The story of Mița Biciclista, born Maria Mihăescu, blends seamlessly with the urban mythology of old Bucharest. She was born in 1885, in Dițești, Prahova County, into a modest family. Her mother worked as a laundress, and nothing is known about her father. 

From Magda Mihăescu to Mița Biciclista

Despite these humble beginnings, the young girl showed an extraordinary ambition from adolescence. She did not want to remain just another anonymous woman but aimed to become a visible figure, a personality of the high society.

At only 14 or 15 years old, she entered the world of courtesans, choosing to shape her own destiny far away from the ordinary life of women her age. 

Unlike many of her contemporaries, Mița knew exactly what she wanted: to be admired, desired, and to live in luxury. Her choice of partners was never random—she preferred men with power, prestige, and wealth.

It is said that she was noticed by none other than King Leopold of Belgium, while still at school, and from then on, urban legends began to turn her into an almost irresistible figure.

A luxury courtesan and a bohemian symbol of Bucharest

Mița Biciclista was not just a kept woman but a true demimondaine, a luxury courtesan. She was intelligent, spoke foreign languages, and enjoyed the company of artists and politicians of her time. 

Writer and historian Neagu Djuvara described her as “a high-class prostitute, rare in the 1920s, who rode a bicycle around Bucharest to keep her figure.”

The bicycle, the accessory that earned her nickname, was a true rarity at the time. Mița not only cycled through Bucharest’s streets but did so with ostentatious elegance.

On Calea Victoriei, aristocrats at Capșa, bohemians at Kubler, and bourgeois at Oteteleșanu would stop their conversations just to watch her. 

Her appearance was spectacular: velvet trousers tight around her legs, a coral blouse with flowing sleeves, tall boots, and a white silk cap pinned with two long hairpins, like a character straight out of an operetta.

Her nickname “Mița Biciclista” was given in 1898 by journalist George Ranetti, who saw her cycling with confidence. From that moment, the name stuck forever.

Love affairs and royal connections

Mița Biciclista’s life was filled with scandalous love affairs, each adding to her legend. She was said to have been courted by Nicolae Grigorescu, Octavian Goga, and even King Ferdinand, who, according to rumors, gifted her a luxurious house near Piața Amzei. The building, still standing but now in decay, remains a silent witness to this liaison.

More than that, King Manuel of Portugal reportedly asked for her hand in marriage, but Mița refused him, allegedly because she was in love with Nicolae Minovici. Whether true or just gossip, such stories built her aura as an irresistible woman.

At the same time, Mița knew how to turn her charm into wealth. She received jewelry, carriages, a luxury coupe, and countless gifts that strengthened her image as an extravagant woman.

Eccentricity and nonconformism

Mița Biciclista was a rebellious spirit who defied conventions. She sometimes wore men’s clothing, spoke foreign languages in public, and flaunted her independence. This nonconformity only made her more fascinating to the men around her.

Riding her bicycle through the city, at a time when women were still confined to domestic roles, made her a symbol of female emancipation. Mița not only refused to obey society’s rules but turned them to her advantage.

Paris and the return to Bucharest

After spending some time in Paris, where she embraced the bohemian life of the French capital, Mița returned to Bucharest. 

Here she reconnected with the elite, continuing to be courted and spoiled by those who sought her favors. Money, jewels, and expensive gifts allowed her to maintain a luxurious lifestyle, in stark contrast to her modest origins.

Later years and a late marriage

Mița Biciclista married only in the 1940s, tying the knot with General Alexandru Dimitrescu. Marriage, however, marked the beginning of her financial decline. To sustain her standard of living, she began renting rooms in her house. Rumors even claimed she sent her husband out to beg for money so they could keep up appearances.

The House of Mița Biciclista, located at the intersection of Biserica Amzei Street and General Christian Tell Street, remains a landmark of old Bucharest. Built in neoclassical style with romantic influences, the building was once a gathering place for artists, writers, and intellectuals.

Mița Biciclista’s house – from ruin to museum

After her death, the house fell into decay, though its aura never disappeared. Recently, the building was restored and transformed into a museum dedicated to her life and personality. Visitors can admire not only the architectural beauty of the house but also objects and stories linked to the eccentric woman once called “the most famous courtesan of the 20th century.”

The ornate façade, the preserved interior furniture, and the historical details bring back the atmosphere of the early 20th century, when Bucharest was nicknamed “Little Paris.” The museum also hosts exhibitions and cultural events, keeping alive the memory of this unconventional figure.

A woman who defied conventions

Mița Biciclista remains in history not only as a luxury courtesan but as a symbol of rebellion and female emancipation. Through her attitude, extravagant style, and ability to fascinate powerful men, she brought three kings to their knees and entered urban folklore.

Even though her final decades were marked by decline, her legacy remains vivid. Even today, her name is used—sometimes with irony, sometimes with admiration—for independent, nonconformist women.

From a poor girl in Dițești to the courtesan who captivated kings, politicians, and artists, Mița Biciclista lived a life of passion, scandal, and luxury. Her story perfectly reflects the contrasts of early 20th-century Romania: between tradition and modernity, between provincial modesty and the cosmopolitan charm of Bucharest.

Today, her house in Amzei is not just a museum but also a gateway to a colorful past, when one rebellious woman turned social conventions into stepping stones for personal freedom. Without doubt, Mița Biciclista remains one of the most fascinating female figures in modern Romanian history.

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