Right in the centre!

Ambasador

The hotel, founded in 1937, declared monument of architecture, has 12 floors. Each room has a bathroom, cable TV, mini-bar (empty), phone, central heating (our room, among few, was pretty cold, but at least we had hot water in the bathroom).

The restaurant's on the 1st floor and is quite small for such hotel. And the service's pretty slow. A woman from our group wanted to try some soup but there wasn't any, so she asked for some chips and had to wait for almost an hour! But the breakfast (Swedish buffet) was really good.

Unique Qualities: The hotel's very close to both Revolution Sq and University Sq, only 20 minutes away from the Bucharest International Airport and 10 minutes from the main Railway Station 'Gara de Nord'

The brochure says that there are facilities like:

a room

-room service
-fitness room
-sauna
-hairdresser/manicure/pedicure
-conference rooms
-parking
-laundry
-internet access
-luggage room
-safe

Feel free to check that out!

Address: 8-10, Magheru Boulevard
Phone: +40 21 315 90 80
Theme: Hotel
Website: http://www.ambasador.ro

The Central University Library

The golden building in the picture was built between 1891 and 1914 under the direction of French architect Paul Gottereau.

It now houses a library, an art gallery, an EU Information Centre and a bank.

Address: Revolution Square

The Senate

This robust building was constructed in 1940. It now houses the Senate and the Ministries of Workforce and Health.

In the Communist period this was the headquarters of the Communist Party and it was called CC (initials of Comitetul Central-The Central Party Committee).

senate

The small white marble pyramid with a flame sculpted out of earth stands here in memory of those who died here during the 1989 Romanian Revolution.

This is also the place from which Ceausescu, the former dictator left by helicopter, only to be captured, tried and shot in the following hours.

Address: Revolution Square

Romanian Commercial Bank

bank

This marvelous building is the central headquarters of the Romanian Commercial Bank, the country's largest bank.

Nearby are 4 statues of important figures of Romania's history, including that of a 16th century Romanian king called Michael the Brave, one of the last to undertake crusades against the Ottoman Empire with the Pope's blessing.

The Military House

military club

This impressive building is the Army Club.

It was built in 1912.
A gigantic flag is placed in the middle of this square called the Square of the Flag.

Address: Piata Tricolorului

The Government Building

government building

This is where the Romanian government meets, in this white building.

It used to be the Ministry of External Affairs.

Address: Victory Square

The Academy of Economical Studies

academy

This is the University in Bucharest dealing with things such as Commerce.

Address: Romana Square

Agricola and Adriatica buildings

Antonescu's work

This is 1 of 2 Petre Antonescu’s works near a bridge over the Dambovita.

Directions: the end of the Calea Victoriei

A Replica

This is a well-known landmark of Bucharest, the Arcul de Triumf (Triumphal Arch). It was built in 1935 and modelled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

That's another reason why Bucharest is nicknamed 'The Little Paris'.

The Parliament

This is probably the most prominent landmark of Bucharest - the Palace of the Parliament.

It was built in the 1980s during the reign of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

It's the largest building in Europe and the third-largest in the world.

The Palace houses the Romanian Parliament and the National Museum of Contemporary Art.

It is also often used as a convention centre.

The odd building

This odd building near the Senate and the Uni Library is the headquarters of the Romanian Architects' Association. The odd thing about it is that it was built on the ruins of another building, the Directia V Securitate.

Athenaeum

The Romanian Athenaeum was built in the 1800s.

It serves as Bucharest’s main concert hall and is the home of the Romanian Philharmonic.

Mihai Eminescu

a statue

Right in front of this consert hall, there's a statue of Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), the best-known and most influential Romanian poet.

The National Art Museum

What was once the Royal Palace is now a very pleasant art museum with several galleries and many notable works by famous Romanian and foreign painters.

mnar

mnar

The National Museum of Art of Romania, which is the official name, was founded in 1948 and is home to the largest and finest art collection in the country.

Address: 49-53, Calea Victoriei Street

Directions: opposite the Uni Library

Phone: 021 314 81 91

Micul Paris

Basic facts

Bucharest (Bucuresti), the capital city of Romania, is situated in the Vlasiei Plain, 60km north of the Danube, 120km south of the Carpathian mountains and 260km west of the Black Sea. Two rivers, the Colentina and Dâmbovita, run through it.

It was founded in 1459 on the banks of the Dâmbovita River, by ruler Vlad Tepes.

the museum

The origin of the name

The town got its name after Bucur who was either a prince, an outlaw, a fisher or a shepherd.

In Romanian the word 'bucurie' means 'gladness.'

All in one place

Unique Qualities:
restaurant, pastry shop, pub
fast-food, pizza, club-disco
barber and hairdresser, cosmetics
swimming pool, sauna, fitness hall
internet, travel agency
parking lot








Address: Bd. Carol I 8, Sinaia, 106 100

Phone: 004-0244-302 900


Website: http://www.hotelsinaia.ro

Pub

Festivals

Different festivals take place in Sinaia:

• International Violin Competition - May
• Classic guitar contest - July
• The Autumn Festival 'Sinaia Forever'-September
• The Winter Festival

The Sinaia Monastery

in front of the Great Church

Sinaia takes its name from this monastery, built here by a Romanian nobleman after undertaking a pilgrimage to Mt. Sinai, Egypt.

The Old Church (Biserica Veche) was built in 1695 by Mihail Cantacuzino the Spatharus. It houses valuable objects, icons, rare books, pottery and porcelain from the 16th and 19th centuries. It's still a working monastery, so you can see some monks there.

The Great Church (Biserica Mare) was built in 1846.

Pelesh

This fabulous, fairytale-like castle, is definitely a must-see when in Sinaia. Both its exterior and interior are simply breathtaking!

There are 170 rooms in the castle; Armoury, Florentine, French, Turkish, just to mention a few, with valuable painting collections, carved wooden decorations, furniture... You can see Rembrandt's reproductions in the king's office, rows of books in the library, which btw has a secret passage to the 2nd floor, a gallery of mirrors, stained-glass windows with scenes from Romanian fairytales in the poetry room, Michelangelo's reproductions in the Florence hall... Do I need to mention that each room's furnished to reflect a different European country?

murals

inner court

The castle was built as a summer residence of the 1st royal couple, King Carol I and Queen Elizabeth. It was designed by 3 architects, Wilhelm Doderer, Johannes Schultz and Karel Liman, and took almost 40 years to complete (1875-1914).

This is the 1st castle in Europe to have central heating and electricity.

Visiting hours:
Wed-Sun: 9am-5pm
Mon: closed
Tue: 11am-5pm

Directions: north-west of Sinaia, 60km from Brasov and 135km from Bucharest

Website: http://www.agrotour.ro/castelul_peles.htm

Sinaia

Peles Castle

Sinaia lies in the beautiful Prahova Valley, at the foothill of the Bucegi mountains. It's Romania's most popular ski area, but it's also the home to the fabulous Peles Castle, a fairytale-like palace built by King Carol I in the 19th century as the royal family residence.

Sinaia takes its name from the 19th century monastery built here by a Romanian nobleman after undertaking a pilgrimage to Mt Sinai, Egypt.

Rope Street

A few steps from the Black Church you'll find 1 of the narrowest streets in Europe. But beware, if you don't look carefully you'll miss it!

The street's 1.32m wide and 83m long.

It was initially built as an access for the firemen in the 19th century.

Poiana Resort

Just 12km away from Brasov city you’ll find Romania's most famous skiing resort, Poiana Resort.

It’s said that here the snow layer lasts for 120 days a year.

There are great hotels and restaurants, modern winter sports facilities and numerous ski slopes.

Directions: 12km away from Brasov city

The Black Church

This is definitely Brasov's most important landmark.

It's the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul, originally dedicated to Virgin Mary. The building of the church started in 1383. It burned almost entirely twice, in 1421 and 1689. Its present name comes from the dark colour of its exterior walls.

Inside, you can see a nice collection of antique rugs and numerous icons.

Address: Court J. Honterus 2

Council Place

town centre seen from the black tower

Situated in the centre of the Brasov medieval fortress, this square's surrounded by beautiful examples of 15th century or so architecture.

This is where the Town Hall, the Black Church and other important buildings are and where the International Music Festival takes place every August.

Address: town centre

Town Hall

The Town Hall was built in the 15th century.

Since 1950 it's been the Museum of History and Archaeology.

Directions: the heart of Council Place

Romanian Orthodox Cathedral

Romanian church

This is a perfect copy of the Greek Church in Vienna with only 1 difference-the tower built above the parish house.

The building started in 1895 and the church was finished in 1896.

Address: Sfatului Sq 3