Bucharest and around

Geography, History, Weather, Practical Information

Geography & Orientation

With a population of almost two million, Bucharest is Europe`s sixth largest city, being on top list right behind international airports as well. At first sight, Bucharest may look chaotic, with traffic-choked streets, late 19th century French-style buildings standing next to modern high-rise constructions and ugly concrete block of flats as part of the communist redevelopment projects. If you look deeper, Bucharest may still have to offer some of its late interbellum cosmopolitan charm, with fine architectural monuments and buildings, proofs of wealth and extravagant lifestyle, that helped Bucharest earn its name as "Paris of the East". Location The city is lying right in the middle of Romania`s southern plains (Campia Romana), 65 km from the Danube`s port Giurgiu, around 250 km from the Black Sea`s harbour city of Constanta and almost 100 km from the mountains. It is positioned on the same latitude as Genoa in Italy, Bordeaux in France and Minneapolis in the USA. Parks & Gardens The central area boasts Romania`s finest garden Cismigiu, with old trees lined up along shady lanes, going round a beautiful lake. There is a restaurant overlooking the lake, several playgrounds, a gazebo for brass orchestra performances during summer weekend days. Herastrau is by far Bucharest`s largest park, lying just north of the centre. City folks come here to lie under the trees, walk dogs, jog, go boating, play tennis, ride bicycles that could be rented from two bike shops. There are several restaurants, bars with summer terraces overlooking the lake. Rivers Dambovita river ugly concreted course is running through the city`s area (228 sqkm), cutting the centre in two. On the other hand, river Colentina gently meandres through the northern districts and crossing large leafy parks and gardens on either sides, such as Baneasa, Herastrau, Floreasca, Tei. Lakes Going north of the city centre, you will find the city more pleasant with large leafy areas, such as Herastrau park and lake, one of the ten lakes created in 1935 by drying up the swamps. Forests A little further north past the Aurel Vlaicu airport, lies Baneasa forest with the Zoo garden and what it is left of the old paths and lanes that run through the forest. Basic Info: Population: 1943981 Coordinates: N44.2449 Lakes: Herastrau, Cismigiu, Rivers: Dambovita, Forests: Baneasa (12km) (2008) E26.0548 Baneasa, Floreasca, | Area: 228sqkm | Time Tei, Fundeni, | Elevation: 60-90m (UTC+2) Titan, Dambovita Colentina Rome and Paris. It is also Romania`s capital city, centre of government, administration and trade and the site of two

zone: EET Tineretului,

Some History

1459 September 20th Bucharest is first mentioned in an edicted issued by Vlad Tepes, also known as "Vlad the Impaler" or "Count Dracula", granting privileges to some noblemen in Oltenia. 1465 October 14th Radu cel Frumos, Vlad Tepes brother, took the throne in 1462, with the help of the Turks and proclaimed Bucuresti as the capital of the province. 1545-1554 The capital expanded under the reign of Mircea Ciobanul. The Old Princely Court and Church (Curtea si Biserica Domneasca) were raised, nowadays the oldest buildings in town. 1595 August 23th The defeated Turks under Sinan Pasa`s command retreated from Calugareni and occupied Bucuresti, plundering and pillaging the town. 1596 The Tartar attacks ransacked and burned down the town. The capital was moved to Targoviste for three decades. 1659 Bucuresti finally reclaimed the rank of capital and seat of the Metropolitan Church. 1655 The uprising of the seimeni and dorobanti mercenary soldiers, with the support of discontented locals burned down the houses of several noblemen. 1688-1714 Constantin Brancoveanu spent a fortune in the city redevelopment. New wide streets were drawn, surfaced with timber baulks, new hostelry and inns were raised, in order to aattract foreign merchantmen. A new architectural style had been created, that was to be implemented in the construction of palaces and churches. He also substantially supported the the culture and education by printing new books or building schools. 1716-1821 The Ottoman Empires imposed its domination over the province. Bucuresti became a political and economic centre in the Balkans. Many western countries opened consulates with the obvious purpose to control the Danube`s ports. The town expanded when most of the manufacturers and merchantmen opened small factories and shops. They also built churches. Some noblemen moved to town and raised their houses or palaces. 1821 April 2nd Tudor Vladimirescu`s army camped outside the town on March the 31st. He managed to get hold of some strategic points in town. The oposing noblemen asked for a Turkish support forcing him to withdraw and protecting the town from any confrontation. 1847 March 23rd It was a sad day for Bucuresti, when the most damaging fire destroyed one quarter of the town. It took three days to turn 2000 buildings, 12 churches down to ashes. During the 18th and 19th century the town had been ravished by 18 fires and 6 earthquakes that destroyed many of its old architectural monuments. 1848 June 11th

Gheorghe Bibescu was forced by 6000 revolutioners to sign the new constitution. The country was ruled by a provisional government, that lasted only 4 months before it was overthrown by the old ruling party and the foreign army. 1857 April 16th Bucurestiu is world`s second town to implement gas for street lighting. 1859 January 24th Alexandru Ioan Cuza was ellected as new ruler over Wallachia and Moldavia. Three years later Bucuresti became the capital of the newly united provinces. 1869 Romania`s first railway between Bucuresti and Giurgiu was finally completed along with the first train station at Filaret. 1872 The first horse drawn tram was operational between Sfanta Vineri cemetery and Bariera Mosilor via Gara de Nord newly opened railway station. 1877 May the 9th The Romanian Chamber of Deputies proclaimed the independence. The Russian-Romanian armies waged a war against the Turks, that successfully and finally removed Romania from the Turkish Empire. 1882 October 22nd Gara de Nord railway station was provided with an electric power supply. The electric street lighting was to be extended on Elisabeta and Carol boulevards, after Grozavesti power plant was operational in 1888. 1894 December 9th The first electric tram line linked Obor with Cotroceni. In 1929 all the horse drawn trams were no longer in service. 1916 November 16th-20th The Romanian army was engaged in military operations to prevent the German-Austrian armies to occupy Bucuresti. A small victory at Neajlov, south of the city was not enough to withstand the enemy power, that eventually took the city and forced the Romanian army and government to withdraw to Moldavia. 1918 December the 1st At the end of the 1st WW, Transylvania was finally freed by the victorious Romanian army, creating a window of oportunity for unification. 1928 The Romanian broadcasting corporation started transmissions on medium and short wave. 1936 Dimitrie Gusti founded Muzeul Satului (The Village Museum), one of the world`s first ethnographical museums. 1937 The Royal Palace is finally completed. Today it houses the National Art Museum. 1938 June 8th Pavilionul Televiziunii (The Television Pavilion) was opened in Herastrau Park, near Arcul de Triumf. The transmission was on at 7 pm and allowed visitors to broadcast their image and voice on a screen, after paying an admission fee. The studio acquired the latest technology from Phillips. 1949 The first electric trolley bus linked Piata Victoriei with Baneasa Hippodrome (nowadays Casa Presei Libere). 1956 December 31st The first black and white TV broadcast on New Year`s Eve. 1957 The construction of Casa Scanteii, which began in 1952 is finally over. All major newspapers, publishing and printing houses are accommodated in this huge soviet building.

1961 The Great National Circus company started its performances in this dome-shaped, 2500 seats building. 1970 The Otopeni International Airport opened its gate to almost one million passengers a year. 1973 The construction to Bucharest National Theatre building started in 1973. Between 1983 and 1984, the exterior suffered some major alteration, after a terrible fire that completely distroyed Sala Mare. 1974 With a capacity of over 6000 seats, Sala Sporturilor si Culturii (Polivalenta), the largest concert hall opened its gates to the public. 1979 The first metro line in use linked Semanatoarea with Timpuri Noi industrial areas. 1983 Construction works began to world`s second largest building. According to Guiness World Records, it is world`s biggest, heaviest and most expensive administrative building. 1989 December 17th A meeting of all communist party executives was held to disscuss the recent events in Timisoara that led to the arrest of rev. Laslo Tokes and anti-communist riots. 1989 December 20th Ceasescu spoke on national TV channel about the protests in Timisoara, demonstrators being referred as traitors and hooligans. 1989 December 21st By presidential decree, Ceausescu invoked the state of necessity in Timis county. The meeting held in Bucharest to support the communist regime was interrupted by demonstrators, breaking the lines and regrouping in Piata Universitatii. Police opened fire and anti-communist protestors died in Bucuresti, Timisoara, Brasov, Cluj. 1989 December 22nd Ceausescus fled on board of a helicopter, taking them first to Snagov, then dissemberking them at Titu. The local police took them to a military base near Targoviste (80km NV of Bucharest). In the meantime, the first meeting of the new Frontul Salvarii Nationale was held in Bucharest. The meeting conducted by Ion Iliescu, gathered old communist officials and communist dissentients. 1989 December 25th The Military Court sentenced both Ceausescus to death. The death penalty was carried out by the firing squad on the same day. 1990 January 28-29th The old prewar political parties recently re-emerged (PNL si PNT-CD) organised a meeting in Bucharest, against the decission of FSN, to run at the upcoming elections. Many workers were brought to a meeting in support of FSN, chanting "Death to intelectuals", "We are working, not thinking". Finally the two forces clashed in street fights that soon ended up when four thousand miners from Valea Jiului came to Bucharest to restore the so called peace, by beating up students and intelectuals. 1990 April 22nd People began to demonstrate in Piata Universitatii. It needed just a few folks to block up the streets, creating the so called "area free of neo-communism". Many more subsequently joined in, creating a social movement. Eugen Ionescu, the famous writer, declared himself as "academician golan". 1990 May 20th First post revolutionary elections confirmed Ion Iliescu as new president of Romania, gathering some 85% of the total votes. 1990 June 13th-15th Repressions against participants to Piata Universitatii movement began when special force troops distroyed the tents in the square. Workers from IMGB industrial area, supporting the regime came to the

city centre to give a helping hand, chanting "IMGB restores the order". Piata Universitatii participants broke the police line and distroyed several police vehicles. Next morning ten thousand miners arrived from Valea Jiului. They devasted the University and Architecture school buildings, along with the headquarters of all the political parties within the opposition. The University professors along with students, intelectuals and participants had been beaten up. There had been reported 746 persons severely injured and a death toll of six. 1993 October 7th Romania became member of the EU Concil. 1997 February 28th King Mihai of Hohenzollern returned from exile and received Romanian passport. 1999 May 7th-9th His sanctity Pope John Paul II paid a visit to Romania, after receiving an invitation from Preafericitul Patriarh Teoctist, the head of Romania`s Orthodox Church. He also met some Romanian political figures. During the Catholic mess held at St. Joseph Cathedral in Bucuresti, he also met cardinal Alexandru Todea. 2007 January 1st Romania and Bulgaria became EU member states.

When to go & Weather

Summers are generally hot and dry, specially in July and August with temperatures normally rising above 30C, even during the night. Winters are mild with little snow, but it is not most people`s idea of the best time to visit Bucharest. By late September temperatures begin to fall. Rainy days and the few museums leave very little things to do in Bucharest. So April to June would be the best time to visit, especially during the Orthodox Easter, which is a fluctuating holiday, not always concurrent with Easter in the Western countries. From Good Friday to Easter Day, people carrying lit candles gather on streets to participate to church ceremonies. Other major holidays are New Year`s Eve (31st-01st of January), Labour Day (May Day), Holy Spirit Day, Independence Day (1st of December) and Christmas Day (25-26th of December). Basic Info: Annual average temp: 10-11C | High average: 22.8C (Jul) Highest: 41.3C (1945) Lowest: -30C (1888) | Centre and South: high air pollution

Low

average:

-2.9C

(Jan)