Articles (893)

The first mobsters of interwar Bucharest. How Nae Chioru and the Dragon terrorized Romanians in the 1920s–30s

Interwar Bucharest is often remembered as a city of elegance, full of cafés bustling with intellectuals and artists, with architecture that earned it the nickname “Little Paris.” Yet behind this refined image, the streets of the capital also concealed a darker universe: poor slums, marginalized neighborhoods, and the beginnings of an underworld tha...

The story of Ion Pillat, grandson of Ion C. Brătianu. The great poet helped Bacovia at his literary debut

Ion Pillat is one of the most remarkable figures of Romanian literature in the first half of the 20th century. A refined poet, an intellectual shaped in a cosmopolitan environment, but at the same time deeply connected to Romanian tradition, he succeeded in building a body of work that blends modernity with the spiritual and cultural values of the...

The forbidden love between King Carol II and Elena Lupescu. “Duduia” won him over with a simple candy

The love story between King Carol II of Romania and Elena Lupescu remains one of the most controversial and passionate episodes in the country’s history. It combined desire and sacrifice with scandal and political manipulation, leaving deep marks on both the monarch’s life and Romania’s destiny. Unlike other dynastic romances, their relationship wa...

Basarab railway station in Bucharest: brief history, major events, its role today

Basarab railway station is one of the essential train stations in Bucharest, even though it often remains overshadowed by the famous North Railway Station. From its inauguration to the present day, the station has undergone numerous transformations, reflecting the social, economic, and urban changes of the capital. Its role has always been supporti...

Night transport in Bucharest: how safe is it really?

At night, Bucharest looks different. Main roads stay busy until late, but side streets empty quickly. For those without a car or who don’t want to rely on ride-sharing apps, public night buses are often the only accessible option. The question that keeps coming back is: how safe are they, really?How night transport worksSTB (Bucharest Transport Com...

7 bookstores in Bucharest where it’s worth losing track of time

In a city where rush and crowding feel like the norm, there are still places where time stretches and the rhythm slows down. Good bookstores are no longer just shops, but refuges where you can find quiet, inspiration, and sometimes even a sense of community. Bucharest has a few such places, each with its own atmosphere.1. Cărturești Verona Probably...

The Curse of a Hero. The 1848 Revolutionary C.A. Rosetti Buried His Three-Year-Old Daughter in Bellu Cemetery

The name Constantin Alexandru Rosetti still resonates today among patriots, evoking the memory of one of Romania’s most influential political and cultural figures of the 19th century. A leader of the 1848 revolutionary movement, Rosetti dedicated his life to the emancipation of the Romanian people and the modernization of society. He became a symbo...

There is a street in Bucharest, but few know its story. How Badea Cârțan walked 46 Days on foot from Sibiu to Rome

Few Romanians today know who Badea Cârțan was, even though his name appears on a street in Bucharest and on a few commemorative monuments. In reality, Gheorghe Cârțan – his birth name – was one of the most remarkable Romanians of the 19th century. Born into a modest shepherd family in the village of Cârțișoara, in the Țara Făgărașului region, on a...

The story of the Sfânta Vineri church, the most beautiful church in Bucharest. Why Elena Ceaușescu demolished it

Among the churches that profoundly shaped Bucharest’s identity, the Sfânta Vineri-Herăscu Church held a special place. Built initially in the 16th century, founded by voivode Matei Basarab, it was considered for centuries one of the most beautiful and representative places of worship in the Capital.A jewel of Bucharest’s spiritualityLocated in the...

The oldest buildings in Bucharest. From the Old Princely Court to Manuc’s Inn and Casa Vernescu

Bucharest is a city where layers of history overlap visibly in its architecture. Among modern blocks and wide boulevards, there are buildings that have withstood the centuries and tell stories of the city’s beginnings, of times of glory and decline, of boyars, rulers, merchants, and intellectuals. Some have been restored and turned into museums, ot...