or we shall reach streets flooded with vegetation. We shall admire monuments, and we shall try to make revive the atmosphere of the last century; we shall notice its changes and evolution (...)
In 1882 – the first electrical illumination system, the first time at the Royal Palace, then at the National Theatre and in public garden Cismigiu. At Sosea, near Victoriei place, there was the Belle Arte School, demolished in 1912. Now there is the Peasant Museum. In 1896 the first electrical tramway are built from Obor to the Cotroceni avenue. The first cinema is opened.
Most of the major buildings, such as the Romanian Athenaeum and the Cercul Militar , were designed by French or French-trained architects and built in the years before World War I.
By 1918 the city's population had grown to 380,000 and roads such as Podul Mogosoaiei, Podul de Pamânt and Podul Calacilor were widened, paved and renamed as the Calea Victoriei, Calea Plevnei and Calea Rahovei, in honour of the battles of the 1877-78 War of Independence from Turkey.
After World War II the city was ringed with ugly apartment buildings, first in areas such as "Red" Grivita, which the Allies had bombed flat (aiming for the rail yards), then expanding into the surrounding countryside; the population doubled from one to two million.
Communist rule interrupted Bucharest's cosmopolitan days. Many years after the overthrown of the communist regime, the "House of the People" — the world's second largest building after the US Pentagon — reminds Romanians of the communist years. Only Romanian materials and products were used — local marble, cherry and walnut paneling, crystal chandeliers, specially commissioned hand-woven tapestries, carpets and draperies - to build what supposed to be the headquarters of Romania's last communist leader. Now renamed the Palace of Parliament, this magnificent building of 1,000 rooms reflects the work of the country's best architects and artisans.
Bucharest is one of the few cities in east-central Europe with gambling. Many 18th and 19th Century palaces and mansions now house elegant beaux-arts casinos, where guests can play blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat and other games of chance, dine on sumptuous buffets and dance all night to live music.
Today, Bucharest - the capital and largest city of Romania - is experiencing renewed vigor. The city reflects an interesting heritage of mixed cultures influenced by: the old Romanian aristocracy educated in France, the German King Carol I, and the communist society. Most wanted middle-class hotel: Euro Hotel Triumph and Suter Inn Hotel .
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