Bucharest travel guide
Bucharest history
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Bucharest

Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards,
glorious Belle Époque buildings and a reputation for the high life, Romania's capital was
once known as the "Little Paris."
Romanian legend has it that the city of Bucharest was founded by a shepherd named
"Bucur", whose name means "joy". His flute playing reportedly dazzled
the locals and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders,
who gave his name to the place.
Remodeled, in the late 19th century, by French and French-trained architects Bucharest
even features a Triumphal Arch on the elegant Soseaua Kiseleff, a boulevard longer that
Paris' famed Champs-Elysees.
Communist rule interrupted Bucharest's cosmopolitan days. Many years after the overthrown
of the communist regime, the "House of the People" the world's second
largest building after the US Pentagon reminds Romanians of the communist years.
Only Romanian materials and products were used local marble, cherry and walnut
paneling, crystal chandeliers, specially commissioned hand-woven tapestries, carpets and
draperies to build what supposed to be the headquarters of Romania's last communist
leader. Now renamed the Palace of Parliament, this magnificent building of 1,000 rooms
reflects the work of the country's best architects and artisans.
Bucharest is one of the few cities in east-central Europe with gambling. Many 18th and
19th Century palaces and mansions now house elegant beaux-arts casinos, where guests can
play blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat and other games of chance, dine on
sumptuous buffets and dance all night to live music.
Today, Bucharest the capital and largest city of Romania is experiencing
renewed vigor. The city reflects an interesting heritage of mixed cultures influenced by:
the old Romanian aristocracy educated in France, the German King Carol I, and the
communist society.
Bucharest Fast Facts
| Location: |
Southern Romania (region:Wallachia) |
| Size: |
City of Bucharest - 88 sq.miles (228 sq. km)
Bucharest Metropolitan area - 587 sq. miles (1521 sq. km) |
| Elevation: |
190-295 ft. (55-90 m) |
| Population: |
2.1 million (2002) |
| Inhabited since: |
500 BC |
| First documented: |
1459 AD |
*This Section is courtesy of the Romanian
Tourist Office
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