Eco-houses

Our group spent 3 nights here in May 2014. While some were staying in wooden bungalows, the others were in hostel rooms and villa apartments. All the rooms had a bathroom with a shower and toilet, fridge and TV.

casa ecologica

the room upstairs

The meals at the restaurant were warm and tasty.

Unique Qualities: The eco-houses are surrounded by hills, so you can enjoy the peace and quiet. If you like, you can also use a sauna, pool (indoor or outdoor) or fitness equipment. There's also a barbeque area.

bungalows

deckchairs

Directions: Around 1.5 km from the resort Baile Herculane on E70 Timisoara-Bucharest

Other Contact: pensiuneaecologica@gmail.com

Phone: 0255 - 523.292

Price: US$20-40

Website: http://www.pensiuneaecologica.ro/

Natural Springs

There are 16 natural springs in this area. Since they contain large amounts of sulphur, which has healing powers, the air you breathe may smell a bit strange.

The Casino

Close to the town hall, there's a casino-museum built in the 1860s. 

Believe it or not, there's a 200-year-old giant sequoia tree in front of it.

Directions: central park

The oldest spa in Romania

The oldest spa in Romania, situated in the valley of the Cerna River, once very beautiful resort visited by the emperors of Austria, has, unfortunately, been turned into a ruin. It's a real shame. Something has to be done, and fast!

A landmark

According to a legend, Hercules, tired after his many battles, stopped here to bathe and rest. That's why the Romans, who ruled over the area and later helped it prosper, decided to name the spa after him.

Six statues of Hercules have been discovered so far, but the 1 in the town centre is a bronze replica from 1874. 

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.'