If you're traveling to Bucharest, then you're in luck. It is the capital of Romania, and also happens to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. There are castles, lush forests, old world architecture, and wonderful museums to see. Here are 4 places you shouldn't miss.
Bran Castle
When you visit Romania you owe it to yourself to see one of the countries beautiful castles. Bran castle is a great choice. This castle served as the inspiration for the castle in Dracula. When you think of the archetypal old world castle, Bran fits the bill. It is located outside of Bucharest, but it is close enough that you can get there by bus or hired car.
The castle is open to the public. There is an extensive collection of Romanian artwork on display. You can explore it on your own, or you can opt for a guided Bucharest city tour.
National Village Museum
This "open air" museum is located in the heart of Bucharest. It is comprised of over two hundred reproductions of Romanian peasant homes and farms. The village museum is meant to represent the rural, old world look of Romania so that people know what the country looked like before the advent of modern architecture and the industrial revolution. This is a great way to see what the country looked like a few hundred years ago, all right in the middle of a booming metropolis.
Palace of Parliament
This is the seat of Romanian politics. It is also the second largest administrative building, only surpassed by the Pentagon in the United States. It has a very controversial history due to the man responsible for its construction. The building was the brainchild of the Communist dictator Ceausescu. He came up with the idea after visiting North Korea and seeing similar, large-scale bureaucratic buildings. In order to clear space for the enormous construction, he ordered churches and synagogues to be torn down. Also razzed were peasant's homes and other structures. There are guided tours of the palace offered to tourists. Also located inside the Palace is a huge museum which houses contemporary Romanian art.
Lipscani
If you want to see old world Romania, then you should head over to Lipscania It is also sometimes called "old town." It survived the bombing of World War 2 and also years of Communism when many other areas were bulldozered and rebuilt with large, impersonal structures. The street and buildings remain how they were hundreds of years ago. There are small cafes, bars, boutiques, and outdoor plazas for hearing live music.
Share