Articles (1418)

Stories from pre-war Bucharest: grand balls, luxury, Western influences and La Belle Époque

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the next, Bucharest lived through an era of grace and elegance, inspired by the charm of Paris. Just like the French capital, which set the tone for the Belle Époque beginning in 1871, Bucharest experienced a time of prosperity, refinement, and openness to modernity. Relative peace, economic growt...

“Bilete de papagal” — the “flea-sized” newspaper of the great Tudor Arghezi, the pamphlet that satirized interwar Bucharest society

In an era when the Romanian interwar press was at its peak—dominated by large, solemn, and often pompous publications—Tudor Arghezi chose to go against the current. On February 2, 1928, in the courtyard of his house on Mărțișor Street, the poet printed the first issue of “Bilete de papagal” (“Parrot Tickets”) — a tiny four-page newspaper, with an u...

The history of Ferentari – from “the road that led nowhere” to Bucharest’s Bronx and the infamous district of today

Ferentari, one of Bucharest’s most controversial neighborhoods, is today often seen as a socially and economically troubled area — a kind of urban ghetto located in the southwestern part of the capital. Yet behind stereotypes and sensational headlines lies a complex and deeply human history. The story of Ferentari begins in the interwar period, whe...

What Bucharest Could Look Like in 2040 – Urbanism and Mobility Scenarios

Bucharest is a city living in several eras at once: old trams and electric scooters, Soviet-style boulevards and glass towers, streets without sidewalks and office parks. Between stagnation and real estate explosion, the capital seems stuck in an extended present. Yet, under the pressure of investment, European policies, and demographic shifts, the...

The story of the Rahova neighborhood, from the Romanians’ victory in the War of Independence to the Beggars’ Bridge and the Florists’ Road

The Rahova neighborhood of Bucharest is a place rich in history and remarkable transformations. Beneath the modern layers of its buildings and streets lies the story of an area that evolved from poverty and marginalization into one of the city’s defining districts. The story of Rahova begins with the old Beggars’ Bridge, continues with the memory o...

History lesson: how the Institute of Atomic Physics in Măgurele was founded

Few institutions in Romania have had such a profound contribution to the development of modern science as the Institute of Atomic Physics (IFA) in Măgurele. Its story begins shortly after the Second World War, at a time when Romanian science was searching for a new direction and researchers dreamed of a center dedicated exclusively to the study of...

The lesson of history: who was Horia Hulubei – fighter pilot, war hero, and father of Romanian nuclear physics

The father of Romanian nuclear physics, Horia Hulubei, lived a tumultuous life marked by both brilliance and hardship. His story combines the courage of a fighter pilot, the resilience of a war hero, and the intellect of a visionary scientist. He fought in World War I, secretly collaborated with the Allies during World War II to help Romania change...

Famous Boulevard Names: Nicolae Titulescu, Jurist, Professor, Minister, Romania’s Greatest Diplomat

In 2025, 143 years passed since the birth of Nicolae Titulescu, one of the brightest personalities of modern Romania. A politician, jurist, university professor, and exceptional diplomat, Titulescu is remembered as Romania’s greatest diplomat, a visionary of peace and European unity. His career, marked by both glory and suffering, unfolded between...

The Businessman Gheorghe Ștefănescu, the “Wine” Case, and the Incredible Story Behind the Film “Secretul lui Bachus”

The story of Gheorghe Ștefănescu, posthumously nicknamed “Bachus,” begins in 1971 in his wine warehouse on Calea Griviței, near the intersection with Șoseaua Nicolae Titulescu. Over the years, his operations became legendary for their audacity, ingenuity, and impact on Romanian society during the communist era. Ștefănescu’s name would later inspire...

The history of the Romanian Hollywood. The Buftea Film Studios, built by Gheorghiu-Dej for his daughter, Lica

On the outskirts of Bucharest, in the town of Buftea, stands one of the most important institutions in the history of Romanian cinema – the Buftea Film Studios. Conceived in the 1950s at the initiative of communist leader Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, the studios were meant to become a true “Romanian Hollywood.” However, it is said that the project was a...