Travel info-desk
Bucharest
Bucharest (Bucureşti) is the capital and largest city, as well as the most important economical centre of the country. With 2 million inhabitants in the city and more than 2.4 million in the suburban area, Bucharest is one of the largest cities in South-eastern Europe.
Known in the past as „The Little Paris”, Bucharest has changed a lot lately, and today it has become a very interesting mix of old and new that has little to do with its initial reputation. Finding a 300 year old church near a steel-and-glass building that both sit next to a communist style building is commonplace in Bucharest. Bucharest offers some excellent attractions, and has, in recent years, cultivated a sophisticated, trendy, and modern sensibility that many have come to expect from a European capital.
We recommend you some places to visit
– The Parliament House (Casa Poporului), Patriachal Palace
– The University Sqaure (Piata Universitatii) is the most important square in central Bucharest. You can find here very important and representative buildings, with an impressive architecture: The University, the National Theatre, the Intercontinental Hotel, the head office of the Commercial Bank of Romania, and in the neighbourhood there is The National Bank of Romania, and the Coltea Hospital, which was the first hospital in Bucharest, built in 1704 by Mihai Cantacuzino as a hospital for poor people. At only 50 m distance, at the 0 Km spot of the town, there is the very old and beautiful St.Gheorghe Church, where lie the remains of a famous Romanian king – Constantin Brancoveanu, who was decapitated by the ottomans in 1714, together with his 4 sons and his son-in-law.
– The Lipscani Street is a very nice pedestrian street, with small shops, bars and cosy restaurants. It was named after Leipzig (Lipsca in 17th century Romanian), as that was the origin of many of the wares that could be found on the main street. The word lipscan (singular of lipscani) came to mean trader who brought his wares from Western Europe.
– The Cismigiu Gardens (Parcul Cişmigiu) are a public park near the centre of Bucharest which is spanning on all sides of an artificial lake. The gardens’ creation was an important moment in the history of Bucharest. They form the oldest and, at 17 hectares, the largest park in city’s central area.
– Calea Victoriei Street is the main old street in central Bucharest. Between 1692 and 1700, a paved road which linked the centre of Bucharest to the Mogosoaia Palace of Constantin Brancoveanu was built and it was named Podul Mogoşoaiei, being made out of oak wood. It was the first street in Bucharest to be illuminated with candles during the night, starting July 1814. The road was renamed „Calea Victoriei” on October 12, 1878, following the Romanian victory in the Independence War of 1877 – 1878. Among many important buildings in this area we mention just a few: King Carol’s Palace, The Romanian Athenaeum, Athenee Palace Hotel, Central University Library, Kretzulescu Church, Odeon Theatre,
– The Arch of Triumph (Arcul de Triumf) is a triumphal arch located in the northern part of Bucharest, on the Kiseleff Road, close to the biggest park in Bucharest: Herastrau Park. The park has an area of about 1.1 km², of which 0.7 km² is the lake. Initially, the area was full of marshes, but these were drained between 1930 and 1935, and the park was opened in 1936.
– The Village Museum (Muzeul Satului) is an open-air ethnographic museum located in the Herăstrău Park, showcasing traditional Romanian village life. The museum extends to over 100,000 m2, and contains 272 authentic peasant farms and houses from all over Romania. It was created in 1936 by Dimitrie Gusti, Victor Ion Popa, and Henri H. Stahl.
– Shopping areas – Centrul Comercial Baneasa/Afi Palace Cotroceni/Bucur Obor) are some of the most modern shopping areas in Bucharest. Bucur Obor is a popular commercial centre with one of the old markets in Bucharest.
Tips & Tricks
Language
The official language is Romanian,
Some words and usual expressions:
Buna dimineata- Good morning
Buna ziua – Good day, Hello
Buna seara – Good Evening\
Noapte buna – Good Night
La revedere – Good by
Multumesc – Thank You
Ce mai faci? – How are you?
Cum te cheama? – What is your name?
Casa – House
Acasa – Home
Hotel- Hotel
Imi place – I like it
Cat costa – How much is it?
Departe – Faraway
Aproape- Near
Metrou – Undergroung
Troleibuz – Troleibus
Avion – Plane
Tren – Train
Cap – Head
Trunchi – Trunk
Brat – Arm
Mana – Hand
Picior – Foot
Ma doare capul – I have a headache
Imi este rau – I am sick
Climate:
In March – 10-15 grade
In May – 15-24 grade
In October – 9-20 grade
for more information about Bucharest click here: http://wikitravel.org/en/Bucharest
