BUCHAREST

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

                                                                           http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucharest

 

 

Bucharest was first mentioned in documents as early as 1459. Since then it has gone through a variety of changes, becoming the state capital of Romania in 1862 and steadily consolidating its position as the centre of the Romanian mass media, culture and arts. Its eclectic architecture is a mix of historical (neo-classical), interbellum (Bauhaus and Art Deco), Communist-era and modern. In the period between the two World Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest the nickname of the "Little Paris of the East" (Micul Paris).

 

 

 

 

Bucharest is divided in 6 official districts (sector, plural sectoare), numbered from 1 to 6, each has its own mayor and

 

 council. They are counted clockwise, starting from Piata Unirii.

 

City transfer

• The Henri Coanda Airport is relatively lacking in means of reliable transportation to downtown Bucharest. To get there travelers can choose between car rentals, taxi (Fly Taxi), limo service and public transport (bus line 783).

 

Get around

Bucharest has one of the most extensive systems of public transport in Europe, even though it can sometimes be confusing and crowded.

Metro (Subway)

Bucharest Metro

The metro, which has four lines (M1,M2,M3,M4) and covers the city quite extensively, is usually a good way to get around even though there are surprisingly few stops in the city center, since the system was originally built to transport workers and commuters from outlying quarters through the city to peripheral industrial areas. If you're staying outside the city center, or even if you want to travel within it, the Metro can be a very fast and convenient way of traveling to your destination avoiding the traffic jams and crowds that frequently characterize surface transport.

Line M1 runs west-east,meeting up with the M2 (which runs north-south) at Piata Unirii station.Line M3 runs on different west-east route serving the main train station Gara de Nord.The newest line ,M4, partially opened March 1st 2000, very modern and clean, starts from Gara de Nord and ,when completed, will link it with the airports in the northern part of town.

Buses, trams and trolleybuses

Bucharest has a very complex network of buses, trams and trolleybuses which is, at first glance, fairly confusing to the tourist. This is not because of any inconsistencies within the network, but rather due to the intricate web of hundreds of bus, tram and trolleybus routes found in the city. Once you know your way around the network, however, public surface transport can be a very good way of getting around since there is a bus, tram or trolleybus stop virtually everywhere in this city. The vehicles are usually very frequently, although they can also get terribly crowded at peak hours. Make sure you know the stop you're getting off at - in most trolleybuses and in some buses and trams, following stops are announced automatically and displayed on a screen inside the vehicle. However, these displays tend not to be very reliable, pointing to either a wrong stop or not working at all. If you are uncertain if a stop is the one you want, you can always ask your fellow travelers.

Tickets can be bought from RATB kiosks at a significant amount of stops. Single-use tickets (1,2 lei) are usable on any RATB vehicle, but they must be validated upon entering the vehicle and are valid for a just one ride on one route.Be warned that you cannot buy tickets in the vehicles and if caught by an inspector (controlor) you could be fined with 50 new lei.

It is advisable to buy tickets valid for a day (7 lei) or a week (15 lei) on all surface routes with unlimited rides. The tickets cannot be used on the subway.

By taxi

There are a lot of taxi companies in Bucharest and you'll easily find a cab here. But be aware! Don't take any independent cab drivers, but use only the services of big taxi companies. Usually the cars from these companies have the rates displayed on the door. If it doesn't, then it's safe not to take that taxi, as you'll probably be charged a rate five to ten times than usual.

Landmarks

Old Center - Fortunately a part of the city's historical heart escaped Ceauşescu's demolition frenzy. The area (stretching approximatively between the Dambovita river to the south, Calea Victoriei to the west, Calea Mosilor to the east and Regina Elisabeta boulevard to the north) today contains an assortment of middle 19th century buildings, ruins of the Wallachian princes' medieval court, churches, narrow cobblestoned streets which keep the names of the ancient guilds that resided on them, bank headquarters, a few hotels, clubs, restaurants and shops. So far too little has been done for the preservation and reconditioning of many historical buildings and streets there, but the area is now in a rehabilitation project set to be finished after 2012.

Parliament Palace -In the center of Bucharest, near Piaţa Unirii (Union Plazza) the tourist can see one of the biggest buildings in the world, formerly named "Casa Poporului (People's House)" by Ceausescu.

Revolution Square (Piata Revolutiei) - Site of part of the Romanian Revolution of 1989. Centrally located, it is not a long walk from the other squares, Gara de Nord, or the Parliament Palace. There is a tall monument in the center of the square in memory of those who died during the revolution.

Museums

• Village Museum –an original open air museum created in 1934, it currently has around 300 traditional buildings (including churches, workshops, mills etc.) plus furniture, pottery, clothing gathered from villages in every region of the country in an effort to showcase the traditional way of life of the Romanians. Occasionally hosts folkloric and traditional crafts festivals. Şoseaua Kiseleff, nr.28-30
• Museum of the Romanian Peasant –also dedicated to the traditional way of life, it focuses mainly on traditional interior decoration, tools, clothing and artifacts. Again, it sometimes hosts folkloric and traditional crafts festivals. In 1996, it won the European Museum of the Year Award. Şoseaua Kiseleff, nr. 3
• Art Museum -located in the building of the former Royal Palace, has collections of ancient, modern and contemporary Romanian art as well as exhibitions of rare European art dating as early as the 14th century.Calea Victoriei, nr. 49-53
• “Curtea Veche” (Old Court) Museum –the ruins of the crown palace of the Wallachian princes, some parts dating as early as the 16th century. It’s around an earlier fortification located in this same place that Bucharest began to develop.Strada Franceză, nr. 25-31
• Cotroceni Palace Museum –has collections of objects that belonged to the former Romanian royal family. Today it is also the residence of the Romanian presidents.Bd. Geniului, nr. 1
• National History Museum -located in a neoclassical late 19th century building, has exhibits documenting the evolution of society on Romania’s territory from the Paleolithic until today, a replica of Trajan’s Column in Rome and a very interesting numismatics collection.Calea Victoriei, nr. 12
• Bucharest History Museum –situated in the Sutu Palace, built in 1834, has collections related to the development of Bucharest from a small 14th century fortress into Romania’s capital.Bd. I.C. Brătianu, nr. 2
• Military History Museum –has collections of weapons dating since the prehistoric times and permanent exhibitions dedicated to important military events, including the Romanian revolution of 1989, as well as an outdoor exhibit of relatively modern weaponry, including cannons, tanks, helicopters etc.Strada M. Vulcănescu, nr. 125-127
• Jewish Community History Museum –documenting the life of this community in the region since ancient times and through the Holocaust.Strada Mămulari, nr. 3
• “Grigore Antipa” Natural History Museum –has over 300.000 exhibits illustrating the transformations of Earth and the evolution of species. Şoseaua Kiseleff, nr. 1
• Geology Museum –has a large collection of minerals, rocks and fossils.Şoseaua Kiseleff, nr. 2
• “Dimitrie Leonida” Technology Museum –is set to be relocated in a wing of the Parliament Palace
• Aviation Museum –open-air display of various types of aircraft.Otopeni airport
• Railways Museum–rarely opened.Calea Griviţei, nr. 139B
• Firefighters Museum –likewise.Bd. Ferdinand, nr. 33

There are also a number of smaller museums, housing private collections, notably the “D. Minovici" Western European Arts Museum located in a beautiful eclectic villa (strada N. Minovici, nr.3) and numerous memorial houses dedicated to various literary, scientifical and political personalities.

Churches and monasteries

Curtea Veche (Old Court) Church –built around 1559, used to be the coronation church of the Wallachian princes.Near Piata Unirii.

Patriarhiei Church (1658) and Mitropoliei Palace (1708) –the residence of the Orthodox Patriarch, sort of a small Romanian Vatican.Located on the hill overlooking Piata Unirii.

Stavropoleos Church –built in the early 18th century, has some stunning decorative sculpture.In the old center area.

Coltea Church – (1702) it’s the first church in Bucharest built in the Brancovenesc style.Near Piata Universitatii.

Sfantu Gheorghe Nou Church –dating from the 18th century, houses the tombs of the princes Constantin Brancoveanu and Ion Mavrocordat.At half way between Piata Universitatii and Piata Unirii.

Kretzulescu Church –another interesting example of the Brancovenesc style (1722).On the left side of the National Art Museum.

Plumbuita Monastery –built in the last half of the 16th century, it once housed the first printing house in the region (1582); today has a religious objects museum and a large park. Relatively far from the city center, on Soseaua Colentina.

Walking / Recreation

Parks

- Cismigiu Garden is a lovable small park, the oldest in the city (designed 1845-1860), located in its very center. Has boat rental in summer, ice skating in winter time, a reasonable restaurant and several bars.

- There are several parks around man-made lakes on Colentina River running through the city’s north and east side, the largest of them being Herastrau Park .It houses the Village Museum, an open-air theater, various sports grounds, something like an amusement park and numerous restaurants and clubs. Has boat rental and boat-trips in summer.

- The Botanical Garden, established in 1884 near Cotroceni Palace, displays a variety of plants from all over the world, including an indoor tropical plants exhibition. Small entry fee.

- Carol Park (1906), a quiet oasis not so far from Piata Unirii, has an open-air theater replicating a Roman arena and another construction replicating a medieval fortress. It houses the tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as an infamous mausoleum built for the Communist nomenclature.

- Tineretului Park, just one subway station south from Piata Unirii, has a large multipurpose building (Sala Polivalenta) used for various concerts, sporting events, exhibitions etc., an amusement park for children, boat-rental, several restaurants and bars.

Buy

Major brand-name shops and upscale boutiques are concentrated along the main boulevard from Piata Romana to Piata Unirii and on the small streets adjacent to this boulevard, but also on Calea Victoriei, on Calea Dorobantilor (the part between Blvd. Iancu de Hunedoara and Piata Dorobantilor) or on Calea Mosilor's section between Blvd. Carol I and Piata Obor.

In the past years numerous modern shopping centers have sprung up in the city (and even more are in construction), the best known being:

Bucharest Mall, Calea Vitan 55-59, tel. 4021 3276700 (fax +40 21 3209209, - the first one to be built, in 1999.

Jolie Ville, str. Erou Iancu Nicolae nr. 103 bis, Voluntari, judetul Ilfov, tel. 4021 2068001 (fax 40 21 2068 002,

Plaza Romania, Bd. Timisoara nr. 26, tel. 4021 3195050 (fax 4021 3195051,

Unirea Shopping Center, Piata Unirii, tel. 40213030307 

City Mall, Sos. Oltenitei nr.2, tel. 40(021)3114260 fax 40(021) 3193521,

 

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