Amzei Church

Bucharest Tour: Old Churches

It’s a true miracle that a number of Bucharest’s awesome churches have survived wars, earthquakes and communism, preserving magnificent décor elements and fresco paintings. Today, they are Bucharest’s must-see regardless of the season or time of the day. And with many of them located right in the Old Town or along the stunning Victory Avenue (Calea Victoriei) Bucharest’s churches are an easy reach for a visitor.

Dating back to the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, Bucharest’s churches represent a unique chance to dive deep into Romania’s religious history and architecture, which are rooted in local traditions, Byzantine epoch and Orthodoxy.

Churches, which can be found in the Old Town and along Calea Victoriei:

The Old Court Church (16th century) – the oldest preserved church in its original appearance in Bucharest.

Stavropoleos church (early 18th century) – Founded as part of Stavropoleos Convent for nuns, the church was erected in the early 18th century. Today it’s the only structure of the Convent, which has survived earthquakes, wars and Communist regime. The church boasts a 8000 books library, dedicated to theology, byzantine history, music and arts.

Kretzulescu Church (18th century) – Surrounded by Communist-era buidlings, the church survived multiple earthquakes and witnessed the 1989 revolution. The church is built in a local style and preserved some of its original frescoes.

The Cathedral of Saint Joseph (second half of the 19th century) – This is the most famous Catholic church in Bucharest. St Joseph is the metropolitan cathedral and the seat of the archbishop.

Bucharest tour is well worth it even if done as a shore excursion from Constanta. More about our Constanta and Bucharest tours and shore excursions at odessawalks.com

Bucharest, the Little Paris

Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Époque buildings and a reputation for the high life (which in the 1900s earned its nickname of Little Paris), Bucharest, Romania's largest city and capital,
is today a bustling metropolis.
Remodeled in the late 19th century by French and French-trained architects, the city features large neoclassical buildings, fashionable parks, and even its very own Arc de Triomphe on the elegant Soseaua Kiseleff, an avenue longer than the famed Champs-Elysees and home to the city's mansion district.
Bucharest is laden with historical charm - from the streets of the Old City Centre, which are slowly being restored, to the grand architecture of the Royal Palace and the lush green of Cismigiu Park. The city also claims a large number of museums, art galleries, exquisite Orthodox churches and unique architectural sites.
More about Bucharest, Romania's capital city:

The fight to keep Bucharest's few architectural treasures

Bucharest is not exactly known for its picturesque visage, the city scarred by ageing concrete apartment blocks and the outsized palace of the Ceausescu era. But behind the Communist facade the Romanian capital boasts some century-old architectural gems, and local preservationists are now fighting to restore them to their former glory.Duration: 02:00

Bucharest In Your Pocket - Stavropoleos Church (Biserica Stavropoleos)

Stavropoleos Church was built in 1724 by the Greek monk Ioanikie Stratonikeas, and is currently under going much-needed restoration. It is characterized by its beautiful stone and wood carvings, of which the finest are on the main doors. The courtyard outside (beautiful on a warm afternoon) has a curious collection of tombstones dating from the 18th century.

For more about Bucharest Old Town check out Bucharest In Your Pocket:

Bucharest In Your Pocket - St. Nicolas Students' Church (Sfântul Nicolae Biserica Studenţilor)

If you head into the Old Town area from Universitate, the first sight that will grab your attention is the St. Nicholas Students Church. Built in 1905-09 with a 600,000 gold rouble donation from Tsar Alexander II, this Russian orthodox church is topped with seven typically Russian onion domes and crowned with an orthodox cross. The wooden, gold-gilded iconostasis (catapeteasmă) is allegedly a copy of the altar in Arhangelsk Cathedral, in Moscow's Kremlin.

For more about Bucharest Old Town check out Bucharest In Your Pocket:

The Charming Lipscani Area Bucharest, Romania

One of the nicest, up and coming area in Bucharest is the old historical area called Lipscani. In the 1400s, merchants and craftsmen established shops and guilds in this section which became known as Lipscani, so named for German traders from Lipsca or Leiptzig.

Streets took on the names of the guilds similar to other medieval towns. There would be a street of blacksmiths, furriers, etc. and this mix is reflected in the different architectural styles; everything from Baroque to Art Nouveau.

Between the remains of the Old Princely Court built in the 15th century by Vlad Tepes (also known as Vlad Dracula - you know who he is thanks to Bram Stoker), Manuc's Inn and the Beer Cart Restaurant built in 1879, there is plenty to see. Lipscani has to be even more beautiful and enjoyable in the summer with its many restaurants and outdoor tables.

Briefing at the Anglican Church in Bucharest

A short review of the history and architecture of Bucharest's Anglican Church, an Edwardian era building designed by a Romanian architect, Victor Stephanescu, which during the communist times was the only official Anglican worshiping place behind the Iron Courtain.

Churches in Bucharest

The most beautiful, special or interesting churches in Bucharest. The years in the list below indicate when the churches were finished. They are presented in the order of appearance:
1. Bucur Church around XVIII century
2. Buna Vestire Curtea Veche Church 1554
3. Patriarchal Cathedral from Bucharest 1658
4. Coltea Church 1702
5. Kretzulescu Church 1722
6. Stavropoleos Church 1724

This video was done with the support of Hotel Christina in Bucharest:

Bucharest In Your Pocket - History Museum (Muzeul National de Istorie)

The beautiful, monumental and simply superb Neo-Classical building that houses Romania's National History Museum was constructed from 1894-1900 to the designs of local architect Alexandru Săvulescu. It originally served as the headquarters of Poşta Romană, the Romanian postal service. When the post office moved away in 1970, the History Museum moved in. The museum's exhibitions are spread over 60 display rooms, and include a fine collection of antiquities, including statues brought from a Bronze Age necropolis close to present day Cernavoda. The finest exhibit is the replica of Trajan's Column in the central lapidarium. The museum is poor on Romania's recent history.
For more about museums in Bucharest check out Bucharest In Your Pocket:

Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest was first mentioned in documents
in 1459. It became the capital of Romania in
1862 and is the centre of Romanian media,
culture, and art. Its architecture is a mix of
historical (neo-classical), interbellum
(Bauhaus and art deco), communist-era and
modern. In the period between the two World
Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the
sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest
the nickname of Little Paris. Although
buildings and districts in the historic city
centre were heavily damaged or destroyed
by war, earthquakes, and above all
Nicolae Ceaușescu's program of
systematization, many survived

Colorful building in Bucharest

This colorfully lighted building can be found at 43 Argentina street in Bucharest, Romania. The lighting scheme changes every few seconds through about 6 different setups.

Bucharest Church of St. Nicholas Service #1

Kretzulescu Church Bucharest

recorded on July 7, 2013
Moving Image Archive Serge de Muller

Romania (#03): City of Bucharest, Unirii Square

More of Bucharest, touring the Unirii and University Square areas

Romanian govt flounders in corruption scandal

(6 Feb 2017) The leader of Romania's ruling centre-left coalition said on Monday the government will not resign following the biggest demonstrations since the end of communism.
There were signs, however, that the government may not push ahead immediately with a measure to decriminalise official misconduct - which ignited the protests.
On Sunday, the government backed down following six days of street protests from an emergency ordinance that would decriminalise abuse in office by officials if the amount involved was less than about 48,500 US dollars.
It plans to introduce another version of the law in Parliament, where it has a majority.
Romania's important Constitutional Court may address legal issues this week, before the proposal goes to Parliament.
But many think the political case has already been lost because the government over-reached with its late night emergency decree, a measure that has since been withdrawn.
Laura Stefan, anti-corruption coordinator with the Expert Forum research centre in Bucharest, said the government made a fatal mistake in the emergency decree by okaying corrupt deeds if less than 48,500 (US dollars) was involved.
It's simply un-defendable, she said. How can you explain to the people of this country, who maybe don't make 50-thousand dollars in their lifetime of work, that it is OK for public officials to misuse their office in order to obtain less than 50-thousand dollars from the state budget?
Stefan said there are international standards on corruption legislation that would make the threshold set by the Romanian government extremely hard to justify even though other countries, including Italy under former leader Silvio Berlusconi, have tried to enact laws that would exempt high officials from charges of misusing public funds.


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A Mish Mosh of Bucharest, Romania

This video is exactly what it says, a mish-mosh of history, historic buildings, differences in Romanian wine, and other sights seen over two brief days in Bucharest.

Every street in Bucharest was filled with Art Nouveau, Gothic, Romanesque, Neo-something or another homes - often derelict, but still beautiful. The parking situation amazed us - cars seemed to park willy-nilly in double and triple rows while attendants appeared to make sense of it all and would issue a parking slip which the driver would then pay. Bucharest is an amazing city!

Romania 2017 - Bucharest, the Capital City

Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial center of Romania, the largest city located in the southeast of the country, and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River. In the period between the two World Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest the nickname of Little Paris. Although buildings and districts in the historic city center were heavily damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes, and above all Ceaușescu's program of systematization, many survived. It was first mentioned in documents as early as 1459. Since then it has gone through a variety of changes, becoming the state capital of Romania in 1862 and steadily consolidating its position as the center of the Romanian mass media, culture and arts. Its eclectic architecture is a mix of historical (neo-classical), interbellum (Bauhaus and Art Deco), Communist-era and modern. In recent years, the city has been experiencing an economic and cultural boom. Economically, Bucharest is the most prosperous city in Romania and is one of the main industrial centers and transportation hubs of Eastern Europe. The city has a broad range of convention facilities, educational facilities, cultural venues, shopping arcades, and recreational areas.

Bucharest, Romania residential compound designed by Bobotis Architects

Bucharest, Romania residential compound designed by Bobotis Architects