UAE Ambassador to Romania Ya’qob Yousef Hassan Al Hosni and the President of the National Network of Romanian Museums signed here today an agreement for cooperation between the two sides with the aim of highlighting the history and values United Arab Emirates in the fields of culture and heritage.

Lipscani District
Perhaps the city’s unique charm can be best observed in the area known as Lipscani, which consists of a jumble of streets between Calea Victoriei, Blvd. Bratianu, Blvd. Regina Elisabeta and the Dambovita River. A once-glamorous residential area, the old city centre is now slowly being refashioned into an upscale neighborhood.

At the beginning of 1400s, most merchants and craftsmen – Romanian, Austrian, Greek, Bulgarian, Serbian, Armenian and Jewish – established their stores and shops in this section of the city. Soon, the area became known as Lipscani, named for the many German traders from Lipsca or Leiptzig. Other streets took on the names of various old craft communities and guilds, such as Blanari (furriers), Covaci (blacksmiths), Gabroveni (knife makers) and Cavafii Vechii (shoe-makers). The mix of nationalities and cultures is reflected in the mishmash of architectural styles, from baroque to neoclassical to art nouveau.

Today, the area is home to many art galleries, antique shops and coffeehouses. On a beautiful day, you can stroll down the narrow cobblestone streets and imagine the shopkeepers outside near their stores, encouraging people to buy their merchandise and negotiating prices with them. Don’t forget to stop by Hanul cu Tei, which is a rectangular courtyard between Strada Lipscani and Strada Blanari, home to an array of art and antiques shops.

Old Princely Court & Church (Palatul si Biserica Curtea Veche)
Address: Strada Franceza 25-31 (map)
Tel: (21) 314.03.75
Museum open: Tue. – Sun. 10:00am – 6:00pm; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
At the centre of the historic area are the remains of the Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche), built in the 15th century by Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad Dracula. According to local lore, Vlad kept his prisoners in dungeons which commenced beneath the Princely Court and extended under the city. All that remains today are a few walls, arches, tombstones and a Corinthian column.

The Old Court Museum was established in 1972 when an archaeological dig revealed the remains of the fortress, along with Dacian pottery and Roman coins, evidence of Bucharest’s earliest inhabitants. The oldest document attesting to the city’s origin under the name of Bucuresti (Bucharest) was discovered here. It was issued on September 20, 1459 and signed by Prince Vlad Tepes.

Next to the palace stands the the Old Court Church (Biserica Curtea Veche), dating from 1559 and considered the oldest in Bucharest. For two centuries, the church served as coronation ground for Romanian princes. Some of the original 16th century frescoes have been preserved.

Glassmakers Court (Curtea Sticlarilor)
Address: Str. Selari 9-11
Hours: Mon. – Sat. 8:00am – 4:00pm; Closed Sun.
Tel: (21) 314.32.28
www.curteasticlarilor.ro
Located on Selari Street, near the Old Princely Court, the Glassmakers’ Court is one of the great hidden treasures of Bucharest. Here you can find glass-blowing workshops where you can watch artisans weave their magic in glass to produce Galle or Nancy-like vases, Tiffany lamps, chandeliers, as well as stained glass panels. The court also features a fine cast iron staircase, as well as a few souvenir shops and a relaxing coffee shop. Products coming from Curtea Sticlarilor can also be found in the shops and art galleries along Selari Street.

Manuc’s Inn (Hanul lui Manuc)
Address: Str. Franceza 62-64 (map)
Tel: (21) 313.14.11
Built between 1804 and 1808 by the wealthy Armenian trader Emanuel Marzaian (called by the Turks, Manuc Bey), the inn was witness in 1812 to the preliminary talks of the Peace Treaty that put an end to the Russian -Turkish War (1806-1812). A favorite meeting and resting place for tradesmen in those times, Manuc’s Inn has preserved to this day its old style and flavor. It now serves as a hotel with a restaurant, a wine cellar and a pastry shop.

The Beer Cart Restaurant (Carul cu Bere)
Strada Stavropoleos 3-5 (map)
Tel: (21) 313.75.60
Opened in 1879, this famous restaurant and beer house soon became one of the most popular meeting places for Bucharest’s literati who would gather to discuss matters of their time. Its neo-gothic architectural style is reflected both in the façades and the interior decorations: columns, arches, chandeliers, a wooden staircase, furniture and murals on the walls and ceiling.

National Bank of Romania (Banca Nationala a Romaniei)
Address: Str. Lipscani 25 (map)
The National Bank of Romania (BNR) stands on the site of one of the most famous buildings in Romania: the Hanul Serban Voda, which from 1678 until 1883 was the home of various institutions ranging from a pub to an inn to a girl’s dormitory! After two fires gutted the building, however, the land was leveled and in 1883, work began on the BNR, completed to the designs of French architects Cassien Bernard and Albert Galleron in 1885. Built in neoclassical French style, the building boasts a facade with Corinthian columns and an enormous central banking hall. The passing of time has left its marks on the building, but it remains a classic worthy of admiration.

University Square (Piata Universitatii)
(map)
Buzzing with crowds and traffic from early morning until late at night, this area is one of the most popular meeting places in Bucharest. The square brings together some remarkable architectural masterpieces on each of its four corners, starting with the University of Bucharest’s School of Architecture, the Bucharest National Theatre, the neoclassical Coltea Hospital and its lovely church (1702-1794) and the Sutu Palace, now home to the Bucharest History Museum.

In the middle of the square, on a little island, 10 stone crosses pay respect to those killed during the 1989 revolution. Below the square is an underground passage with shops and eateries, allowing pedestrians to cross from one side of the square to another and to access the subway station.

University of Bucharest (Universitatea Bucuresti)
Address: Blvd. Regina Elizabeta (near University Square) (map)
Bucharest remains first and foremost a hub of higher education. The University of Bucharest was founded in 1864 by Alexandru Ioan Cuza, ruler of the newly united principalities of Walachia and Moldova. Work on the neoclassical building began in 1857 and finished in 1859.

Between the two World Wars, the libraries and corridors of the University hosted an impressive number of Romanian personalities, including Mircea Eliade, Emil Cioran, Eugène Ionesco, Sergiu Celibidache.

Year-round, you can find book merchants near the University building selling anything from antique books, records, discontinued newspapers and illustrated broadsheets from another age to secondhand books.

Coltea Hospital (Spitalul Coltea)
Address: Blvd. I.C. Bratianu 1 (map)
The oldest hospital in Bucharest, dating from 1704, Coltea was built on land belonging to the Vacaresti family, who at the time owned many of the great prosperities of the capital. The original building was destroyed by an earthquake in 1802, and the neoclassical building standing today dates from 1888. The church next to the hospital is the original 1701 construction, and is currently undergoing much-needed renovation. The hospital remains a functioning public health centre; you may enter only if you have official business. The church, however, is open to all, and the saintly silhouettes on the ceiling are admirable.

Sutu Palace (Palatul Sutu)
Address: Blvd I.C. Bratianu 2 (near University Square) (map)
Famous for the grandiose balls held here in the 1900s, Sutu Palace was built in neogothic style between 1832 and 1834 by foreign minister Costache Sutu, to designs of architects Johann Veit and Konrad Schwinck. In 1862, the palace was redecorated by sculptor Karl Storck, who created three arcades and a monumental stairway; a huge Murano mirror was added in the hallway. Only the painted ceilings, the stucco, the parquet flooring and the tile stoves have been preserved.
Since 1959, the building has housed the Bucharest History & Art Museum (see details).

City Highlights

Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Époque buildings and a reputation for the high life (which in the 1900s earned its nickname of “Little Paris”), Bucharest, Romania’s largest city and capital, is today a bustling metropolis.

Romanian legend has it that the city of Bucharest was founded on the banks of the Dambovita River by a shepherd named Bucur, whose name literarily means “joy.” His flute playing reportedly dazzled the people and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders, who gave his name to the place. In the 15th century, the princely court of Vlad Tepes (thought to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula) was established here and by the end of the 17th century, the city had become the capital of the province of Walachia. In 1862, Bucharest became the capital of Romania.

Remodeled in the late 19th century by French and French-trained architects, the city features large neoclassical buildings, fashionable parks, and even its very own Arc de Triomphe on the elegant Soseaua Kiseleff, an avenue longer than the famed Champs-Elysees and home to the city’s mansion district.

Bucharest is laden with historical charm – from the streets of the Old City Centre, which are slowly being restored, to the grand architecture of the Royal Palace and the lush green of Cismigiu Park. The city also claims a large number of museums, art galleries, exquisite Orthodox churches and unique architectural sites.

Nicolae Ceausescu’s legacy, including the Parliament Palace (formerly called the People’s Palace), which at 3.76 million square feet stands as the world’s second largest building after the U.S. Pentagon, provides an interesting introduction to the dictator’s megalomaniac vision.

Bucharest’s buzzing cultural scene – 37 museums, 22 theatres, concert halls, opera house, 18 art galleries, jazz clubs and hip nightclubs – will certainly keep you busy. Every two years, Bucharest is host to the George Enescu International Festival, a prestigious cultural event named after the famous Romanian musician and composer. Renowned orchestras, conductors and soloists perform at the Romanian Athenaeum, a hall with acoustics comparable to Milan’s La Scala.

City Landmarks

House of the Free Press (Casa Presei Libere)
Address: Piata Presei Libere 1 (map)
An impressive edifice standing somewhat menacingly at the entrance to the capital, Casa Scanteii (as it is still universally known) was designed by architect Horia Maicu and completed in 1956, one year after the strikingly similar Palace of Science and Culture in Warsaw, Poland. Originally housing almost all of the capital’s printing presses and newsrooms, it, today, carries out much the same function, with the addition of the Bucharest Stock Exchange in the southern wing.

The Arch of Triumph (Arcul de Triumf)
Address: Piata Arcul de Triumf (map)
Initially built of wood in 1922 to honor the bravery of Romanian soldiers who fought in World War I, Bucharest’s very own Arc de Triomphe was finished in Deva granite in 1936. Designed by the architect, Petre Antonescu, the Arc stands 85 feet high. An interior staircase allows visitors to climb to the top for a panoramic view of the city. The sculptures decorating the structure were created by leading Romanian artists, including Ion Jalea, Constantin Medrea and Constantin Baraschi.

Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue)
Calea Victoriei is Bucharest’s oldest and arguably, most charming street. Built in 1692 to link the Old Princely Court to Mogosoaia Palace, it was initially paved with oak beams. The street became Calea Victoriei in 1878, after the Romanian War of Independence victory. Between the two world wars, Calea Victoriei developed into one of the most fashionable streets in the city.

Stroll along this street from Piata Victoriei to Piata Natiunilor Unite to discover some of the most stunning buildings in the city, including the Cantacuzino Palace, the historical Revolution Square, the Military Club, the CEC Headquarters and the National History Museum.

Cantacuzino Palace (Palatul Cantacuzino)
Address: Calea Victoriei 141
Admission charge
Grigore Cantacuzino was thought to be one of Romania’s wealthiest citizens in 1899. As Prime Minister, it was his wish to have the most elegant residence in Bucharest. Using the designs of architect Ion Berindei, the Cantacuzino Palace was built between 1898 and 1900 in eclectic French style. Combining a neoclassical architectural style with art nouveau elements, it features wrought iron balconies, tall arched windows and a porte-cochere (an elegant wrought-iron doorway) flanked by two lions. Today, the palace houses the George Enescu Museum (see details).

Revolution Square (Piata Revolutiei)
The square gained worldwide notoriety when TV stations around the globe broadcasted Nicolae Ceausescu’s final moments in power on December 21, 1989. It was here, at the balcony of the former Communist Party Headquarters, that Ceausescu stared in disbelief as the people gathered in the square below turned on him. He fled the angry crowd in his white helicopter, only to be captured outside of the city a few hours later.

The square’s importance stretches back long before the dramatic events of the 1989 Revolution. On the far side of the square stands the former Royal Palace, now home to the National Art Museum, the stunning Romanian Athenaeum and the historic Athenee Palace Hotel. At the south end of the square, you can visit the small, but beautiful, Kretzulescu Church.

The Royal Palace (Palatul Regal)
Address: Calea Victoriei 49-53 (map)
Erected between 1927 and 1937 in neoclassical style, the palace was home to King Carol II and to his son, King Mihai I, until 1947, when the monarchy was abolished in Romania. It was inside the halls of this palace that King Mihai, aged 18, led a coup that displaced the pro-Nazi government during the World War II and put Romania on the Allies’ side. Today, the former Royal palace houses the Romanian National Art Museum (see museum details).

The Romanian Athenaeum (Ateneul Roman)
Address: Str. Benjamin Franklin 1 (map)
Tel: (21) 315.00.26 or 315.25.67
The work of French architect Albert Galleron, who also designed the National Bank of Romania, the Athenaeum was completed in 1888, financed almost entirely with money donated by the general public. One of the preeminent public fundraising campaigns ever in Romania, the “Give a penny for the Athenaeum” campaign saved the project after the original patrons ran out of funds. With its high dome and Doric columns, the Athenaeum resembles an ancient temple.

The lobby has a beautifully painted ceiling decorated in gold leaf, while curved balconies cascade in ringlets off a spiral staircase. A ring of pink marble columns is linked by flowing arches where elaborate brass lanterns hang like gems from a necklace. Inside the concert hall, voluptuous frescoes cover the ceiling and walls. Renowned worldwide for its outstanding acoustics, it is Bucharest’s most prestigious concert hall and home of the Romanian George Enescu Philharmonic.

For the seventh consecutive year,
the Romanian National Tourist Office names Austrian Airlines
as “the Designated, Preferred Air Carrier for Travel from America to Romania”

(New York, January 2, 2008) Building upon a working relationship that has become increasingly successful since it began in 2002, the Romanian National Tourist Office has again named Austrian Airlines as “the designated, preferred air carrier for travel from America to Romania” in 2008. This announcement was confirmed jointly today by Mr. Simion Alb, the director of the Romanian National Tourist Office (RoNTO), and Mr. Paul Paflik, Austrian Airlines’ General Manager – The Americas. Both are based in New York.

According to Simion Alb of RoNTO, the Romanian Tourist Office has received consistently positive feedback about Austrian Airlines’ service from individuals, families, travel agents and tour operators. “We look forward to expanding our working relationship with Austrian Airlines even further in the future to include more of continental Europe, which is well served by Austrian Airlines, as well as other global points of origin also served by the Austrian Airlines Group, such as Tokyo, Osaka, Beijing, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.”

“Of course, we are pleased that Austrian Airlines has been given this preferred designation by the Romanian National Tourist Office. Austrian Airlines has frequent service, via Vienna, to Bucharest, Cluj, Sibiu, Timisoara and Iasi” said Paul Paflik of Austrian Airlines. “We look forward to working with individuals, families or travel professionals who are planning travel to Romania from America — or anywhere.”

In North America, Austrian Airlines provides trans-Atlantic service with connections from dozens of cities throughout the US, via Vienna, to Romania from New York/JFK, Washington, DC/Dulles and Chicago/O’Hare airports. Austrian has convenient connections to its US gateways to and from sixteen (16) cities within the US, including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Hartford, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tampa and Tucson.

For more information or reservations on Austrian Airlines, consult your travel agent or call Austrian Airlines directly at (800) 843-0002. Austrian Airlines is a proud member of the Star Alliance. Austrian Airlines’ US travel partner is United Airlines (UAL). With one of the world’s airline industry’s “youngest” fleets of 98 aircraft averaging just six (6) years of service age, the Austrian Airlines Group serves the globe with flights to 130 destinations in 66 counties on five continents. www.AustrianAir.com

Romanian ski resorts

There are a number of ski resorts in Romania boasting different levels of amenities and types of skiing. The sport is quickly increasing in popularity throughout Romania.

 Azuga city is situated between Sinaia international resort and Predeal ski resort. Azuga is at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains, with an elevation of 1,110 m. It is 38 km to Poiana-Brasov and 147 km to Bucharest. The longest ski run in Romania, Sorica, is here and is accessible by a modern chair-lift. Azuga has cool summers and cold winters.  

Busteni

This has the “Babele” and the “Sphynx”, which are wind-modeled stones located in the Bucegi Massif, accessible by cable car or a two hour climb up the mountain. A second cable-car links Busteni with the Caraiman peak where there is the Hotel Pestera and a unique cave Monastery. On top of the Caraiman Massif, at 2,484 m altitude, you can see a striking 40m high steel cross memorial to those that passed away in WWI.

Predeal

Located 25km from Brasov in the direction of Bucharest, Predeal is a popular resort. In the winter, skiing is the main attraction, but the town is a good starting place for spectacular trips in the mountains that surround Brasov.

Poiana Brasov

Located 12 km from Brasov, Poiana Brasov is probably Romania’s most famous skiing resort. There is typically snow for 120 days a year here. There are a number of nice hotels and restaurants, modern winter sports facilities, and numerous ski slopes.

For the World Youth and Students Festival that was about to take place in Romania, in august 1953, the Opera finally got a new luxurious headquarters, in  big contrast with the social situation of the country. The first opera premiere happened on 9-th of January 1954 with Pick Dame by Chaikovsky, after Puskin, and the first ballet was Coppelia, on 10-th of January 1954 with a more spectacular production than the one before it.

www.happyromania.com