BUCHAREST – PARIS OF THE EAST

In today's post I will try to tell you a little bit about Bucharest, one of the fastest growing European cities and personally one of my favourite places in this part of the world. The eclectic architecture, which is a mixture of socialist and glorious Belle Epoque style buildings, undoubtedly reflects the history of the city.
 Let's get to know some facts about Bucharest today then!

Romanian legend says that Bucharest was founded on the banks of the Dâmboviţa River by a shepherd named Bucur, whose name comes from the word joy. Bucharest, however, first appeared in historical sources in 1459 as the residence of Vlad the Impaler, now known as Dracula. Over the years, Bucharest has become one of the most important places in Wallachia, which is why in 1861 was elected the capital United Principality of Romania. The city has gained importance, delighting with its multiculturalism, numerous foreign influences and Parisian-style architecture.

Even though Bucharest began to be called the Paris of the East, especially in the interwar period, communism completely changed the face of the city. Despite the destruction during World War I, it was Nicolae Ceausescu's regime and the 1977 Vrancea earthquake that led to irreversible changes. The city became a construction site and was supposed to fulfil the megalomaniacal visions of the Romanian dictator. Many valuable buildings were destroyed in order to build blocks according to socialist realist architecture. One of the examples of Ceaușescu's decision is The People's House, the second largest building in the world. It is also worth mentioning the Union Boulevard, which was to resemble the Paris's Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

Nowadays, Bucharest is undergoing a metamorphosis. Although it still impresses with its former charm, there are many places that need immediate revitalization – years of neglect and the communist regime are still clearly visible. Despite this, the Romanian capital has a lot to offer, including the Old Town, Romanian Atheneum, National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC), Curtea Veche church, Village Museum, Greek Stavropoleos Monastery, Mogoșoaia Palace or Calea Victoriei, a major avenue in central Bucharest. There are also many bars, clubs and restaurants where you can experience nightlife or local cuisine, but more about that in the next post!