duminică, 27 iunie 2010
travel in Bucuresti or Bucharest
Bucharest nightlife its just woooauu!!!!!
we have Mtv peapal all the time
evribody its having an good time
if you have 50 to 500 euro you get an good time four shure in Bucuresti or Bucharest
Just came and visit my city you will came bak four sure
so clic from time to time on my blog http://travelinbucuresti.blogspot.com/
four any info just leave an coment
My city Bucharest travel in bucuresti
Bucharest Visual Arts
In terms of visual arts, the city contains a number of museums featuring both classical and contemporary Romanian art, as well as selected international works. The National Museum of Art of Romania is perhaps the best-known of Bucharest museums. It is located in the former royal palace and features extensive collections of medieval and modern Romanian art, including works by renowned sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi, as well as a prominent international collection assembled by the former Romanian royal family.
Other, smaller museums, contain more specialised collections of works. The Zambaccian Museum, which is situated in the former home of Armenian-Romanian art collector Krikor H. Zambaccian contains works by many well-known Romanian artists as well as international artists such as Paul Cézanne, Eugène Delacroix, Henri Matisse, Camille Pissarro and Pablo Picasso.
The Gheorghe Tattarescu Museum contains portraits of Romanian revolutionaries in exile such as Gheorghe Magheru, Ştefan Golescu, Nicolae Bălcescu and allegorical compositions with revolutionary (Romania's rebirth, 1849) and patriotic (The Principalities' Unification, 1857) themes. The Theodor Pallady Museum is situated in one of the oldest surviving merchant houses in Bucharest and includes many works by Romanian painter Theodor Pallady as well as a number of European and Oriental furniture pieces. The Museum of Art Collections contains the collections of a number of well-known Romanian art aficionados, including Krikor Zambaccian and Theodor Pallady.
Despite the extensive classical art galleries and museums in the city, there is also a contemporary arts scene that has become increasingly prominent in recent times. The National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC), situated in a wing of the Palace of the Parliament, was opened in 2004 and contains a widespread collection of Romanian and international contemporary art, in a number of expressive forms. The MNAC also manages the Kalinderu MediaLab, which caters specifically to multimedia and experimental art. There is also a range of smaller, private art galleries throughout the city centre.
The palace of the National Bank of Romania houses the national numismatic collection. Exhibits include banknotes, coins, documents, photographs, maps, silver and gold bullion bars, bullion coins, dies and moulds. The building itself was constructed between 1884 and 1890. The thesaurus room contains notable marble decorations.
Travel to Bucharest
Bucharest 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 centre 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 the period between the two World Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest the nickname of the "Little Paris of the East" (Micul Paris). Although many buildings and districts in the historic centre were damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes and Nicolae Ceaușescu's program of systematization, many survived. In recent years, the city has been experiencing an economic and cultural boom.
According to January 1, 2009 official estimates, Bucharest proper has a population of 1,944,367. The urban area extends beyond the limits of Bucharest proper and has a population of 2 million people. Adding the satellite towns around the urban area, the metropolitan area of Bucharest has a population of 2.15 million people. According to unofficial data, the population is more than 3 million. Bucharest is the 6th largest city in the European Union by population within city limits.
Economically, Bucharest is the most prosperous city in Romania and is one of the main industrial centres and transportation hubs of Eastern Europe. The city has a broad range of convention facilities, educational facilities, cultural venues, shopping arcades and recreational areas.
The city proper is administratively known as the Municipality of Bucharest (Municipiul București), and has the same administrative level as a county, being further subdivided into six sectors.
According to January 1, 2009 official estimates, Bucharest proper has a population of 1,944,367. The urban area extends beyond the limits of Bucharest proper and has a population of 2 million people. Adding the satellite towns around the urban area, the metropolitan area of Bucharest has a population of 2.15 million people. According to unofficial data, the population is more than 3 million. Bucharest is the 6th largest city in the European Union by population within city limits.
Economically, Bucharest is the most prosperous city in Romania and is one of the main industrial centres and transportation hubs of Eastern Europe. The city has a broad range of convention facilities, educational facilities, cultural venues, shopping arcades and recreational areas.
The city proper is administratively known as the Municipality of Bucharest (Municipiul București), and has the same administrative level as a county, being further subdivided into six sectors.
miercuri, 23 iunie 2010
Bucharest - Parlament building heaviest in the world
The Palace of the Parliament (Romanian: Palatul Parlamentului) in Bucharest, Romania is a multi-purpose building containing both chambers of the Romanian Parliament. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Palace is the world's largest civilian administrative building, most expensive administrative building, and heaviest building.
The Palace was designed and nearly completed by the Ceauşescu regime as the seat of political and administrative power. Nicolae Ceauşescu named it the House of the Republic (Casa Republicii), but many Romanians call it the People's House (Casa Poporului).
Night Life in Bucharest Romania the best place in europ
The Romanian folklore heritage of song and dance has most definitely been converted to more modern day times. There are café’s, bars, clubs and casinos all over town for city break travellers, stag parties and anyone else for that matter to enjoy. There’s huge meat market clubs for stag weekends abroad, chic bars for urban socialites and casinos for the flash & high-rollers. Book a break to Romania and experience the amazing nightlife of Bucharest.
We offer bespoke bargain breaks packages to the best cities in Central & Eastern Europe. For quality, value and price – don’t compromise your valuable free time, book with the best short breaks holiday company on the internet. Vamos Travel welcomes you to Romania; experience Bucharest the ultimate weekend city escape in New Europe for discerning travelers. For stag weekends in Bucharest click on the below banner or email our dedicated Bucharest stag team: info@vamostravel.com
In this section, you’ll find a comprehensive list of all the best establishments in the Romanian capital. We have reviewed a wide cross section of hot spots, for all types of short break clients, wanting to see Bucharest at night. This awesome city has something to suit everybody, from chic bars, earthy jazz venues, cheap stag do’s pubs, casinos and crazy stag party clubs. If you would like Vamos Travel to arrange a nightlife guide or want us to book nightclub VIP guest passes, we will be happy to add this to your itinerary. Please read on and enjoy our night life reviews, recommendations and hot night spot tips.
Bar JukeBox is a cellar bar with a superb atmosphere. There are numerous live bands that visit from all over the world. Bizarrely last time we were there, there was a reggae band all the way from the Congo playing. It is a really funky venue with a lovely mix of clients. Students, couples and discerning stag parties in Bucharest all frequent this great venue. Laptar Enache is an institution rather than a bar. The live music helps create a fun and friendly environment and the well-known pianist Johnny Raducanu is a regular guest. It is definitely an arty place and a great place to share a beer and put the world to rights. Again it offers a really nice mix of characters; although it is predominantly a young crowd attracting students, UK stag do’s and discerning travellers. La Motor has the best outside terrace in the city and the art house film screenings make it a novel and funky place to try on your Bucharest breaks. Nightlife is diverse and there are many superb Jazz only clubs, including the Blues Café and Café Indigo Jazz Club. Here you can enjoy quality performances amidst a groovy ambience. For discerning clients, these are excellent club choices. Bar Yellow is also a trendy place to check out, playing tunes from funk to jazzy house. It is located in the centre of the city so is easy to find.
new view from Bucarest capital of Romania
new view from Bucharest
Bucharest's architecture is highly eclectic due to the many influences on the city throughout its history. The city centre is a mixture of medieval, neoclassical and art nouveau buildings, as well as 'neo-Romanian' buildings dating from the beginning of the 20th century and a remarkable collection of modern buildings from the 20s and 30s. The mostly-utilitarian Communist-era architecture dominates most southern boroughs. Recently built contemporary structures such as skyscrapers and office buildings complete the landscape.
Historical arhitecture
Of the city's medieval architecture, most of what survived into modern times was destroyed by Communist systematization, numerous fires and military incursions. Still, some medieval and renaissance edifices remain, the most notable are in the Lipscani area. This precinct contains notable buildings such as Manuc's Inn and the ruins of the Curtea Veche (the Old Court), during the late Middle Ages this area was the heart of commerce in Bucharest.From the 1970s onwards, the area went through urban decline, and many historical buildings fell into disrepair. In 2005, the Lipscani area was entirely pedestrianised and is currently slowly undergoing restoration.
The city centre has also retained architecture from the late 19th century and early 20th century, particularly the interwar period, which is often seen as the "golden age" of Bucharest architecture. During this time, the city grew significantly in size and wealth therefore seaking to emulate other large European capitals such as Paris. Much of the architecture of the time belongs to a remarkably strong Modern (rationalist) Architecture current, led by Horia Creanga and Marcel Iancu, which managed to literally change the face of the city.
Two notable buildings from this time are the Creţulescu Palace, currently housing cultural institutions including UNESCO's European Centre for Higher Education, and the Cotroceni Palace, the current residence of the Romanian President. Many large-scale constructions such as Gara de Nord, the busiest railway station in the city, National Bank of Romania's headquarters and the Telephone Palace date from these times. In the 2000s, a wide variety of historic buildings in the city centre underwent restoration. In some residential areas of the city, particularly the high-income northern suburbs, there are many turn-of-the-century villas, most of which were restored in the late 1990s.
A major part of Bucharest's architecture is made up of buildings constructed during the Communist era replacing the historical architecture with high density apartment blocks - significant portions of the historic center of Bucharest were demolished in order to construct one of the largest buildings in the world: Casa Poporului - Palace of the Parliament. In Nicolae Ceauşescu's project of systematization many new buildings were built in previously-historical areas, which were razed and then built upon from scratch.
One of the best examples of this type of architecture is Centrul Civic, a development that replaced a major part of Bucharest's historic city centre with giant utilitarian buildings, mainly with marble or travertine façades, inspired by North Korean architecture. Communist-era architecture can also be found in Bucharest's residential districts, mainly in blocuri, which are high-density apartment blocks that house the majority of the city's population
Since the fall of Communism in 1989, several Communist-era buildings have been refurbished, modernised and used for other purposes. Perhaps the best example of this is the conversion of several obsolete retail complexes into shopping malls and commercial centres. These giant circular halls, which were unofficially called hunger circuses due to the food shortages experienced in the 1980s, were constructed during the Ceauşescu era to act as produce markets and refectories, although most were left unfinished at the time of the Revolution.
Modern shopping malls like Unirea Shopping Center, Bucharest Mall, Plaza Romania and City Mall emerged on pre-existent structures of former hunger circuses. Another example is the modernisation and conversion of a large utilitarian construction in Centrul Civic into a Marriott Hotel. This process was accelerated after 2000, when the city underwent a property boom, and many Communist-era buildings in the city centre became prime real estate due to their location. In recent years, many Communist-era apartment blocks have also been refurbished to improve urban appearance.
The newest contribution to Bucharest's architecture took place after the fall of Communism, particularly after 2000, when the city went through a period of urban renewal – and architectural revitalization – on the back of Romania's rapid economic growth. Buildings from this time are mostly made of glass and steel, and often have more than ten storeys. Examples include shopping malls (particularly the Bucharest Mall, a conversion and extension of an abandoned building), office buildings, bank headquarters, the Bucharest World Trade Center and the Chamber of Commerce, which lies on the banks of the Dâmboviţa.
As of 2005, there is a significant number of office buildings in construction, particularly in the northern and eastern parts of the city. Additionally, there has been a trend in recent years to add modern wings and façades to historic buildings, the most prominent example of which is the Bucharest Architects' Association Building, which is a modern glass-and-steel construction built inside a historic stone façade.
Aside from buildings used for business and institutions, various new residential developments are currently underway, many of which consist of high-rise buildings with a glass exterior, surrounded by American-style residential communities. These developments are increasingly prominent in the northern suburbs of the city, which are less densely-populated and are home to a significant number of middle- and upper-class Bucharesters due to the process of gentrification.
Bucharest's architecture is highly eclectic due to the many influences on the city throughout its history. The city centre is a mixture of medieval, neoclassical and art nouveau buildings, as well as 'neo-Romanian' buildings dating from the beginning of the 20th century and a remarkable collection of modern buildings from the 20s and 30s. The mostly-utilitarian Communist-era architecture dominates most southern boroughs. Recently built contemporary structures such as skyscrapers and office buildings complete the landscape.
Historical arhitecture
Of the city's medieval architecture, most of what survived into modern times was destroyed by Communist systematization, numerous fires and military incursions. Still, some medieval and renaissance edifices remain, the most notable are in the Lipscani area. This precinct contains notable buildings such as Manuc's Inn and the ruins of the Curtea Veche (the Old Court), during the late Middle Ages this area was the heart of commerce in Bucharest.From the 1970s onwards, the area went through urban decline, and many historical buildings fell into disrepair. In 2005, the Lipscani area was entirely pedestrianised and is currently slowly undergoing restoration.
The city centre has also retained architecture from the late 19th century and early 20th century, particularly the interwar period, which is often seen as the "golden age" of Bucharest architecture. During this time, the city grew significantly in size and wealth therefore seaking to emulate other large European capitals such as Paris. Much of the architecture of the time belongs to a remarkably strong Modern (rationalist) Architecture current, led by Horia Creanga and Marcel Iancu, which managed to literally change the face of the city.
Two notable buildings from this time are the Creţulescu Palace, currently housing cultural institutions including UNESCO's European Centre for Higher Education, and the Cotroceni Palace, the current residence of the Romanian President. Many large-scale constructions such as Gara de Nord, the busiest railway station in the city, National Bank of Romania's headquarters and the Telephone Palace date from these times. In the 2000s, a wide variety of historic buildings in the city centre underwent restoration. In some residential areas of the city, particularly the high-income northern suburbs, there are many turn-of-the-century villas, most of which were restored in the late 1990s.
A major part of Bucharest's architecture is made up of buildings constructed during the Communist era replacing the historical architecture with high density apartment blocks - significant portions of the historic center of Bucharest were demolished in order to construct one of the largest buildings in the world: Casa Poporului - Palace of the Parliament. In Nicolae Ceauşescu's project of systematization many new buildings were built in previously-historical areas, which were razed and then built upon from scratch.
One of the best examples of this type of architecture is Centrul Civic, a development that replaced a major part of Bucharest's historic city centre with giant utilitarian buildings, mainly with marble or travertine façades, inspired by North Korean architecture. Communist-era architecture can also be found in Bucharest's residential districts, mainly in blocuri, which are high-density apartment blocks that house the majority of the city's population
Since the fall of Communism in 1989, several Communist-era buildings have been refurbished, modernised and used for other purposes. Perhaps the best example of this is the conversion of several obsolete retail complexes into shopping malls and commercial centres. These giant circular halls, which were unofficially called hunger circuses due to the food shortages experienced in the 1980s, were constructed during the Ceauşescu era to act as produce markets and refectories, although most were left unfinished at the time of the Revolution.
Modern shopping malls like Unirea Shopping Center, Bucharest Mall, Plaza Romania and City Mall emerged on pre-existent structures of former hunger circuses. Another example is the modernisation and conversion of a large utilitarian construction in Centrul Civic into a Marriott Hotel. This process was accelerated after 2000, when the city underwent a property boom, and many Communist-era buildings in the city centre became prime real estate due to their location. In recent years, many Communist-era apartment blocks have also been refurbished to improve urban appearance.
The newest contribution to Bucharest's architecture took place after the fall of Communism, particularly after 2000, when the city went through a period of urban renewal – and architectural revitalization – on the back of Romania's rapid economic growth. Buildings from this time are mostly made of glass and steel, and often have more than ten storeys. Examples include shopping malls (particularly the Bucharest Mall, a conversion and extension of an abandoned building), office buildings, bank headquarters, the Bucharest World Trade Center and the Chamber of Commerce, which lies on the banks of the Dâmboviţa.
As of 2005, there is a significant number of office buildings in construction, particularly in the northern and eastern parts of the city. Additionally, there has been a trend in recent years to add modern wings and façades to historic buildings, the most prominent example of which is the Bucharest Architects' Association Building, which is a modern glass-and-steel construction built inside a historic stone façade.
Aside from buildings used for business and institutions, various new residential developments are currently underway, many of which consist of high-rise buildings with a glass exterior, surrounded by American-style residential communities. These developments are increasingly prominent in the northern suburbs of the city, which are less densely-populated and are home to a significant number of middle- and upper-class Bucharesters due to the process of gentrification.
old Bucharest 1930 - 2010
the old city
Visual arts
In terms of visual arts, the city contains a number of museums featuring both classical and contemporary Romanian art, as well as selected international works. The National Museum of Art of Romania is perhaps the best-known of Bucharest museums. It is located in the former royal palace and features extensive collections of medieval and modern Romanian art, including works by renowned sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi, as well as a prominent international collection assembled by the former Romanian royal family.
Other, smaller museums, contain more specialised collections of works. The Zambaccian Museum, which is situated in the former home of Armenian-Romanian art collector Krikor H. Zambaccian contains works by many well-known Romanian artists as well as international artists such as Paul Cézanne, Eugène Delacroix, Henri Matisse, Camille Pissarro and Pablo Picasso.
The Gheorghe Tattarescu Museum contains portraits of Romanian revolutionaries in exile such as Gheorghe Magheru, Ştefan Golescu, Nicolae Bălcescu and allegorical compositions with revolutionary (Romania's rebirth, 1849) and patriotic (The Principalities' Unification, 1857) themes. The Theodor Pallady Museum is situated in one of the oldest surviving merchant houses in Bucharest and includes many works by Romanian painter Theodor Pallady as well as a number of European and Oriental furniture pieces. The Museum of Art Collections contains the collections of a number of well-known Romanian art aficionados, including Krikor Zambaccian and Theodor Pallady.
Despite the extensive classical art galleries and museums in the city, there is also a contemporary arts scene that has become increasingly prominent in recent times. The National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC), situated in a wing of the Palace of the Parliament, was opened in 2004 and contains a widespread collection of Romanian and international contemporary art, in a number of expressive forms. The MNAC also manages the Kalinderu MediaLab, which caters specifically to multimedia and experimental art. There is also a range of smaller, private art galleries throughout the city centre.
The palace of the National Bank of Romania houses the national numismatic collection. Exhibits include banknotes, coins, documents, photographs, maps, silver and gold bullion bars, bullion coins, dies and moulds. The building itself was constructed between 1884 and 1890. The thesaurus room contains notable marble decorations.
best clubs and discos in Bucharest
no 1 king of entertainment in Romania
chek the home page http://www.bamboosportingclub.ro/
cool place ,prablabli no1 in the world
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chek the home page http://www.bamboosportingclub.ro/
cool place ,prablabli no1 in the world
no more coment
marți, 22 iunie 2010
Dracula Castle
Dracula Castle
Location:
Transylvania – Central Romania
Nearby large town:
Brasov (16 miles northeast)
Nearest train station: Brasov
Address: Str. Traian Mosoiu 24, Bran
Telephone: (268) 237.700 or 237.701
Email: office@bran-castle.com
Web: www.Bran-Castle.com
Open:
May 1 - September 30
Monday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tuesday - Sunday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm October 1 - April 30
Monday: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Tuesday - Sunday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Admission charge: www.Bran-Castle.com/en/Information/Pretul_Biletului
Surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend and perched high atop a 200-foot-high rock, Bran Castle owes its fame to its imposing towers and turrets as well as to the myth created around Bram Stocker’s Dracula.
Built on the site of a Teutonic Knights stronghold dating from 1212, the castle was first documented in an act issued by Louis I of Hungary on November 19, 1377, giving the Saxons of Kronstadt (Brasov) the privilege to build the Citadel.
Although Stoker never visited Transylvania, the Irish author relied on research and his vivid imagination to create the dark and intimidating stomping ground of Count Dracula, leading to persistent myths that it was once the home of Vlad Tepes, ruler of Walachia. While the association with Dracula is sketchy at best, the castle continues to hold a strong attraction for all fans of the Count.
From 1920 to 1957 Bran served as royal residence, a gift of the people of Brasov to Queen Marie of Romania. The castle is now a museum open to tourists, displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie.
Narrow winding stairways lead through some 60 timbered rooms, many connected by underground passages, which house collections of furniture, weapons and armor dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries. The castle overlooks the picturesque village of Bran, which offers an open-air Ethnographic Museum consisting of old local-style village houses complete with furniture, household objects and costumes.
Nearby attractions: Rasnov Fortress (7 miles); Brasov (16 miles); Peles Castle in Sinaia (35 miles); the ski resorts in Poiana Brasov (10 miles) and Predeal (15 miles); the medieval cities of Sighisoara (88 miles) and Sibiu (96 miles); Bucharest (110 miles).
Location:
Transylvania – Central Romania
Nearby large town:
Brasov (16 miles northeast)
Nearest train station: Brasov
Address: Str. Traian Mosoiu 24, Bran
Telephone: (268) 237.700 or 237.701
Email: office@bran-castle.com
Web: www.Bran-Castle.com
Open:
May 1 - September 30
Monday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tuesday - Sunday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm October 1 - April 30
Monday: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Tuesday - Sunday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Admission charge: www.Bran-Castle.com/en/Information/Pretul_Biletului
Surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend and perched high atop a 200-foot-high rock, Bran Castle owes its fame to its imposing towers and turrets as well as to the myth created around Bram Stocker’s Dracula.
Built on the site of a Teutonic Knights stronghold dating from 1212, the castle was first documented in an act issued by Louis I of Hungary on November 19, 1377, giving the Saxons of Kronstadt (Brasov) the privilege to build the Citadel.
Although Stoker never visited Transylvania, the Irish author relied on research and his vivid imagination to create the dark and intimidating stomping ground of Count Dracula, leading to persistent myths that it was once the home of Vlad Tepes, ruler of Walachia. While the association with Dracula is sketchy at best, the castle continues to hold a strong attraction for all fans of the Count.
From 1920 to 1957 Bran served as royal residence, a gift of the people of Brasov to Queen Marie of Romania. The castle is now a museum open to tourists, displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie.
Narrow winding stairways lead through some 60 timbered rooms, many connected by underground passages, which house collections of furniture, weapons and armor dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries. The castle overlooks the picturesque village of Bran, which offers an open-air Ethnographic Museum consisting of old local-style village houses complete with furniture, household objects and costumes.
Nearby attractions: Rasnov Fortress (7 miles); Brasov (16 miles); Peles Castle in Sinaia (35 miles); the ski resorts in Poiana Brasov (10 miles) and Predeal (15 miles); the medieval cities of Sighisoara (88 miles) and Sibiu (96 miles); Bucharest (110 miles).
luni, 21 iunie 2010
travel in Bucharest Museum ( orasul bucuresti)
Bucharest General Information
Location: Southern Romania
Size: City of Bucharest - 88 sq.miles (228 sq.km); Bucharest Metropolitan area - 587 sq.m(1,521 sq.km)
Elevation: 190-295 ft (55-90 m)
Population: 2.6 milion (2007)
Inhabited since: 500 BC
First documented: 1459 AD
City Highlights
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.
Romanian legend has it that the city of Bucharest was founded on the banks of the Dambovita River by a shepherd named Bucur, whose name literarily means "joy." His flute playing reportedly dazzled the people and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders, who gave his name to the place.
In the 15th century, the princely court of Vlad Tepes (thought to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula) was established here and by the end of the 17th century, the city had become the capital of the province of Walachia. In 1862, Bucharest became the capital of Romania.
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.
Nicolae Ceausescu's legacy, including the Parliament Palace (formerly called the People's Palace), which at 3.76 million square feet stands as the world's second largest building after the U.S. Pentagon, provides an interesting introduction to the dictator's megalomaniac vision.
Bucharest's buzzing cultural scene - 37 museums, 22 theatres, concert halls, opera house, 18 art galleries, jazz clubs and hip nightclubs - will certainly keep you busy. Every two years, Bucharest is host to the George Enescu International Festival, a prestigious cultural event named after the famous Romanian musician and composer. Renowned orchestras, conductors and soloists perform at the Romanian Athenaeum, a hall with acoustics comparable to Milan's La Scala.
Museums
Art Collections Museum (Muzeul Colectiilor de Arta)
Address: Calea Victoriei 111
Tel: (21) 212.96.41
Web: www.mnar.arts.ro/muzsatelit/EN_muzcolectiilor.php
Note: The museum is closed for renovations until the end of 2010.
Admission charge
Founded in 1978, the Art Collections Museum, a branch of the National Art Museum, houses private collections donated over the course of time. Collections include European as well as Oriental art works.
Bucharest History & Art Museum (Muzeul Municipiului Bucuresti)
Address: Blvd. I.C.Bratianu 2
Tel: (21) 315.68.58
Web: www.muzeulbucurestiului.ro/main.html
Open: Wed. - Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.; Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Housed in the neoclassical Sutu Palace (1834), the museum features some 300,000 artifacts, from coins, books, maps, engravings, paintings, arms and furniture to old traditional costumes. Among the most valuable exhibits are the document attesting for the first time the name of the city of Bucharest, issued by Vlad Tepes in 1459, and a sword set in precious stones that belonged to Prince Constantin Brancoveanu (1688-1714).
Communist Iconography Museum
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 3 (inside the Romanian Peasant Museum)
A compact, but fascinating, cellar room inside the Peasant Museum is home to a collection of communist-era busts (including that of Lenin), paintings and memorabilia.
Cotroceni Palace & Museum (Muzeul National Cotroceni)
Address: Str. Geniului 1
Tel: (21) 317.31.07 or 430.44.85
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge (Guided tours are available in English)
Note: Guests are received by appointment only; please call for reservations.
A former royal residence built between 1679 and 1681 by Prince and ruler Serban Cantacuzino, the palace was home to King Carol I, who made important changes in its architecture. At the end of the 19th century, Heir-to-the-Crown Ferdinand ordered the partial demolition of the palace, which was later reconstructed by French architect Paul Gottereau in neoclassical style. In 1977, Nicolae Ceausescu transformed it into an official guesthouse with the addition of a new wing.
After 1990, the old wing of the palace became a museum. The Oriental Hall, the Norwegian Hall and the Queen's Chamber are almost unchanged from the original design and are worth visiting. Very important collection of medieval art also can be seen here. The new wing serves as the seat of the Romanian Presidency.
George Enescu Museum (Muzeul National George Enescu)
Address: Calea Victoriei 141
Tel: (21) 318.14.50
Open: Tue. - Sun. 10:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
The museum, housed in the Cantacuzino Palace, displays documents and various objects that belonged to the great Romanian composer and violinist George Enescu (1881-1955), including a Bach music collection he received as a gift from Queen Elisabeta of Romania. A world-class violinist, Enescu studied at the Vienna Conservatory, where he met German composer Johannes Brahms and where he also gave his first concerts. In Paris, Enescu graduated from the French Conservatory in 1899. His best-known works, the Romanian Rhapsodies, earned him national and international fame. In 1936, his Oedipe tragic opera premiered in Paris and Enescu was awarded the French Legion of Honor award for the composition. A member of the Romanian Academy and corresponding member of the Institute of France, George Enescu was the teacher of renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin. Every two years, the Romanian Athenaeum celebrates the maestro by hosting the George Enescu International Festival.
Grigore Antipa Natural History Museum (Muzeul National de Istorie Naturala)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 1
Tel: (21) 312.88.63
www.antipa.ro
Note: The museum is currently closed for renovations.
Admission charge
Recently renovated, this museum is the largest natural history museum in Romania, housing collections of reptiles, fish, birds and mammals. More than 300,000 artifacts and specimens are on display, including a dinosaur fossil. A whole floor is dedicated to sea life and features examples of whales, dolphins and seals. The museum also contains a beautiful butterfly collection.
Minovici Museum of Ancient Western Art (Muzeul de Arta Veche Apuseana)
Address: Str. Dr. Minovici 3
Tel: (21) 665.73.34
Note: The museum is currently closed.
Admission charge
In addition to the small renaissance art collection of Dumitru Minovici, who made barrels of lei in the oil business in the 1930s, the museum features Belgian tapestries, Dutch furniture, Swiss stained glass, a complete library and Italian paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Museum of the Romanian Peasant (Muzeul Taranului Roman)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 3
Tel: (21) 317.96.60
Email: info@muzeultaranuluiroman.ro
Web: www.MuzeulTaranuluiRoman.ro/en/index.php?page=colectii
Open: Tue. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
Opened in 1906, the museum features the richest folk art collection in Romania, with over 90,000 artifacts that trace the colorful and diverse cultural life of the Romanian people. The Pottery Collection includes some 18,000 items, representative of the most important pottery centres in the country. The oldest ceramic item found in the museum bears the inscription 1746. Equally impressive, the Costume Collection comprises almost 20,000 traditional folk costumes, some dating from the beginning of the 19th century, giving visitors insight into the styles and traditions of the Romanian peasants.
The displays dip into all aspects of life in the Romanian countryside. Exhibits of agricultural tools, carpets, icons, furniture, photographs and films build up a complete picture of Romanian folk culture. In one of the galleries, you can see a wooden church and in another, a wooden peasant house. Four more wooden churches stand in the outdoor museum area. In 1996, the museum was named European Museum of the Year. Visitors can buy regional handcrafts and textiles in the museum's extensive gift shop.
National Art Museum (Muzeul National de Arta)
Address: Calea Victoriei 49-53
Tel: (21) 313.30.30
Email: national.art@art.museum.ro
Web: www.mnar.arts.ro/EN_home.php#
Open: Wed. – Sun.. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (May - September);
Wed. - Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (October - April); Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge (English guided available)
Romania's leading art museum was founded in 1948 to house the former Royal Collection, which included Romanian and European art dating from the 15th to the 20th century. Located in the neoclassical former Royal Palace, set amid a wealth of historic buildings such as the Romanian Athenaeum, Kretzulescu Church and the Hotel Athenee Palace-Hilton, the museum currently exhibits over 100,000 works divided into two major sections. Its National Gallery features the works of major Romanian artists, including Grigorescu, Aman and Andreescu. There is also a roomful of early Brancusi sculpture, such as you won't find anywhere else, demonstrating how he left his master, Rodin, behind in a more advanced form of expression. The European Gallery, comprising some 15 rooms, displays little-known art gems from the likes of El Greco, Monet, Rembrandt, Renoir, Breughels (father and son) Cezanne and Rubens. If you only have time to visit one gallery, make it the Romanian one. It is the most complete collection of Romanian works of art in the country and quite possibly, the world.
National Geological Museum (Muzeul National de Geologie)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 2
Tel: (21) 212.89.52
Web: www.onlinegallery.ro/mgeo_flori-mina.html
Open: Mon. - Sun. 10:00am - 4:00pm
Admission charge
Impressive collections of minerals and quartz formations specific to the area are found here, including a well-presented geological structure of Romania.
National History Museum (Muzeul National de Istorie al Romaniei)
Address: Calea Victoriei 12
Tel: (21) 315.82.07
Open: Tue. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Mon. (May - September); Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon. (October - April)
Admission charge
Housed in a 1900s neoclassical building that once served as the city's main post office, the museum offers a great introduction to the exciting history of Romania. Spread throughout 41 rooms, the exhibits recount the country's development from prehistoric times to the 20th century. The highlight is the National Treasury Hall where visitors can enjoy a dazzling display of some 3,000 gold items, including jewelry and valuable Neolithic artifacts.
Among the displays are the 12 pieces of the 4th century Pietroasele Treasure Collection. First presented at the 1867 World's Fair in Paris, it was considered the most valuable treasure collection in the world (the tomb of Tutankamon had not yet been discovered). One year later, the collection was displayed at the Second Annual International Exhibition in London and in 1872, at the International Exhibition in Vienna.
Romania was the only Warsaw Pact country without Soviet troops on its soil after 1958. National Military Museum
(Muzeul Militar National)
Address: Str. Mircea Vulcanescu 125-127
Tel: (21) 638.76.30
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
Founded in 1972, the museum illustrates the most important battles for independence and freedom in Romanian history. The museum features collections of Oriental and Occidental weapons, Romanian and foreign uniforms, military medals and awards, trophies, artillery, canons and airplanes as well as a library of historical military documents.
The centerpiece is the 1989 Revolution exhibit, displaying mainly personal belongings donated by families of soldiers and civilians killed during the upheaval.
National Museum of Contemporary Art
(Muzeul National de Arta Contemporana)
Address: Calea 13 Septembrie 1, entrance E4
Tel: (21) 411.10.40
Email: info@mnac.ro
Web: www.mnac.ro
Open: Wed. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm;
Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Bucharest's newest museum, the MNAC, as it is often called by museum-goers, displays works of Romania's contemporary artists as well as many temporary exhibits by international artists. The museum is housed in a wing of the Palace of Parliament, the space which would have served as Nicolae and Ileana Ceausescu's private apartment (where just the bathroom occupied 680 square feet, while the adjoining boudoir was three times that size).
National Museum of Old Maps & Books (Muzeul National al Hartilor si Cartii Vechi)
Address: Str. Londra 39
Tel: (21) 230.44.68
Email: muzeulhartilor@artelecom.net
Open: Wed. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Though it may not house the world's biggest collection, this museum is worth a visit, especially if you are interested in old maps and books.
Romanian Railways Museum (Muzeul Cailor Ferate Romane)
Address: Calea Grivitei 193
Tel: (21) 222.75.20
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 4:00pm; Closed
Admission charge
Several engines and wagons are on display in the open-air section of the museum. Inside, you can find an 1869 Morse telegraph, memorabilia, turn-of-the-century pictures and some age-old Romanian railway uniforms.
Storck Museum (Muzeul de Arta Frederic Storck si Cecilia Cutescu-Storck)
Address: Str. Vasile Alecsandri 16
Telephone: (21) 317 38 89
Email: muzeul.storck@muzeulbucurestiului.ro
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 4:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
This museum pays tribute to the works of sculptor Frederick Storck, founder of the Romanian school of architecture, and his wife, Cecelia Cutescu-Storck, an artist and a keen advocate of enhanced recognition for women in the arts. Some 150 paintings and 250 sculptures are featured in the beautiful Storck residence, built in 1913 by a French architect after the plans of Frederick Storck.
Technical Museum (Muzeul Tehnic)
Address: Str. Candiano Popescu 2 (inside Carol I Park)
Tel: (21) 336.93.90
Open: Wed. - Sun. 11:00am - 6:30pm; Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
This museum displays some 5,000 exhibits covering a wide range of industrial models: turbines, compressors, steam engines, the cylinder from the first steam engine that was used in a Romanian factory, as well as antique cars and motorcycles.
Theodor Pallady Museum (Muzeul Theodor Pallady)
Address: Str. Spatarului 22
Tel: (21) 211.49.79
Web: www.mnar.arts.ro/muzsatelit/EN_pallady.php
Open: Wed. – Sun.. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (May - September);
Wed. - Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m (October - April); Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Housed in the beautifully restored Melik house, built around 1750 by the rich Armenian Hagi Kevork Nazaretoglu, and currently, the oldest house in Bucharest, the museum features six Pallady paintings, a couple of his sketches and various other art objects.
Village Museum (Muzeul Satului)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 28-30
Tel: (21) 317.91.03
E-mail: contact@muzeul-satului.ro
Open: Mon. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.;
Tue. - Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Admission charge
Founded by royal decree in 1936, this fascinating outdoor museum, the largest in Europe, covers some 30 acres on the shores of Lake Herastrau in Herestrau Park. It features a collection of 50 buildings representing the history and design of Romania's rural architecture. Steep-roofed peasant homes, thatched barns, log cabins, churches and watermills from all regions of the country were carefully taken apart, shipped to the museum and rebuilt in order to recreate the village setting. Throughout the year, the Village Museum hosts special events where you will have a chance to witness folk artisans demonstrating traditional skills in weaving, pottery and other crafts. Folk arts and crafts are available at the museum gift shop.
Zambaccian Museum (Muzeul Zambaccian)
Address: Str. Zambacian 21A
Telephone: (21) 230.19.20
Open: Sat. - Wed. 11:00am - 7:00pm; (May - September);
Sat. - Wed. 10am - 6pm (October - April); Closed Thu. & Fri.
Admission charge
The museum possesses the private art collection of Krikor Zambaccian (1889-1962). Names such as Andreescu, Grigorescu, Luchian, Pallady and Tonitza are famous in Romania, albeit less known outside the country, but the works, mainly following the Impressionist school, are of the highest quality. There are also several small sculptures that complement the canvases. Although Zambaccian was a big patron of the art of his home country, he also collected European works from artists such as Cezanne, Renoir, Delacroix, Corot, Derain, Matisse, Pissaro, Bonnard, Utrillo and Picasso. The museum preserves the initial display as it was conceived by the art collector himself.
Location: Southern Romania
Size: City of Bucharest - 88 sq.miles (228 sq.km); Bucharest Metropolitan area - 587 sq.m(1,521 sq.km)
Elevation: 190-295 ft (55-90 m)
Population: 2.6 milion (2007)
Inhabited since: 500 BC
First documented: 1459 AD
City Highlights
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.
Romanian legend has it that the city of Bucharest was founded on the banks of the Dambovita River by a shepherd named Bucur, whose name literarily means "joy." His flute playing reportedly dazzled the people and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders, who gave his name to the place.
In the 15th century, the princely court of Vlad Tepes (thought to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula) was established here and by the end of the 17th century, the city had become the capital of the province of Walachia. In 1862, Bucharest became the capital of Romania.
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.
Nicolae Ceausescu's legacy, including the Parliament Palace (formerly called the People's Palace), which at 3.76 million square feet stands as the world's second largest building after the U.S. Pentagon, provides an interesting introduction to the dictator's megalomaniac vision.
Bucharest's buzzing cultural scene - 37 museums, 22 theatres, concert halls, opera house, 18 art galleries, jazz clubs and hip nightclubs - will certainly keep you busy. Every two years, Bucharest is host to the George Enescu International Festival, a prestigious cultural event named after the famous Romanian musician and composer. Renowned orchestras, conductors and soloists perform at the Romanian Athenaeum, a hall with acoustics comparable to Milan's La Scala.
Museums
Art Collections Museum (Muzeul Colectiilor de Arta)
Address: Calea Victoriei 111
Tel: (21) 212.96.41
Web: www.mnar.arts.ro/muzsatelit/EN_muzcolectiilor.php
Note: The museum is closed for renovations until the end of 2010.
Admission charge
Founded in 1978, the Art Collections Museum, a branch of the National Art Museum, houses private collections donated over the course of time. Collections include European as well as Oriental art works.
Bucharest History & Art Museum (Muzeul Municipiului Bucuresti)
Address: Blvd. I.C.Bratianu 2
Tel: (21) 315.68.58
Web: www.muzeulbucurestiului.ro/main.html
Open: Wed. - Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.; Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Housed in the neoclassical Sutu Palace (1834), the museum features some 300,000 artifacts, from coins, books, maps, engravings, paintings, arms and furniture to old traditional costumes. Among the most valuable exhibits are the document attesting for the first time the name of the city of Bucharest, issued by Vlad Tepes in 1459, and a sword set in precious stones that belonged to Prince Constantin Brancoveanu (1688-1714).
Communist Iconography Museum
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 3 (inside the Romanian Peasant Museum)
A compact, but fascinating, cellar room inside the Peasant Museum is home to a collection of communist-era busts (including that of Lenin), paintings and memorabilia.
Cotroceni Palace & Museum (Muzeul National Cotroceni)
Address: Str. Geniului 1
Tel: (21) 317.31.07 or 430.44.85
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge (Guided tours are available in English)
Note: Guests are received by appointment only; please call for reservations.
A former royal residence built between 1679 and 1681 by Prince and ruler Serban Cantacuzino, the palace was home to King Carol I, who made important changes in its architecture. At the end of the 19th century, Heir-to-the-Crown Ferdinand ordered the partial demolition of the palace, which was later reconstructed by French architect Paul Gottereau in neoclassical style. In 1977, Nicolae Ceausescu transformed it into an official guesthouse with the addition of a new wing.
After 1990, the old wing of the palace became a museum. The Oriental Hall, the Norwegian Hall and the Queen's Chamber are almost unchanged from the original design and are worth visiting. Very important collection of medieval art also can be seen here. The new wing serves as the seat of the Romanian Presidency.
George Enescu Museum (Muzeul National George Enescu)
Address: Calea Victoriei 141
Tel: (21) 318.14.50
Open: Tue. - Sun. 10:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
The museum, housed in the Cantacuzino Palace, displays documents and various objects that belonged to the great Romanian composer and violinist George Enescu (1881-1955), including a Bach music collection he received as a gift from Queen Elisabeta of Romania. A world-class violinist, Enescu studied at the Vienna Conservatory, where he met German composer Johannes Brahms and where he also gave his first concerts. In Paris, Enescu graduated from the French Conservatory in 1899. His best-known works, the Romanian Rhapsodies, earned him national and international fame. In 1936, his Oedipe tragic opera premiered in Paris and Enescu was awarded the French Legion of Honor award for the composition. A member of the Romanian Academy and corresponding member of the Institute of France, George Enescu was the teacher of renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin. Every two years, the Romanian Athenaeum celebrates the maestro by hosting the George Enescu International Festival.
Grigore Antipa Natural History Museum (Muzeul National de Istorie Naturala)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 1
Tel: (21) 312.88.63
www.antipa.ro
Note: The museum is currently closed for renovations.
Admission charge
Recently renovated, this museum is the largest natural history museum in Romania, housing collections of reptiles, fish, birds and mammals. More than 300,000 artifacts and specimens are on display, including a dinosaur fossil. A whole floor is dedicated to sea life and features examples of whales, dolphins and seals. The museum also contains a beautiful butterfly collection.
Minovici Museum of Ancient Western Art (Muzeul de Arta Veche Apuseana)
Address: Str. Dr. Minovici 3
Tel: (21) 665.73.34
Note: The museum is currently closed.
Admission charge
In addition to the small renaissance art collection of Dumitru Minovici, who made barrels of lei in the oil business in the 1930s, the museum features Belgian tapestries, Dutch furniture, Swiss stained glass, a complete library and Italian paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Museum of the Romanian Peasant (Muzeul Taranului Roman)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 3
Tel: (21) 317.96.60
Email: info@muzeultaranuluiroman.ro
Web: www.MuzeulTaranuluiRoman.ro/en/index.php?page=colectii
Open: Tue. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
Opened in 1906, the museum features the richest folk art collection in Romania, with over 90,000 artifacts that trace the colorful and diverse cultural life of the Romanian people. The Pottery Collection includes some 18,000 items, representative of the most important pottery centres in the country. The oldest ceramic item found in the museum bears the inscription 1746. Equally impressive, the Costume Collection comprises almost 20,000 traditional folk costumes, some dating from the beginning of the 19th century, giving visitors insight into the styles and traditions of the Romanian peasants.
The displays dip into all aspects of life in the Romanian countryside. Exhibits of agricultural tools, carpets, icons, furniture, photographs and films build up a complete picture of Romanian folk culture. In one of the galleries, you can see a wooden church and in another, a wooden peasant house. Four more wooden churches stand in the outdoor museum area. In 1996, the museum was named European Museum of the Year. Visitors can buy regional handcrafts and textiles in the museum's extensive gift shop.
National Art Museum (Muzeul National de Arta)
Address: Calea Victoriei 49-53
Tel: (21) 313.30.30
Email: national.art@art.museum.ro
Web: www.mnar.arts.ro/EN_home.php#
Open: Wed. – Sun.. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (May - September);
Wed. - Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (October - April); Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge (English guided available)
Romania's leading art museum was founded in 1948 to house the former Royal Collection, which included Romanian and European art dating from the 15th to the 20th century. Located in the neoclassical former Royal Palace, set amid a wealth of historic buildings such as the Romanian Athenaeum, Kretzulescu Church and the Hotel Athenee Palace-Hilton, the museum currently exhibits over 100,000 works divided into two major sections. Its National Gallery features the works of major Romanian artists, including Grigorescu, Aman and Andreescu. There is also a roomful of early Brancusi sculpture, such as you won't find anywhere else, demonstrating how he left his master, Rodin, behind in a more advanced form of expression. The European Gallery, comprising some 15 rooms, displays little-known art gems from the likes of El Greco, Monet, Rembrandt, Renoir, Breughels (father and son) Cezanne and Rubens. If you only have time to visit one gallery, make it the Romanian one. It is the most complete collection of Romanian works of art in the country and quite possibly, the world.
National Geological Museum (Muzeul National de Geologie)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 2
Tel: (21) 212.89.52
Web: www.onlinegallery.ro/mgeo_flori-mina.html
Open: Mon. - Sun. 10:00am - 4:00pm
Admission charge
Impressive collections of minerals and quartz formations specific to the area are found here, including a well-presented geological structure of Romania.
National History Museum (Muzeul National de Istorie al Romaniei)
Address: Calea Victoriei 12
Tel: (21) 315.82.07
Open: Tue. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Mon. (May - September); Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon. (October - April)
Admission charge
Housed in a 1900s neoclassical building that once served as the city's main post office, the museum offers a great introduction to the exciting history of Romania. Spread throughout 41 rooms, the exhibits recount the country's development from prehistoric times to the 20th century. The highlight is the National Treasury Hall where visitors can enjoy a dazzling display of some 3,000 gold items, including jewelry and valuable Neolithic artifacts.
Among the displays are the 12 pieces of the 4th century Pietroasele Treasure Collection. First presented at the 1867 World's Fair in Paris, it was considered the most valuable treasure collection in the world (the tomb of Tutankamon had not yet been discovered). One year later, the collection was displayed at the Second Annual International Exhibition in London and in 1872, at the International Exhibition in Vienna.
Romania was the only Warsaw Pact country without Soviet troops on its soil after 1958. National Military Museum
(Muzeul Militar National)
Address: Str. Mircea Vulcanescu 125-127
Tel: (21) 638.76.30
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 5:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
Founded in 1972, the museum illustrates the most important battles for independence and freedom in Romanian history. The museum features collections of Oriental and Occidental weapons, Romanian and foreign uniforms, military medals and awards, trophies, artillery, canons and airplanes as well as a library of historical military documents.
The centerpiece is the 1989 Revolution exhibit, displaying mainly personal belongings donated by families of soldiers and civilians killed during the upheaval.
National Museum of Contemporary Art
(Muzeul National de Arta Contemporana)
Address: Calea 13 Septembrie 1, entrance E4
Tel: (21) 411.10.40
Email: info@mnac.ro
Web: www.mnac.ro
Open: Wed. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm;
Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Bucharest's newest museum, the MNAC, as it is often called by museum-goers, displays works of Romania's contemporary artists as well as many temporary exhibits by international artists. The museum is housed in a wing of the Palace of Parliament, the space which would have served as Nicolae and Ileana Ceausescu's private apartment (where just the bathroom occupied 680 square feet, while the adjoining boudoir was three times that size).
National Museum of Old Maps & Books (Muzeul National al Hartilor si Cartii Vechi)
Address: Str. Londra 39
Tel: (21) 230.44.68
Email: muzeulhartilor@artelecom.net
Open: Wed. - Sun. 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Though it may not house the world's biggest collection, this museum is worth a visit, especially if you are interested in old maps and books.
Romanian Railways Museum (Muzeul Cailor Ferate Romane)
Address: Calea Grivitei 193
Tel: (21) 222.75.20
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 4:00pm; Closed
Admission charge
Several engines and wagons are on display in the open-air section of the museum. Inside, you can find an 1869 Morse telegraph, memorabilia, turn-of-the-century pictures and some age-old Romanian railway uniforms.
Storck Museum (Muzeul de Arta Frederic Storck si Cecilia Cutescu-Storck)
Address: Str. Vasile Alecsandri 16
Telephone: (21) 317 38 89
Email: muzeul.storck@muzeulbucurestiului.ro
Open: Tue. - Sun. 9:00am - 4:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
This museum pays tribute to the works of sculptor Frederick Storck, founder of the Romanian school of architecture, and his wife, Cecelia Cutescu-Storck, an artist and a keen advocate of enhanced recognition for women in the arts. Some 150 paintings and 250 sculptures are featured in the beautiful Storck residence, built in 1913 by a French architect after the plans of Frederick Storck.
Technical Museum (Muzeul Tehnic)
Address: Str. Candiano Popescu 2 (inside Carol I Park)
Tel: (21) 336.93.90
Open: Wed. - Sun. 11:00am - 6:30pm; Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
This museum displays some 5,000 exhibits covering a wide range of industrial models: turbines, compressors, steam engines, the cylinder from the first steam engine that was used in a Romanian factory, as well as antique cars and motorcycles.
Theodor Pallady Museum (Muzeul Theodor Pallady)
Address: Str. Spatarului 22
Tel: (21) 211.49.79
Web: www.mnar.arts.ro/muzsatelit/EN_pallady.php
Open: Wed. – Sun.. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (May - September);
Wed. - Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m (October - April); Closed Mon. & Tue.
Admission charge
Housed in the beautifully restored Melik house, built around 1750 by the rich Armenian Hagi Kevork Nazaretoglu, and currently, the oldest house in Bucharest, the museum features six Pallady paintings, a couple of his sketches and various other art objects.
Village Museum (Muzeul Satului)
Address: Sos. Kiseleff 28-30
Tel: (21) 317.91.03
E-mail: contact@muzeul-satului.ro
Open: Mon. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.;
Tue. - Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Admission charge
Founded by royal decree in 1936, this fascinating outdoor museum, the largest in Europe, covers some 30 acres on the shores of Lake Herastrau in Herestrau Park. It features a collection of 50 buildings representing the history and design of Romania's rural architecture. Steep-roofed peasant homes, thatched barns, log cabins, churches and watermills from all regions of the country were carefully taken apart, shipped to the museum and rebuilt in order to recreate the village setting. Throughout the year, the Village Museum hosts special events where you will have a chance to witness folk artisans demonstrating traditional skills in weaving, pottery and other crafts. Folk arts and crafts are available at the museum gift shop.
Zambaccian Museum (Muzeul Zambaccian)
Address: Str. Zambacian 21A
Telephone: (21) 230.19.20
Open: Sat. - Wed. 11:00am - 7:00pm; (May - September);
Sat. - Wed. 10am - 6pm (October - April); Closed Thu. & Fri.
Admission charge
The museum possesses the private art collection of Krikor Zambaccian (1889-1962). Names such as Andreescu, Grigorescu, Luchian, Pallady and Tonitza are famous in Romania, albeit less known outside the country, but the works, mainly following the Impressionist school, are of the highest quality. There are also several small sculptures that complement the canvases. Although Zambaccian was a big patron of the art of his home country, he also collected European works from artists such as Cezanne, Renoir, Delacroix, Corot, Derain, Matisse, Pissaro, Bonnard, Utrillo and Picasso. The museum preserves the initial display as it was conceived by the art collector himself.
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