Bucharest information
Bucharest is the third largest city in the southeastern part of Europe. The Romanian capital is not only the commercial center of the country, but also the economic center. In Romanian, the city is called Bucuresti. Bucharest has an extensive transport system, which is the largest in Romania. The Bucharest Metro serves the city. Don't miss the Village Museum, Romanian Athenaeum and the Peasant Museum. You can't miss the Palace of Parliament, the second-largest building in the world (after the Pentagon).
Bucharest location
The capital Bucharest is situated in the south of Romania. The city lies at an altitude of about 90 meters above sea level on the lower Danube Plain (plain orWallachian). The Dambovita River flows across Bucharest . Bucharest has an area of 228 square kilometers with over 2 million inhabitants. Bucharest lies at 44°25' Latitude North and 26°06' Longitude East.Bucharest weather
Romania has a continental climate in the interior and a temperate climate on the coast. The Black Sea has little influence on the weather in Bucharest. The city lies exactly on the line between a maritime climate and a continental climate. This results in warm summers and cool winters in Bucharest. In summer the temperature is between 23-35°C, while in winter it is between 0-10 below zero. Most precipitation falls in the autumn months.
Bucharest history
Bucharest is not an old city compared to other European capitals. The first mention of the town dates back to 1459. The city developed rapidly and grew in the 19th century into the capital of Romania. The city was called "the Paris of the East". In the First World War, Romania was initially neutral, but when the Brusilov offensive (the largest offensive of the Russians on the Eastern Front) took place in 1916 the Romanians decided to join the Allies. At the end of the same year King Ferdinand expelled from Romania in 1918 and eventually the Romanians capitulated.
During World War II Romania suffered severely. Bucharest was bombed several times by the Americans and British. After the war, Romania was occupied by the Soviets. The dictator Nicolae Ceausescu waved the scepter from 1965 to 1989. Under his leadership, many historic buildings were demolished and several buildings in the Soviet style were build. In 1977 there was a severe earthquake 1,500 people died and many buildings were destroyed. In 1989, Romania's capital Bucharest was liberated from communism. Slowly Bucharest recovered and nowadays the city claims its cosmopolitan status again.
Bucharest tourist attractions
Many ravages of natural and human nature took place in the history of Bucharest, therefore few historical sites are found in the Romanian capital. Fortunately there are some wonderful attractions that remains worth a visit. The Ateneul Roman at the Square of the Revolution in the late 19th century. This magnificent concert hall is still in use and can accommodate up to 600 visitors.The city is also known for its museums that preserve the cultural and historical artifacts of the country. The National Museum of Art of Romania, the Zambaccian Museum, The Theodor Pallady Museum and the National Museum of Contemporary Art are the famous museums in the city.
Highly recommended is the Cismigiupark, that is the oldest park in Bucharest that was build in the 19th century. This required a patch of swamp to be drained. The park is a green oasis in the middle of a busy capital. The park contains many statues. There is a path (Rondul Roman) with images of Romanian writers, but there are also images of French soldiers and heroes.