Romania, Europe (Point of interest)

Bucharest's version of the Parisian Arc de Triumph stands on tree-lined Sos Kiseleff in central Bucharest. Visitors climb the granite Arcul de Triumf for views over Herastrau park. It was raised in 1922 to commemorate Romania's World War I dead.... Continue reading →

The small Cismigiu Garden is where locals play chess and chat on benches. Visitors paddle in the lake in summer, and skate in winter. This central Bucharest oasis of green was created by 19th-century gardener Carl de Meyer.... Continue reading →

The beautiful red brick Cretulescu Church is one of Bucharest's oldest. The Brancovean design blends Byzantine and Western architectural elements with indigenous forms. Fragments of the late-19th-century frescoes by great Romanian painter Gheorghe ... Continue reading →

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.... Continue reading →

Bucharest's Museum of the Romanian Peasant documents the country's fascinating rural past. Colourful costumes, hand-painted pottery and a complete 18th-century wooden church await inside the museum, on Sos Kiseleff. A separate section documents col... Continue reading →

Inside central Bucharest's neo-classical Royal Palace resides the National Art Museum. Romania's greatest painters and sculptors are displayed here, including Theodor Aman, Constantin Brancusi and Gheorghe Tattarescu. Other European masters, includ... Continue reading →

More than 1000 rooms over 12 floors make up the colossal Palace of Parliament, south of Bucharest's centre. It's the former home of Romania's megalomaniac communist leader, Nicolae Ceausescu. Tours take in opulent 1980s decor, with chandeliers and ... Continue reading →

Located on Calei Victoriei, Bucharest's oldest street, Revolution Square is where communist Romania came to an end. Bullet holes remain in the grand buildings surrounding the square, potent reminders of the bloody upheaval that took place here in 1... Continue reading →

The domed Romanian Athenaeum, in central Bucharest, is the neo-classical home of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra. The golden ceilings, ornate frieze decorations and high marble pillars have made this cream-coloured concert hall a Bucharest... Continue reading →

The acclaimed Romanian National Opera, on Piata Operei square, performs works by Mozart, Wagner and Verdi, as well as George Enescu, Romania's foremost composer. Ticket prices suit small budgets, and the gold-ornamented auditorium regularly hosts b... Continue reading →

Bucharest's Village Museum, set in lush Herastrau Park, is one of Europe's biggest outdoor museums. Restored country houses, large barns and functioning water mills line the narrow paths. This museum illustrates what Bucharest was like a few hundre... Continue reading →