What city is Bucharest confused with. Cities of Romania: night Bucharest

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In the southeastern part of Romania, where the Lower Danube Plain stretches, the main city of the country, Bucharest, is located.

The small river Dǎmbovitsa (Dǎmboviţa) flows through the city, on which you will not meet ships, while the full-flowing and navigable Danube lies 60 km from the capital.

Main ski resorts Romania, concentrated on the Bugeci mountains, are located at a distance of 124 km. A 300 km path separates Bucharest from Black Sea coast.

Ethnic composition Bucharest is homogeneous and represented by Romanians. The remaining 3% are other nationalities, such as gypsies, of which 1.4%, Hungarians, Jews and other nationalities. Almost the entire population of the capital is Orthodox, with Roman Catholics accounting for 1.2% and Muslims for 0.5%.

In the southeastern part of the city, near railway station Gara Nord sprawls neat city center. Lovers of antiquity will find the historical center not far from the Flower Bazaar, on the left coast of Dymbovica.

It is better to start a tour of Bucharest from the train station or the main metro stations. In the 19th-20th centuries, a new grandiose center appeared to the north of the ancient city streets, which became an example of the fusion of national romance, neoclassicism and functionalism. At the same time, the main highways of Bucharest appeared, connecting the northern and southern parts of the city. Of greatest interest to tourists is the street Calea Victorei (Kalya Victorei).

In the north of Bucharest, away from historical center spread out Şos. Kiseleff (Sh. Kiselef), the main attractions of which are the Arc de Triomphe and the Museum of Wooden Architecture. On the streets of the city, signs are quite rare, so getting lost here is not difficult.

In the 1950s, prefabricated and free-planned residential areas appeared far from the city center: Floryaska, Titan (Balta-Albe), Drumul-Taberei, Bucuresti-Noi (New Bucharest) and Ferentari. The inhabitants of the city themselves highly celebrate the parks of Cismigiu, Svoboda, on August 23. In the north of the city, the most popular recreation areas are the territories spread on the shores of lakes Tei, Floryaska and Herestrau.

City `s history

The first settlement on the site of modern Bucharest appeared in the Paleolithic period. However, at that time the main territory of Ilfov County was a wooded area, perhaps that is why the ancient cities looked more like small villages. Archaeologists have discovered small scattered Dacian settlements around modern Bucharest: Herestrau, Radu Voda Demaroia, Lacul Tei, Pantelemon and Popesti-Leordeni. During the excavations of Juleshtakh and Lakul Tei, coins and jewelry from ancient rome, from which it can be judged that the Dacian tribes had established trade relations with the main civilization of that era.

Scientists believe that the founder of Bucharest, like most other Romanian cities, is the Vlach prince Radu Negro. Initially, ancient Daco-Roman settlements were located on this site, which soon gave way to a fortress that guarded the entrances to Targovishte, the former center of Wallachia.

Part of the villages around Bucharest, such as Snagov, Glina and Kyazhna, were defeated by the Slavs. However, in the Middle Ages, the founders mixed up and dissolved among the Romanians.

The locals love to tell a legend about how once the shepherd Bukur came down from the mountains with a flock of sheep and was so amazed by the magnificence of the local lands that he settled here. On the banks of the Dymbovitsa River, he built a church, which became the heart of a small village. Centuries passed, and this small settlement turned into a huge city, which locals called Bucuresti, from the Romanian word "bukuri" - "joy".

The first written evidence about Bucharest dates back to 1459, when the representative office of the Vlach prince Vlad Tepes was located here. After some time, the residence was replaced by the princely court. The Turks, who occupied the city in 1595, set it on fire. However, Bucharest soon rose from the ashes and began to develop rapidly. In 1698, during the reign of Prince Constantine Brancoveanu, it became the capital of the country.

During the 18th century, Turkish, Russian and Austrian soldiers replaced each other in Bucharest. In 1812, a peace treaty was concluded in this city, according to which Bessarabia and one third of Moldova went to other countries. In 1847, a fire broke out in the capital, depriving the city of 2000 buildings, which accounted for about 30% of all its buildings.

In 1848, the Romanian Revolution arose in the country, directed against Prince Bibescu. The result of this uprising was the occupation of the capital by the Russian army, which stood here until 1853-1854. However, Austrian troops continued to be in the city until the spring of 1857. In 1858, Bucharest became the venue for an international congress that became fundamental in the formation of the Danubian states. In 1861, the merger of Wallachia and Moldova was announced, Bucharest became the administrative center.

The end of the 19th century was marked by a sharp increase in the population of the capital. The Europeans of that era called this city " East Paris”, which very accurately reflects the architecture and cultural life this city.

First World War Bucharest did not pass by: on December 6, 1916, it was captured by German soldiers, who left it only on November 17, 1918. At that time, the functions of the administrative center of the Romanian Kingdom were performed by the city of Iasi, but already in November 1918 Bucharest regained its title.

During the Second World War, the capital was under the rule of the Germans, who entered it in June 1941. Most of the buildings of the city were destroyed during the British and American shelling from the air. On August 23, 1944, the people's armed uprising managed to free itself from Hitler's power in the country. Pro-monarchist speeches throughout the country were suppressed by the Red Army on November 8, 1945, and on December 30, 1947 the country became known as Romanian People's Republic.

Nikolai Ceausescu, who led the country's Communist Party, ordered the destruction of the city's historical buildings, among which were ancient temples. Administrative buildings were erected on this site, designed to make Bucharest a model of socialism.

Most of the surviving medieval structures were destroyed in 1977 as a result of an earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale. Then the country lost 1,500 inhabitants.

In December 1989, the Romanian Revolution began in Timisoara, which soon captured Bucharest as well. These changes are called "events of 1989". As a result, the era of Ceausescu was completed. However, already in 1990, mass pickets were launched in the city, which were also supported by students. These protests were quickly put down with the help of the miners. However, after this, several more rallies took place throughout the country, as a result of which the Romanian government was dismissed.

The economic growth of 2000 led to the fact that Bucharest began to live up to the title European city. Today, most of the historic districts have been restored.

Purchases

Classical Romanian souvenirs are considered: plum tincture cuica, different types of wines (Murfatlar, Jidveu), burduf cheese and cheese in coreeli, various medicinal cosmetic preparations, wooden objects and clay dishes, embroidery and knitted tablecloths, embroidered shirts.

Elite shops of the city are located on Calea Victoriei street. However, tourists are interested in Str. Lipscani, which is located in the Old Town. It is full of small shops and gypsy street vendors. When making purchases, regardless of the place, it is imperative to count the change and inspect the goods.

Almost all shops are open on working days from 9.00 am to 20.00 pm. On weekends, they work only in the first half and close at 13.00. Here you can find convenience stores that continue to work on Saturday and Sunday.

The journey through the winter Balkans began with a brief acquaintance with Bucharest - a city in which the Parisian Belle Era, Stalin's Moscow and the dashing 90s were mixed.

We were only in Bucharest for a day, and on this day we were very unlucky with the weather. The faded gray sky is a disgusting backdrop for urban photography, so even the photo had to be slightly tweaked to make the sky not look so dull.

On the other hand, the weather was the best fit for the idea of Bucharest, in particular, and of Romania and Eastern Europe in general as a whole.

It's been 25 years since the fall of Eastern Europe's communist regimes, but the region is still seen by too many through a post-communist lens. That is why stereotypes wander from travelogue to travelogue, from photo report to photo report. Buildings from gray shabby "khrushchev", poverty of the local population, "killed" urban infrastructure, terrible ecology. And so a quarter of a century! It's as if in 1970 someone tried to talk about the FRG or the USSR with the stereotypes of 1945.

Not only tourists, but also the people of Romania themselves find it hard to get rid of the socialist past. Main symbol Bucharest - a huge palace of Ceausescu, built (and so not fully completed) in the last years of his reign. The first question that the people of Transylvania asked us when we mentioned our visit to Bucharest was: “Have you seen the Ceausescu Palace?”

(Photo from the Internet)

Seen. And personally, I don't understand what's wrong with it. At least for a (post) Soviet person. A kind of huge non-hotel "Moscow" or the foundation for a Stalinist skyscraper that was never built. In this, Ceausescu overtook Stalin. The latter was only enough for a foundation pit for the Palace of Soviets. And here at least a couple of base floors were built.

Speaking of the Ceausescu Palace, they like to emphasize that during its construction, half of the Old Town was demolished. At the same time, they usually forget to add that shortly before this there was a serious earthquake in Bucharest, and Old city was pretty badly damaged. The remaining half of the historical building has not yet been restored.

That is why the Old City of Bucharest in some places looks like there was war and devastation not so long ago.

On the central pedestrian streets renovated buildings side by side with dilapidated facades.

And the 16th-century churches are set off by abandoned houses.

The church is part of the Kurtya-Veke complex, the princely court of Vlad the Impaler (15th century).

This is the same Vlad Tepes, who was also called Dracula and to whom Bram Stoker clung to, creating the world-famous image of Count Dracula.

So the Irish writer, who had never been to Romania, created the most vivid image of this country in the world, which she is now forced to replicate for the sake of tourists thirsty for vampire aesthetics. About half of the range of souvenir shops in the capital is dedicated to Count Dracula. Putin is still far from such popularity.

Despite the slight devastation, the streets of the Old Town have their own European charm and shabby charm.

Too bad it's winter now. It can be seen that Bucharest - summer city. More precisely, even spring-autumn. At this time of the year, the streets of the center are clogged with cafe tables, summer orchestras and just crowds of strolling townspeople and tourists. Today, everything is deserted and a little sad.

Bucharest is generally poorly adapted to winter. The streets and especially the stairs of the Old Town are cleaned very poorly. You need to walk with caution.

With caution, one should also look at the surrounding roofs. From them and strives to break the peak of snow right on the heads of passers-by. A couple of such mini-avalanches descended before our eyes. Fortunately, without consequences for pedestrians.

In summary: if you are looking for confirmation of the stereotype “Bucharest is a city from the 90s”, you are in the Old City.

But Bucharest is not only and not so much the center of a shabby life and the ceremonial socialist architecture of Ceausescu. No wonder the city was called the “Paris of the East”.

Walk along the front of Kalya Victoria (Victory Avenue), where one front building replaces another.

It's amazing when they managed to build all this. Not so long Bucharest was the capital of independent Romania.

And these are the real architectural symbols of the city: concert hall Athenaium

And the stunning Cantacuzene Palace, now the George Enescu Museum. By the way, the Cantacuzens are not only Romanian, but also Russian noble family.

The porch is of particular admiration.

On Victory Avenue you go out to the Revolution Square.

Here the fall of the Ceausescu regime took place. The speech of the leader from the balcony of the building of the Central Committee of the party was interrupted by the dissatisfied murmur of the crowd. When open clashes with army units began on the square, Ceausescu chose to leave the building by helicopter. Shots were already being fired and barricades were being erected in the square.

In memory of these events, a very strange monument was erected on the square, reminiscent of an olive on a stick (however, the locals still do not call it that).

These days Romania is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the revolution.

(Exhibition at the National Gallery)

Memorable places are scattered throughout the city - street battles were everywhere.

A quarter of a century later, Romanians remember Ceausescu with mixed feelings. Of course, no one can forgive him for the failure of the late 1980s, but at the same time, almost everyone admits that in the 1970s he coped well with the leadership of the country.

In general, it is interesting how Ceausescu was made (primarily by Western guidebooks and mass media) into a typical Kremlin fosterling, a communist dictator tyrannizing the free peoples of Europe. Although, in fact, he behaved very willfully in relations with the Kremlin and was only one step behind the “third-strong” Yugoslavia. Ceausescu condemned the defeat of the Prague Spring in 1968, did not support the boycott of the Los Angeles Olympics, and allowed the construction of the Hilton Hotel in the center of Bucharest. But in the end I turned off the path of Tito onto the path of Hoxha - I was carried away by experience North Korea and China. This led the country to a bloody revolution, and he himself - to be shot.

The National Gallery is another pompous building on Victory Avenue.

A strange monument rises in front of the building, emphasizing the duality of the ethnogenesis of the Romanian nation.

Emperor Trajan holds in his arms a hybrid of a Capitoline she-wolf and a Thracian snake.

The fact that this is a snake, and not a dog infected with a tapeworm, is visible only if you approach the monument from the side.

That's it. Romanians are, it turns out, Thracians assimilated by the Romans. And no Slavs.

As in any decent capital, Bucharest has its own Passage.

It is also empty on the occasion of the holidays.

All the fun now is in front of the university building, where the Christmas market is noisy.

Locals warm themselves with hot wine.

The surrounding streets of Bucharest are very similar to St. Petersburg.

But sometimes you can find blotches of modern architecture.

However, it is much more interesting to consider the experiments of urban architects in the style of functionalism.

Romanian architects, like the Yugoslav ones, have always been distinguished by an interesting look and courage in working with forms.

So in Bucharest, not only historical buildings are interesting

But the socialist

"Soviet" avenues are wide and beautiful

Although it is immediately noticeable that times are no longer Soviet

But still international. We went to dinner at a restaurant of Moldovan cuisine well known in Chisinau.

And we spent the night, walking around the city, with the Turkish anarchist biker Hussein, a big fan of everything Soviet and just a good person.

Alas, we spent very little time in Bucharest, and even in the off-season. It will be necessary to return in the spring and enjoy the city in more detail.
Moreover, the city is terribly cheap, even with the current euro exchange rate, prices in an Irish pub cause a cheerful bewilderment.

I was also struck by the level of culture on the streets (the street is crossed only at a green traffic light, and drivers let pedestrians pass on the roads) and widespread knowledge in English. I wonder how the latter can be connected with the wholesale departure to work in Europe? (Although Romanians work mainly in Italy, and therefore decisively everyone speaks Italian close to Romanian.)

And in general, to what extent does wholesale otkhodnichestvo in more socially and socially developed countries raise (albeit subconsciously) the level of society's own culture?

We are inclined to see in this process only mutual evil (they say that in Moscow, Tajiks learn to drink and stop respecting family values, bringing, in turn, only drugs and crime to the capital). But after all, working abroad is also a kind of journey, from which you inevitably learn lessons on how to equip your own country.

And our journey was just beginning.

Five wrong capitals, which are often confused with other cities

Some of the cities in the world are so beautiful and well known that people often mistake them for the capital of the country. After all, who says that the capital should be the most beautiful and famous city in the country?

1. City of Bern and Zurich

Switzerland is a confederation of 26 cantons, most of which were fully sovereign states until 1848, when the Swiss federal state was created. Nowadays each canton has its own capital, government and constitution, and although Zurich is the largest, richest and most important city in the country, Bern is the de facto capital of Switzerland.

2. City of Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro

With its enchanting beach culture, fantastic carnival and natural beauty declared world heritage UNESCO, it is no wonder that Rio de Janeiro is often mistaken for the capital of Brazil. Well, that was actually before 1960, when Brasilia, a futuristic city built in the middle of the desert by architect Oscar Niemeyer and Brazilian urbanist Lucio Costa, took its place.

3. City of Canberra and Sydney

City of Sydney and Melbourne always competed for the position of Australia's foremost city, but in 1908 strong competition between the two cities eventually led to a compromise and the fully planned city of Canberra was to be the nation's capital. Despite this, it was Melbourne (not Sydney) that acted as the capital of Australia until 1927, when the federal parliament moved to Canberra.

4. City of Ottawa and Toronto

The 21st century has witnessed a vigorous rivalry between two wonderful and culturally vibrant Canadian cities. But surprisingly, the capital of Canada is Ottawa.

However, by the middle of the 19th century, both Toronto and Montreal(and even Quebec) were for short periods the capitals of the unified province of Canada. That all changed on December 31, 1857, when, for strategic reasons, Queen Victoria chose the smaller Ottawa, a city located exactly between Toronto and Quebec, to become the nation's capital. And since then it has remained so.

5. City of Wellington and Auckland

Although Wellington has been the capital of New Zealand since 1865, many people still mistake this because of beautiful city Auckland, which is indeed the largest and most populous area of the country. Now, the debate over which of the two is better really just comes down to preference. At the same time, Wellington remains " the coolest little capital in the world».

Other major misconceptions include: Ankara and Istanbul, Rabat and Marrakesh, New Delhi and Mumbai, Pretoria and Johannesburg (or Cape Town), Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. In fact, this is not an eloquent example, but still a good example of Bucharest (the capital of Romania) and Budapest ( Hungarian capital), which people always confuse with each other.

Do you know other similar situations?

Books

Bucharest, . This richly illustrated album introduces the capital of Romania, the controversial but always elegant Bucharest, once called Paris in miniature. A city of contrasts and… Buy for 417 rubles
Bucharest. Photo album, . Richly illustrated edition. Bucharest, 1957 State publishing house of literature and art. Original cover. The safety is good. A truly richly illustrated album...