Articles (652)

Grand Hotel du Boulevard, where an attempt was made to assassinate King Carol II on Easter Night

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 boy...

The Stairs of Happiness in Cotroceni, the Most Instagrammable Spot in the Capital

Bucharest, a city that has undergone countless transformations and modernizations, still preserves places that blend the charm of the past with the attractions of the present. A remarkable example is the Stairs of Happiness in Cotroceni, an urban space that has become one of the most photographed and beloved corners of the city today.A hidden corne...

The history of Colentina Hospital: “New Pantelimon,” inaugurated by Alexandru Ioan Cuza

Colentina Hospital, one of the most important medical institutions in Bucharest and Romania as a whole, has its origins in the second half of the 19th century, at a time when the capital was undergoing a period of rapid modernization. The initiative to build a new medical facility came from Prince Scarlat Ghica, who aimed to provide the city with a...

The Romanian Opera in Bucharest, Built by Minister Octavian Goga, Inaugurated by the Great George Enescu

The Bucharest National Opera today stands as one of Romania’s most powerful cultural symbols. With a history spanning over a century, the institution has undergone numerous transformations, yet it has remained a permanent landmark of artistic excellence—a place where entire generations of musicians, singers, and dancers have brought to life some of...

On Covaci Street in Bucharest, Romanian mici were invented, and Caragiale’s Craii de Curte Veche used to celebrate

Covaci Street, a discreet artery in the heart of Bucharest’s Old Town, is a place where history intertwines with legend, and echoes of the past continue to resonate among the walls of old façades. Here, stories are not limited to cobblestones and architecture; they touch every dimension of urban life: from the medieval crafts of blacksmiths to the...

How Bucharest became a city of festivals – the culture that took to the streets and changed the city

Bucharest, once perceived as a city of old architecture and heavy industry, has in recent years reinvented itself as a vibrant cultural space where festivals play a central role. Some initiatives were launched by the municipality, others are deeply rooted in tradition, and new formats have emerged in response to the public’s growing appetite for la...

What is the oldest street in Bucharest? On Smârdan Street in the Old Town, the Union of the Romanian Principalities was sealed

Romania’s capital hides a fascinating urban history that stretches across several centuries. The first documented mention of the city dates back to 1459, and since then Bucharest has undergone radical transformations: from a muddy medieval market town to today’s bustling metropolis.Bucharest and its early urban beginningsIn the midst of this evolut...

The National Theatre of Bucharest, from its beginnings to the present: a boyar legacy turned into the cultural heart of the Capital

In the middle of Bucharest, at Romania’s kilometer zero, stands today the “I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre, an emblematic institution for Romanian drama. But the story of this place begins long before the first play was staged here—back in the 18th century, when the land belonged to one of the most influential merchant families in the city: the Ha...

Kretzulescu Church, between past and present. Built by Safta Brâncoveanu, saved from ruin

In the center of Bucharest, just a few steps from Calea Victoriei and the Royal Palace, stands one of the most valuable monuments of religious architecture in the capital: the Kretzulescu Church. Built at the beginning of the 18th century, between 1720 and 1722, the church was founded by the great logothete Iordache Kretzulescu and his wife Safta,...

Who was Matei Balș, the blue-blooded doctor after whom Romania’s most famous infectious disease institute was named

In Romanian history, there are figures who managed to combine two seemingly incompatible worlds: aristocracy and science, tradition and modernity, a personal destiny marked by hardship and a brilliant career. Among these names is Professor Matei Balș, the doctor who became a symbol of the fight against infectious diseases and of excellence in resea...