Bucharest south
In the last years of Ceausescu's reign, the southern part of Bucharest, centered around the fifth of Unirii, was subjected to a thorough reconstruction - a new city center was to be built here. In the middle of the square, next to Piata Unirii metro station, there is a great decorative fountain. The Unirea Department Store stands on the north-eastern frontage of the square (photos of the fountain can be taken from the top floor). The long building behind it is the main market hall – the best place to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. In Unirii Square, as ages ago, there is a market square. The square itself cannot be called the old market, however, because in the Middle Ages Bucharest did not have one central market, but a few markets, which at different times were transferred to different places, depending on the next redevelopment of the city.
Going south, next to neglected lawns, enters George Cosbuc bulevardul, which after traveling 200 meters you can walk to the Patriarchal Church (Patriarchate; 1658) and the Patriarchal Palace (1875). They are surrounded by the building of the House of Representatives (1907), belfry (1698) and three stone crosses, from the 16th and 17th centuries. The church of impressive size was built according to the plans of the Curtea de Arges church, and it differs only in size and an open columned porch.
To the west of the fountain bulevardul Unirii – not very picturesque Bucharest's Champs Elysees” – leads straight to the People's House (it was officially renamed the Palace of Parliament, but the new name has not caught on yet). This remarkable Stalinist-style construction was almost complete, when Ceausescu was deposed in 1989 r. It was working on a huge construction project 20000 workers and 700 architects, and the costs have risen 16 billion lei. Only the chief and his favored architect, Anka Petrescu, had access to all the plans, the rest of the people worked on individual fragments and details, hence the absurd mix of elements of the Byzantine style, baroku i rokoka. All the materials used came from Romania. The building has 101 m in height; houses two monumental neo-baroque galleries, long on 150 and high on 18 m. It is one of the world's largest buildings (Bucharest people argue, that it is second only to the American Pentagon). To create a large enough construction site, many architectural monuments were demolished.
From 1989 r. there are fierce discussions about the future of the monster. Many people would like it to be demolished, meanwhile, the government decided to move parliament here. The parliament itself, however, reluctantly adopted the decision. The People's House is not open to the public, but by calling 311 611 one day in advance, you can order a visit (4 $ from person). The ONT offices also organize private tours around 8 $ from person.
Nicolae Ceausescu intended to make the mighty People's House the seat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the government. In high-rise apartment houses, standing in rows in the streets around the People's House, privileged state officials were to reside, employed at nearby ministries. South of the Palace of Parliament is the enormous National Institute of Science and Technology (headed by Elena Ceausescu), on the west side – new Ministry of Defense. The dictator planned to complete the reconstruction of the capital at the end of the year 1990, that's why all over town, especially in its southern part, you can meet gigantic, investments close to completion.
If someone is selling on time, can take the metro to the Eroii Revolutiei station on the southern outskirts of Bucharest. After exiting the subway, it's not hard to see the rows of white marble tombstones of the Heroes' Cemetery, where many victims of the last revolution are buried. Photographs are often attached to the graves, flowers are lying, candles are burning. W 1993 r. to commemorate their memory, an Orthodox church was built here.
North of the Parcul Carol cemetery, at calea Serban Voda, they rise high, red marble arches of the Monument to the Heroes of the Struggle for the Freedom of the Nation and the Fatherland, about Socialism (1963). Gheorge Gheorgiu-Dej and other first Romanian communists are buried here. After going down the stairs and crossing Parcul Carol to the north, you come to the square, from which a three-lane strada 11 June prowadzi z powrotem na boulevard George Cosbuc i piata Unirii.
Northern Bucharest
On Piata Victoriei, the massive one dominates, closely guarded building of the Romanian government (1938). It is worth visiting the Natural History Museum on the north-west side of the square (gum. pn. i wt.), where you can see, among others. a large collection of stuffed animals and one of the world's richest collections of butterflies.
Further north is the Arc de Triomphe (1936), commemorating the unification of Romania in the year 1918. It is no coincidence that it was modeled on the Parisian arch: not so long ago, Romania had strong cultural ties with France.
There is an interesting open-air museum nearby, Village Museum (gum. pn.), where on 10 ha was accumulated almost 300 original buildings, brought here from all regions of the country: churches, wooden houses and farm buildings. Founded in 1936 r. the open-air museum presents a variety of styles of traditional Romanian land construction. Tools have been gathered in the buildings, everyday items, furniture, decorations, Clothes. Unfortunately, in September 1997 r. a fire broke out in the open-air museum – a few valuable houses could not be saved.
From the north, the museum is adjacent to the Herastrau Park, where in summer a small lake is swarming with various types of floating equipment.
In the vicinity, you can take a look at the residence of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu - the Primavera Palace, niedaleko Aviatorilor market. To get here, you have to go north-east on Primaverii Boulevard to the intersection with the boulevard Mircea Eliade. Ceausescu's headquarters is a building in the right corner, on the south-west. The entrance is usually guarded.
Exactly on the opposite side of the avenue is the Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej residence, communist leader, after which Ceausescu took power in 1965 r. Do 1989 r. the surrounding properties were occupied by other members of the ruling elite, and the police did not allow strangers in here.
Przy the way of the Dorobants, also next to the fifth Aviatorilor, stands the building of the Romanian Television, and in front of him a small monument in memory of those, who died in this building during the fighting in 1989 r.