Bucharest : Paris From The East

Bucharest, 06 March 2018

Bucharest the capital of Romania, as the country famous for its Dracula story, many people visit Transylvania, and just passed this city. However, Bucharest as the capital of this country offers a different story, imagine we can see different churches to the typical French art deco architecture in Bucharest.

My trip to this fabulous city, begin from Brasov with Romanian Train which relatively cheap and qualified. After traveling from Brasov, approximately 3 hours, we have arrived at Gara De Nord Train Station safely. However, that morning feels so cold but the sun bright so lightly. We continue our journey to the Old Town by using the subway, which is also very convenient and cheap. At last, we stopped at Old Town station where our hostel that previously reserved the hostel name was Antique Hostel.

Gara De Nord Station

After checking in, and put our stuff we continued to explore the Old Town. The Old Town of Bucharest, I thought is similar to Paris, there is a lot of French art deco building in here. Although, this country which known as A Little Paris from The East. For example, I have found three beautiful building that surrounded by charming beauty. As you might expect by the name, The Old Town is home to some of the oldest building in the city dating back to 18th and 19th-century highlights with Old Church

Old Town

The Old Town district in Bucharest is the touristy place that is visited the most. Most of the city’s attractions located within this small district. Here, you can feel like you’re in Paris for a moment. However, a little bit different from Paris – more rough, neglected and shabby. But it also has right sides – it gives the city some character, determines and displays the hardship and difficult times it’s gone through.

Examples of beautiful building in Old Town

Overall, Bucharest, although not a wrong place to see, was my favorite place in Romania, just as in most Eastern Europe countries – the capitals seem not as unusual as the rest. Here are, a few landmarks I have been seen on my way to explore the Old Town.

Stavropoleos Monastery

This old orthodox church, in my opinion, looks like a Jedi Temple. Hmmm maybe you’ll be impressed, this iconic church situated in the heart of old town was built in the first decades of the 18^th century and even today one of the most beautiful church from Bucharest.

The Stavropoleos Monastery, similar like Jedi Temple

What I love form this church is the old funeral stones and of course the architectural style that combines local elements and with Byzantine influences. In winter, when I visited this church the old funeral stones are so placed with the glowing snow, it’s fantastic I thought. Being here is like visiting some Jedi Temple, and we must say “May The Force Be With You.”

 

 

C.E.C Palace

I never imagined that this neoclassical building would be a bank. C.E.C Palace is a national saving bank in Romania. The construction works started in 1897, and the building inaugurated in 1900 with French Renaissance style, which is one of the most graciously beautiful buildings in Bucharest.

C.E.C Palace

According to Bucharest website, a unique feature of this structure refers to the glass and metal dome (the central dome, and the largest of all the other arches which overtop the four corner sections of the building) set on top of the main hallway. The overall picture of the C.E.C. Palace exudes, first and foremost, elegance and balance. The interior of the palace embellished with graphic works by Mihail Simonide. However, its aesthetic qualities aside, according to Romanian Tourism website, the C.E.C. Palace is said to feature one of the most solid bearing structures of all the buildings in Bucharest; a reputation put to the test, amongst others, during the 1977 earthquake, when the glass dome was the only element affected, with little and insignificant damage to the rest of the building.

The Street front of CEC Palace

The National Bank of Romania

In the 19^th century, the financial banking was very famous in Bucharest. For example, two banks were becoming the commercial bank, as we mentioned before, C.E.C Palace which belongs to C.E.C Bank. The National Bank of Romania is another charming and magnificent building with a lot of renaissance architecture. This bank declared one of the most beautiful banks in Europe hosts an impressive collection of coins and money collection. Today this bank serves as a museum.

The National Bank of Romania

Romanian Athenaeum

After strolling around Romanian financial district, I founded another dome with beautiful architecture. Wow, it’s so stunning, it was Romanian Anthenaeum, another beautiful building which built as a concert auditorium. Based on information written in romanianmonasteries.org, the Romanian Athenaeum is formed from a peristyle of six columns in Ionic style, giving the impression of a Greek temple, under which there are, in medallions, the faces of five voivodes of Romania: Neagoe Basarab, Alexandru cel Bun, Vasile Lupu, Matei Basarab and King Carol I. A team of architects gave the dome’s initial former and engineers after Galleron handed the project.

Romanian Athenaeum, similar to Greek Temple

This is an auditorium concert building

 

Central University of Romanian

Finally, the building where my favorite was Central University Library. The first impression, I never thought that this palace is a library, I guessed that this must be a castle and yes it’s wrong. In front of the statue of King Carol I, this library founded by the first king of Romania, Carol I, whose figure admired in front of the building. It burned down during the Romanian Revolution, over 50000 books being lost. However, this magnificent library has proved that Bucharest is Paris from The East. I loved this superb architecture, and this is my favorite building from all.

This is a library

King Carol I the founder of this lovely university and library

Central University Library

Curtea Veche – Vlad the Impaler (Prince Palace Court)

Last but not least, after wandering in the old town, there are some ruins or maybe abandoned place, and I found Vlad The Impaler statue in front of it. I just figured it out, that this place possibly correlated to the story of Vlad The Impaler. Yes, I was right this place is known as the summer residence of Vlad III in what was then known as “the Citadel of Bucharest.”

Snowy Curtea Veche

Its me in front of The Prince Court

Bucharest became the preferred residence of rulers. So Vlad III discover and build this building called The princely palace and court (Curtea Veche). He gained prominence as the commercial and religious hub of the city. Nowadays, not much remains of this palace and its grounds other than ruins. But amidst the broken masonry and old stone arches, like a sentinel, the best of Romania’s most notorious ruler, Vlad III, watching over the old court. But I feel surprised will meet the Dracula in this heart lovely city of The Old Town Bucharest.

I think that’s all for my bustling winter adventure throughout Bucharest. I feel happy to this Paris from The East. I hope someday I’ll be enjoyed another Paris from The East in another beautiful place in Europe. In a nutshell, having been to cities like Warsaw, Budapest or Prague (which are all fantastic), Bucharest reminded me of Paris the most.  And If you have some comments, don’t forget to comment below. Thank You.

Ferdi Cullen

Brasov The Winter Wonderland

Brasov, Transylvania, 6 March 2018

Transylvania is being famous with the famous novel from Bram Strokers, the English writer, which is Dracula. However, it turns out Transylvania has a magnificent beauty that not equal to be compared to just the story of Dracula. While Romania is improvised after the fall of communism, it’s a pretty interesting place to get around than you probably realize. For example, Brasov located 100 km from Bucharest, displays an enchanting beauty. Especially when you are in this city during the winter season, the snowy brick streets to the Hollywood Sign in the city center make this city turns into Winter Wonderland.

Firstly, also honestly, this is my first time visiting the city covered with snow. So I would like to say this apparently become my first experience to visit Winter Wonderland. Brasov is at the heart of Transylvania. Arrived at Bucharest for the first time, after flying from Venice, I was rushed from Henri Coanda International airport to Nara The Gord train station and ought some one way ticket to Brasov, relatively cheap it is only 47 lei for a second-class train (the cheapest train ticket I thought). Approximately 3 hours from Bucharest by Train, we have arrived at Brasov. I was based in Brasov for two days, to explore both the city and the surrounding area in Transylvania. This is one place in Romania you can’t miss!.

The Snowy Council Square

One of the most popular spots in Brasov is the Council Square or Piata Sfatului. In the Piata Sfatului, not only open-square but also we can see a lot of delightful restaurants and cafes. In warm weather, these open their doors and invite you to sit in the sunshine on the square itself. As you sip your coffee, the central square is where the action is, and where you’ll get a great taste of Romanian city life.

Trumpeter Tower, which is a beautiful tower and also the Middle Ages as a watchtower for warning the citadel inhabitants of approaching danger. Today, the old city hall houses turn into the Brasov History Museum. Very iconic, even though is a short tower, it’s still charming an artistic atmosphere to the council square.

Brasov is surrounded by intimidating misty mountains which are home to various creatures of the night including bears and wolves. This city is amazingly picturesque with buildings that look like they fell straight out of a medieval painting. The Old Town Square may be home to modern establishments like Starbucks and the McDonalds, but the buildings are still very medieval in appearance. My most favorite is the sign copied the Hollywood sign in the snowy mountain written “BRASOV”. Wow that’s sign is extraordinary, however in my country in the Batam island there is a large city sign similar to this sign but this sign definitely looks different when its followed by a snowy mountain hmm outstanding.

BRASOV sign up in the hill

The Black Church

In fact, The Black Church is the largest gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul. The Church bell is also known as the largest bell in Romania. Erected between 1477 this medieval church, have a lot of similarity with St, Vitus Cathedral in Prague. Although, this church not colored black, there was a lot of dark history followed it.

The Black Church

First, Mongol invasion of the Romanian land at 14^th century made this church horrible extensive damage. Secondly, there was a fire disaster with high leveled flamed most of the town, no exception the church also blown by this fire. This disaster happened in 1689 and it needs 100 years to renovate this building. After renovating, this church is well known as The Black Church, perhaps they remember how the black smoke appears from the fire that destroyed this church.

Gothic Ornamen of The Black Church

Schei District and Fairytale Tower.

Probably this is the most medieval district I ever have seen, and it’s flavored with frost and I’m so excited to see this splendor. My favorite is Catherine Gates, which is a fortification gate that built around 1559 by the Tailors’ Guild, is the only original gate to have survived from medieval times.

The Schei Gate, this is the border between the town and Schei District

When the Saxon rule, Romanians were prohibited from owning landholding inside Brasov and such they lived outside of the wall, erecting their houses outside the city walls, face to this beautiful valley. Furthermore, they created the fortification gate which is one of them is this four turret tower, Catherine Gate. Once it was was part of a bigger structure, which, unfortunately, was demolished in 1827.

The Splendor Catherine Gate

Ferdi Cullen in front of Catherine Gate

The Schei is a closely little valley, its population of about one thousand people crowded together into an area so long and thinly that it seems but a crack between two up mountains, their sides rising sheer and darkly forested. The unpaved streets are thin, and the little-whitewashed houses think tank together along with them as if pressed ever more and more close by the overhanging mountains on either side.

The Medieval Schei District

In winter, as a winter wonderland, the town is buried beneath deep snowflake. Paths are trodden out, snowed over again, and re-trodden from house to house, to shop and church and school. In my opinion, its look like an Iceland craft with splendor.

Casa Terezia

If you need to stay at Brasov, I would like to recommend my hotel which is Casa Terezia. Founded unexpectedly by Booking.com, I have figured out that this is the best hotel in Brasov. Staying there for two days only cost 25 euro, it is absolutely cheap. But the service made by the owner, who is Ms. Terezia was so wonderful. She is a very friendly and respectful person, she gave us the bigger room for two people with one bathroom.

Casa Terezia Guest House

The apartment provides rooms with free wireless internet, heating, a private safe, a dressing area and a DVD player for a cozy stay in Brasov. The rooms also feature parquet floor and wooden furnishing. There is a private bathroom.  that’s why I called this is the best accommodation on my trip. The venue is placed in the historical center of Brasov, Brasov city center is 1 km away or probably 5 minutes walk.

I thought this is not the end of my story there will other stories in Brasov so stay tuned to my blog. Be my guest, if you have any question about Brasov or you wanna comments, don’t hesitate to comment below.

Mulțumesc

Ferdi Cullen