In the center of Bucharest, where Calea Victoriei meets Regina Elisabeta Boulevard, rises one of the city’s most spectacular historic buildings: the Grand Hotel du Boulevard. Facing the National Military Circle, this Parisian-inspired edifice has witnessed times of glory, lavish stories, and dramatic moments that shaped Romania’s history.

From a boyar’s estate to a western dream

Throughout its more than 150 years of existence, the hotel has undergone radical transformations: it hosted elegant balls, art exhibitions, literary and political meetings, but also a tense episode that filled newspaper front pages — the assassination attempt on King Carol II, on Easter Night, 1934. This building is not just an architectural gem but also a silent chronicler of its times.

The story begins in 1865, when businessman Jacques Herdan purchased the land where the hotel would later rise. Previously, the property had belonged to aristocratic families — among its successive owners were Constantin Cantacuzino, the Great Postelnic, Ban Vintilă Corbeanu, and High Chancellor Grigore Băleanu.

Herdan, founder of the famous “Spicul” bread factory, dreamed of building a luxury hotel in the Western style, capable of competing with Europe’s great establishments. To bring his ambition to life, he hired architect Alexandru Orăscu, one of the most respected professionals of the time, an advocate of neoclassicism with German influences.

Construction began in 1867 and was completed four years later. In 1871, “Hotel Herdan” opened its doors with great pomp, being regarded at the time as a symbol of modern Bucharest.

Bucharest's first luxury hotel

The hotel impressed not only with its exterior elegance but also with its revolutionary amenities for the 19th century. Its 82 rooms and 11 apartments were fitted with running water — a rare luxury at the time — while electric lighting and elevators completed the image of an ultramodern establishment.

Not long after, in 1873, Herdan sold the building to Mrs. Pohr, who gave it a new identity: the Grand Hôtel du Boulevard. Under this name, the hotel became the epicenter of Bucharest’s social life. Aristocrats, diplomats, artists, and intellectuals gathered here in a refined atmosphere where dinners, balls, and literary evenings were organized.

The ground floor housed a French restaurant, famous for its refined dishes, as well as a renowned library founded by printer Leon Alcalay, which brought together people of culture eager to read, debate, and exchange ideas.

Cultural life and the brilliance of the masquerade balls

During its golden age at the beginning of the 20th century, the Grand Hôtel du Boulevard was more than a place to stay — it was a cultural hub. Prestigious art exhibitions were held here, featuring works by famous artists such as Theodor Aman, Titian, and Carol Popp de Szathmary.

The grand balls were the main attraction. The capital’s elite danced the foxtrot and one-step in salons decorated with Venetian mirrors, marble arches, and crystal chandeliers. The 1905 renovation brought the building even more brilliance, turning it into a dreamlike venue.

The hotel’s international prestige was confirmed by the gold medals it won at the world fairs in Milan (1906) and Turin (1911). Thus, Bucharest reinforced its image as the “Little Paris” of Eastern Europe, and the Grand Hôtel du Boulevard became an ambassador of this reputation.

The night of the assassination attempt: 1934

A dramatic episode, however, would mark the hotel’s history. On Easter Night in 1934, four Romanian officers plotted an assassination attempt against King Carol II, a controversial figure in Romania’s history.

The monarch, known for his extravagant lifestyle and relationship with Elena Lupescu, had stirred discontent among a significant part of society, including within the army. The conspirators believed that Easter was the perfect moment for such a strike.

Their plan failed. Before the king could be attacked, the authorities foiled the plot, and the four officers were arrested. The attempt remains one of the boldest conspiracies against Carol II and added a dramatic aura to the hotel, forever linking it to the country’s political history.

From elegance to military occupation

Despite this episode, the hotel continued its activity, remaining a symbol of refinement. But the turbulent times of World War II would once again change the building’s destiny.

Between 1941 and 1944, the Grand Hôtel du Boulevard was occupied by the German army command. From a place of balls and banquets, the hotel became a strategic military center, illustrating how wars can suddenly alter the purpose of emblematic buildings.

After the war, Romania fell under communist influence, and the hotel lost its original role entirely. Between 1950 and 1974, the building was transformed into a ministry headquarters, while the ground floor became the Academy Bookstore.

This period brought significant changes to its original architecture: reinforced concrete beams and pillars were added, and the elegant details were hidden under ordinary materials such as plywood and faux marble.

The decline after communism, the rebirth and restoration of the hotel

After the fall of the communist regime, the building, stripped of its function and neglected, fell into steep decline. With its facades crumbling and its former charm lost, the hotel was gradually forgotten by Bucharest’s residents.

Slowly, what had once been a symbol of luxury turned into a shadow of its past, an empty place where dust and silence replaced the music of orchestras and the voices of aristocrats.

Today, the Grand Hôtel du Boulevard has the chance of a new life. The building was purchased by Niro Investment Group, which launched an ambitious restoration project. The plan includes both the reconstruction of its original decorations and the revival of its former splendor, as well as the integration of the most modern hotel facilities.

An agreement signed with the international hotel chain Corinthia will include the building in its exclusive portfolio. The official reopening is scheduled for March 2025, an eagerly awaited moment for heritage lovers and for those who dream of rediscovering Bucharest’s once cosmopolitan spirit.

Through careful restoration, the aim is to recreate the atmosphere that made the hotel famous in the 19th and early 20th centuries: grand balls, glittering chandeliers, Venetian mirrors, and marble arches. At the same time, the new facilities will transform the building into a five-star hotel, worthy of today’s international standards.

One of Bucharest's symbolic hotels

The Grand Hôtel du Boulevard is more than just a hotel — it is a page of history. It witnessed the birth of modern Bucharest, hosted cultural and political figures, staged performances and exhibitions, and was the backdrop of a royal assassination attempt.

Its transformations, from luxury to ruin and back to restoration, reflect the city’s tumultuous path. Its revival, scheduled for 2025, promises to bring back to life the beauty of a place that has served, in turn, as a cultural center, a strategic military hub, and a landmark of elegance.

Thus, the Grand Hôtel du Boulevard is not just a restored building, but a symbol of the city’s memory — a bridge between its aristocratic past, its modern present, and Bucharest’s cosmopolitan future.