Articles (893)

The Stone Cross, forbidden love and the brothels of interwar Bucharest. The “sweet girls” read, spoke foreign languages and had good manners

Interwar Bucharest has remained in collective memory as a city of contrasts. Nicknamed the “Little Paris” for the elegance of its architecture, cultural refinement, and bohemian lifestyle, the city also had a hidden, discreet, but highly sought-after side: the world of brothels and houses of tolerance. Under the red lanterns, the gentlemen of the C...

Ouatu’s Pit and the forgotten history of the slum on the edge of Grivița neighborhood

Romania’s capital is today a vibrant city, full of noise, light, and bustle, but few Bucharest residents know that, just a few generations ago, the outskirts of the city hid miserable, dangerous slums, almost cut off from the rest of town. Among these, one place has remained in the memory of those who studied the city’s social history: Ouatu’s Pit....

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...