Legend has it that Bucharest was founded by a shepherd named Bucur (bucurie; literally ‘joy’) who built a church on the right bank of the Dâmboviţa River.

The city, which lies on the Wallachian plains between the Carpathian foothills and the Danube River, was settled by Geto-Dacians as early as 70 BC. By 1459 a princely residence and military citadel had been established under the chancellery of infamous Prince Vlad Ţepeş.

By the end of the 17th century, the city was the capital of Wallachia and ranked among southeastern Europe’s wealthiest cities. Bucharest became the national capital in 1862, as it lay on the main trade route between east and west.

The early 20th century was Bucharest’s golden age. Large neoclassical buildings sprang up, fashionable parks were laid out and landscaped on Parisian models and, by the end of the 1930s, Bucharest was known throughout Europe as ‘Little Paris’.

Bombing by the Allies during WWII, coupled with a 1940 earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, destroyed much of Bucharest’s prewar beauty. In March 1977 a second major earthquake claimed 1391 lives and flattened countless buildings. Ceauşescu’s criminal redevelopment of the city marked the final death knell of Romania’s elegant past.

The revolution of 1989 ripped the city to shreds. Although still haunted by its bloody history, Bucharest is recovering from its painful rebirth with contemporary building projects, the cull of snarling street dogs, care of street children who once roamed the city, crime prevention measures and an optimism born of hard-won freedom. Yet there’s still much to do and Bucharest’s future is as uncertain as it is exciting.

These days, as Bucharest finally assumes its status as a new EU capital, abandoned cranes remain next to abandoned projects from Ceauşescu buildings, while new ones tower over glittering new hotels or office buildings. A lot of people bump elbows in the tight space – Bucharest is Europe’s most crowded capital, with over 8000 people per sq kilometre, about 10 times more packed than Paris.

* Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/romania/bucharest/history

Romania’s capital offers visitors an extensive history lesson. There are many historic landmarks and sites dating from the times of Vlad the Impaler’s (who inspired the fictional character of Dracula), the monarchy, the Soviet era and present day modernism. The grey dullness and communist grandiosity of the Ceausescu era is uniquely intertwined with old style architecture and modern buildings.

Parliament Palace

Known during Communist times as ‘The House of the People’, this building and its surroundings were supposed to become one political powerhouse. Many historic houses were destroyed in order to build this grandiose palace.

What is impressive about this building is that all building materials and decorations inside have all been made in Romania. By the time the communist system was toppled in 1989, the building was not quite finished. Subsequent construction delivered the finished product.

The Parliament Palace is considered the second largest government building in the world after the Pentagon in Washington D.C. (although many uphold that it is actually the largest) The palace rises 12 storeys high and has four underground levels in use and four more in the construction stage.

Revolution Square

Located on Calei Victoriei, Bucharest’s oldest street, Revolution Square is where the Romanian communist leadership was toppled. Bullet holes remain in the grand buildings surrounding the square, which are reminders of the bloody upheaval that took place here.

In December 1989, President Nicolae Ceausescu stood in this square to make, unknowingly to him and majority of the population, his last speech. Almost 80,000 people gathered here chanted angrily about the secret police’s arrest of an outspoken priest. Ceausescu and his wife fled by helicopter from the roof of the building, but were eventually captured and shop on December 25.

Historic Centre

Bucharest’s traditional core has revolved around the old, cobblestone streets between the River Dambovita, Calea Victory, Boulevard Bratianu and Boulevard Regina Elisabeta. This area is still vibrant and today hosts several clubs, bars, coffee-houses and restaurants.

In this area you will find Biserica Curtea Veche, which dates back to the 16th century. To the north lies strada Lipscani, an old merchant street that offers curios, souvenirs, wedding gowns and vintage and second-hand stores.

Nearby, the 18th-century Biserica Stavropoleos church offers one of the most beautiful tours of magnificent, recently restored frescoes and icons. If you want to taste some good Romanian food, you should visit Hanul lui Manuc and Caru cu Bere, two of Bucharest’s oldest inns.

Patriarchal Cathedral

This stunning cathedral, which dates back to the 17th century, overlooks southern Bucharest from atop a hill and serves as the headquarters for the Romanian Orthodox Church. The tomb of St Dumitru, Bucharest’s patron saint, and worshippers often make the pilgrimage up the staircase to pay respects at his shrine. Outside, near the entrance, the oldest icon, dated 1665, captures patron saints Constantine and Helen, and a fresco depicts souls on their way to heaven or hell.

Arcul de Triumf

Almost identical to the Parisian Arc de Triumph monument, Bucharest’s Arch is decorated with sculptures from noted Romanian artists Ion Jalea and Dimitrie Paciurea, and commemorates troops who won Romania’s independence as well as those who fought in WWI. It stands on Sos Kiseleff in central Bucharest. Visitors can climb the Arc for views of Herastrau Park. The current arch stands 27 metres tall.

Romanian Athenaeum

Opened in 1888, the ornate, domed, circular building is the city’s main concert hall and the home of the George Enescu Philharmonic as well as an annual international music festival, also named after George Enescu.

The Neoclassical, Romantic ground floor is an ornate conference hall as large as the auditorium above; the auditorium seats 652 people. Above are 25 frescoes depicting Romanian history.

Princely Palace (Curtea Veche)

The crumbling walls and arches of Curtea Veche, in Lipscani, are the remains of Bucharest’s first settlement. Its heart, the Prince’s Palace, was built by prince Vlad Tepes (better known as Count Dracula in the 15th century).

Museums

Bucharest has many museums, and visitors have the opportunity to see some major collections of arts, craft, Impressionist works and outdoor preservation. The Zambaccian Museum contains a once-private collection of Impressionist paintings, including an early sculpture by Constantin Brancusi, which is housed in its original residence. The top floor also holds several works by Parisian artists such as Picasso, Bonnard and Renoir.

The Romanian Peasant Museum won the European Museum of the Year award in 1996 for its creative exhibits of religious and traditional crafts such as handmade rugs, pottery, tools, painted eggs, rosaries and icons.

On the shores of Lake Herastrau sits the Village Museum (Muzeul Satului), one of the largest and the oldest outdoor museum in Europe. Visitors can gain an insight of Romanian village life through tours of its houses, churches and water, wind and cloth mills. The homes contain folk handiworks that mark rural Romanian life.

Parks

The two biggest parks in Bucharest are Cismigiu and Herastrau.

Cismigiu Park was converted from a simple lake area to a park in the mid-1800s. In 1847, landscaping began under the direction of Austrian landscape artist Carl F.W.Meyer. The park officially opened in 1854 and to this day still houses some impressive flora, as well as protected tree, bird and animal species.

This park is always lively. It is beautiful to walk around in the summer when it became a place for families to relax, elderly to socialize and young people to enjoy each other’s company (the Lovers’ Alley is still a romantic place where many people go). In winter, the lake becomes a natural ice skating ring.

Herastrau Park is the largest park in Bucharest. It has a beautiful lake, nice quiet pathways and many trees. Since the 18th century it was a place for promenade and relaxation. In was modeled in the current shape in 1936. Today it welcomes concerts in the park, boat rentals and a monument dedicated to the founders of the European Union. The Village Museum is also located here.