Built in the heyday of the Belle Époque, the George Grigore Cantacuzino Fountain is an architectural jewel of Bucharest. Located on Filaret Hill, this neoclassical masterpiece impresses with its elegance and the fascinating story of its name.

The fountain was built in 1870 on the initiative and under the financing of the mayor of Bucharest - Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, an influential politician and philanthropist of the time, who dedicated his life to the cultural and social development of Romania.

"In 1870 this fountain was built at the expense of Mr. George Grigorie Cantacuzino, mayor of Bucharest, following the vote of the municipal council of Bucharest municipality in the meeting of August 8, 1869, which decided to name it "George Grigorie Cantacuzino Fountain", is written above the fountain, in gratitude to the initiator of the project.

Built in neoclassical style by architect Al. Freiwald and sculptor Karl Storck, the fountain is a sublime blend of sculpture and architecture, with bas-reliefs depicting key moments in national history. Since its opening, the fountain has become a focal point of the city, attracting locals and tourists alike, eager to discover the beauty and history of this iconic monument. 

Prior to the construction of this architectural jewel in this area was the Fountain on Filaret Hill, a monumental fountain built in the 18th century by Metropolitan Filaret II. Conceived as a kind of gazebo-palace, at the bottom of the fountain was a water house, several meters wide, from which 12 bronze pipes emerged, each with a zodiac sign carved in relief above it.

Over the years, however, the monument has deteriorated considerably. Although there were attempts to save it from 1861 onwards, the City Council decided to demolish it in the spring of 1863 and it was decided to build another fountain on Filaret Hill, just as monumental.

The George Grigorie Cantacuzino Fountain was built on massive blocks of stone, perfectly imitating the rocks. It has the appearance of a parallelepiped in two registers, with a facade framed by bas-reliefs, with supporting pillars and pillars covered with ceramic slabs bearing coats of arms in relief depicting images of medieval knights. At the front of the fountain is a vaulted frieze containing an oval stone basin at the bottom, from which the water flows. 

Although in its early years, the fountain was famous for the purity of its water. Despite the fountain's recent restoration, the water is no longer drinkable.

Even if the city has changed over the years, the George Grigore Cantacuzino fountain remains a symbol of Bucharest's glorious past and an essential element of the contemporary urban landscape.

Photo: Primăria Municipiului București