Articles (1839)

General Paul Teodorescu, the Romanian hero with his own boulevard. He refused the Legionnaires and was rehabilitated by Charles de Gaulle

The figure of General Paul Teodorescu remains one of the brightest and most complex in the military history of 20th-century Romania. His life, unfolding between the glory of training fields, the dramatic trials of dictatorships, and the suffering of communist prisons, represents a lesson in dignity and courage. Often described as “a knight without...

The cruel fate of the courtesan Zaraza. Trapped in a love triangle, killed out of jealousy

During the interwar period, Bucharest was nicknamed “Little Paris,” a capital in full cultural and social effervescence. The city pulsed with life: luxurious restaurants, cabarets, taverns with lăutărească music, where bohemians, wealthy merchants, and influential politicians gathered to party until dawn. It was an age of unleashed passions, elegan...

Bucharest had its first coffeehouse 360 years ago: the Janissary Haime, the “wine of the Orient,” and an everlasting story

For millions of Romanians today, the day begins with a hot cup of coffee. Yet behind this ordinary ritual lies a fascinating history: the arrival of coffee in Bucharest more than three and a half centuries ago. The first documented coffeehouse in Wallachia’s capital opened in 1667, founded by a Turkish Janissary named Haime.His establishment was st...

Where does the name of Lipscani Street come from: the great street, merchants and Bucharest’s elite

In the heart of old Bucharest, Lipscani Street has always had a special place. Documented as early as 1589, it was then known as the “Great Street” (Ulița Mare). Located next to the Old Princely Court – the residence built by Vlad Țepeș – the street quickly became a key point in the city’s economic life. Merchants, craftsmen and travelers met here...

Bullying – the biggest fear of parents in Bucharest

At the start of every school year, parents in Bucharest make their lists: backpacks, textbooks, uniforms, after-school schedules. But beyond the material inventory lies a fear that’s harder to put on paper – bullying.A recent study shows that for almost half of parents in the capital, bullying is the number one concern. Above costs, above traffic,...

Bucharest, the city where everyone rushes but no one arrives earlier

Bucharest lives in a state of permanent rush. At any hour, you see people running after buses, crossing on red lights, honking impatiently. Everyone believes that moving faster will somehow earn them time. And yet, time dissolves just the same, no matter the speed. No one arrives earlier.It’s a kind of ritualized agitation, repeated day after day....

The first boulevard in the history of Bucharest, laid out by mayor Pache Protopopescu. Yesterday, Academia. Today, Queen Elisabeth

In the history of Bucharest, few mayors have left as strong a mark on the city as Pache Protopopescu. Although he led the city administration for only three years, between 1888 and 1891, his tenure was marked by bold initiatives through which Bucharest began to take shape as a European city. One of his most important achievements was the creation o...

Great Romanian dynasties: Cantacuzino, “The uncrowned kings” of Romania, a family of rulers, princes, actors, and illustrious doctors

The name Cantacuzino holds a special place in Romanian history and culture. Descended from a branch of the great Byzantine Cantacuzino family, which once gave emperors to Constantinople, this dynasty managed to preserve its prestige even after the fall of Byzantium, shifting its center of influence to the Romanian principalities. Over the centuries...

Constantin I. Nottara, the theatre and the drama of love. The wife of Romania’s greatest actor fell into the arms of I.L. Caragiale

The late 19th century was, for Romanian culture, an age of artistic effervescence but also of scandalous stories that went far beyond the stage. One of the most flavorful anecdotes of that time revolved around Constantin Nottara, a leading actor regarded as the greatest performer of his generation.Constantin I. Nottara – the glory of the Romanian s...

The story of Sărindar Church, the chapel were Mihail Kogălniceanu, former Romanian prime-minister, got married

The Sărindar Church, also known by Bucharesters as the “Church of the Young Gentlemen,” was for a long time a landmark of the capital. From its founding in 1652, it stood out not only as a place of worship but also as a space around which an entire social, religious, and cultural history was woven.The beginnings of a legendary churchThe first const...