Today we are spending the full day seeing Bucharest, Romania's capital.
First mentioned in 1459 under Vlad III (Dracula), Bucharest grew from a Wallachian fortress into Romania's capital by 1862. Known as "Little Paris" for its interwar architecture, the city endured major damage from WWII, earthquakes, and communist systemic changes, including the construction of the massive Parliament Palace in the 1980s.
Key Historical Milestones:
1459: First document attestations under Vlad the Impaler, serving as a primary residence for the princes of Wallachia.
1659: Formally became the capital of Wallachia.
1862: Established as the capital of the United Principalities of Romania following the union of Wallachia and Moldavia.
"Little Paris" Era (Late 19th/Early 20th Century): Rapid modernization, neoclassical architecture, and vibrant culture, leading to the "Little Paris" nickname.
World War II & Communism: Suffered damage from Axis bombings, Soviet occupation, and communist urban restructuring under Nicolae Ceaușescu.
1989: The Romanian Revolution, starting on Dec 21, overthrew the communist dictatorship.
Modern Era: A modernizing EU capital (since 2007) known for blending historic, communist, and modern architecture.
The city's history is characterized by rapid development interspersed with significant destruction from wars and natural disasters (1940, 1977 earthquakes).
It was an hours drive from our boat to Bucharest passing flat fertile farmland. Numerous little villages.
Then into the city. That bit of knowledge of the history helped understand the housing we saw. Most built with government money and sold back to the people at a very cheap price when communism was rejected. Unfortunately the population were not earning enough to maintain the housing and many houses were just crumbling away. Commercial buildings were grand.
Lunch was in an original caravanserai. A safe place for travelling traders to eat and sleep in the old days.
After lunch, the People's Palace of Parliament.
The magnificent Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, Romania, is the second-largest administrative building in the world, boasting impressive dimensions and a storied history. Built during the regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu, its sheer scale and opulence is just awesome.
Wow, the money being spent while the masses starved. No wonder there was a revolution.
A very interesting day indeed.
Looks a good city. Ken
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