Introduction
Once known as the “Paris of the East” because of the French influences in its architecture and culture, Bucharest is the capital of Romania. It is situated in the southern part of the country on the early trade routes between the Danube River and the Carpathian Mountains. The modern city is the economic, administrative, and cultural center of Romania.
Places of interest
Bucharest saw tremendous growth after World War II. Large-scale projects were undertaken to build a modern city. The Republic Square, with a palace hall and the historic Cretulescu Church (1722), is one of the most beautiful squares of the city. It is linked to Palace Square, which is surrounded by a group of administrative, political, and cultural buildings, including the massive Romanian Athenaeum.
The city also has a large number of churches. The Antim Monastery and the churches of Stavropoleos (1724) and Spiridon (1747), especially, are known for their splendid architecture.
People and culture
Most of the people of Bucharest are Romanian. There are also small numbers of Hungarians, Gypsies, and others. The majority of the people belong to the Romanian Orthodox church. Theater, ballet, and opera are popular. Many of the city's theaters, such as the National Theatre “I.L. Caragiale” and the Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Romania, have long traditions. Bucharest is also the seat of a national philharmonic orchestra.
The city has a number of museums of art, history, and traditional culture. Among these are the Museum of the History of the City of Bucharest and the Art Museum of Romania. The latter maintains large collections of national, European, and Oriental art. The Village Museum is made up of peasant houses brought from various parts of the country.
There are also several academies in both arts and sciences, as well as numerous research institutes.
Economy
Bucharest produces much of the total industrial output of Romania. It has several factories that manufacture farm machinery, electrical and automotive equipment, and machine tools. There are also chemical, textile, clothing, and food-processing plants.
History
The first written appearance of the name Bucuresti dates back to 1459. It was recorded in a document of Vlad III the Impaler, the ruler of Walachia, in central Romania. Bucharest was one of the many fortresses built by Vlad III to hold back the Turks and their attempts to attack the state.
Eventually Ottoman, or Turkish, rule was established in Walachia. Under the Turks Bucharest became the main economic center of Walachia. In 1659 it was made the capital.
By the 18th century, Bucharest was ruled by the Phanariotes. The Phanariotes were Greeks who came from the Phanar district of Constantinople. In 1821 an uprising, led by the Walachian national hero Tudor Vladimirescu, ended Phanariote rule. But civic unrest broke out again in 1859. Following this, the states of Walachia and Moldavia were joined to form the single state of Romania. In 1862 Bucharest was declared the capital of the new country.
After World War I, Bucharest strengthened its position as the most important city of a large country. During World War II, Bucharest was damaged by air raids. After the war the center of the city was rebuilt, and new industrial and residential districts were laid out. In 1947 a Communist government came to power in Romania. After the fall of that government in February 1990, Bucharest became the capital of the new republic. Population (1997 estimate), 2,027,500.
