Bucharest is the capital of Romania but at the same time the most important cultural and economical center of the country.

A long time ago, in the XV century (the city was mentioned the first time at 20^th of September 1459), by the order of Vlad Tepes (founder of the city and also the inspiration source for the Dracula character) was established the first court in Bucharest, city that will become in the time of Radu cel Frumos (on 14^th of October 1465), the capital of the country.

Radu cel Frumos was, during those times, a hostage in Adrianopole, back then, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, along with his brother, Vlad Tepes. While, Vlad was having a powerful and rebel personality, the unique beauty of his brother was the thing that attracted the throne heir, Mohamed – the historic face, later well known by the name of Mahomed the 2^nd – The Conqueror – as the sultan that conquered Constantinopole, in the year 1453.

According to a time chronicler, the first attempt of Mahomed to seduce the beautiful Radu ended awfully. Radu got scared by the attempt and injured the future sultan with a sword and then he run terrified because of the action and consequences that will eventually came, and saved himself by climbing up in a tree. Mahomed couldn’t convince him to come down only with the promise that he won’t kill him.

Finally, Radu let himself seduced and became one of Mohamed’s favorites and his lover. Even when it was permitted to both brothers to return to their county, Radu didn’t follow his brother and stayed in the capital of the Ottoman Empire as a follower of the Islam religion.

When Radu became the ruler of the Romanian county was criticized by the contemporaneous figures of the time, for the pro-ottoman politic strategy and also for his fidelity for the sultan. Interesting is the fact that his sexual orientation didn’t started a hate ridge among the people he ruled, maybe because back then we used to be more tolerant to each other.

Returning to the city of Bucharest, the settlement has an ancient history beginning with the XIV century. The name of the city was given by a peasant named Bucur, but till the end of the Middle Ages there isn’t any certification of the name. The attacks of the Turks and tartars before the XVIII century stopped the evolution of the city. The city became the capital of Valahia in the year 1698 and developed in peace from the XVIII century.

In 1930, Bucharest received the name of “The little Paris” because of the wonderful architecture present in that time.

From the airport till the center of the town you will find the Arch of Triumph, placed on Kiseleff Street which is longer that Champs Elyse. After seeing this monument, it’s time to see the favorite place of the capital’s citizens for walks in the nice summer evenings, Calea Victoriei. Here are placed two splendid monuments, the History National Museum and the Mail Palace.

Already in Bucharest, you will be surprised by the architectural mix, starting with the historic part of the city where you can see the remaining of the Vlad’s castle, orthodox churches, old villas with a unique architectonic style and also buildings from the communist era. You cannot miss the Palace of Parliament, which is the second biggest building in the world after the Building of Pentagon.

The communists planed to make the boulevards established in the XIX century, wider and at the same time they projected and build massive constructions, gigantic buildings which used to host the government and the communist party.

In the communist era it has been build up massive apartment buildings without any distinctive aspect at all. An important number of historic churches and synagogues were demolished from the order of the dictator president – Nicolae Ceausescu – with the goal to follow his plans of constructions.

Despite the communist plan of construction, Bucharest remained a city full of history. Arrived here you will have the opportunity to visit places such as:

• Curtea Domneasca

A long time ago, in the XV century, by the order of Vlad Tepes was established the first Court from Bucharest, city that will soon become in the era of Radu, the stabile capital of the country. At the middle of the XVI century, Mircea Ciobanul, hired handicraftsmen to rebuild the court on the old basements. Placed between the actual Lipscani Street, 1848 boulevard and the Dambovita river, this residence will become an important part of the city historic center in the XVI century and at the same time the place where the life of the city is very intense.

Being part of many events all over years, the monument faced many hostilities. From this court was raced up the fight flag by Mihai Viteazul against the ottomans.

• The Village Museum

The museum was build up as an open space monument in the Herastrau Park, beside the Triumph Arch. There you can find the rural traditional architecture from all over the country. Also you will see examples of the popular handicraft especially the famous wood churches from Maramures. The Village Museum is the 2^nd important monument in Europe after the one in Stockholm.

• The National Art Museum

The museum is placed in the former building of the Royal Palace and it has three art galleries – the Romanian Ancient Art Gallery, the Romanian Modern Art Gallery and the European Art Gallery -.

• History National Museum

Placed on Calea Victoriei, the museum shelters the national thesaurus. There can be seen gold artifacts discovered at Apahida and Pietroasa. The Pietroasa thesaurus also named The Golden Brood Hen with its chickens was discovered in 1937 by two peasants while they were working the fields of Istrita.

• The National Opera

The first opera performance is dated from 1772, when Livio Cinti and the opera performers were crossing through Bucharest, in a tour. The most blazing opera star of the time was Haricleea Hartulary, which was named Darclée by Saint-Saens.

In 1921, the National Opera became a state institution and in 1953 received a new luxury location opposite to the social context in the country.

• The Romanian Atheneum

On the 5^th of March 1889 took place the first symphonic concert of the Philharmonic Orchestra from Bucharest at the Romanian Atheneum. This monument became the most important cultural symbol of the Romanian nation.

The building was designed by the French architect Albert Gaileron in a neo-classic style.

• The House of Parliament

Monument known from the communist era as “The People House” was build up from the order of the dictator Ceausescu between 1984 and 1989. Is an enormous monument with 6.000 rooms (265.000 mp) and is the second biggest building in the world after the Pentagon, which has 604.000 mp.

Touristic sights around Bucharest

The Mogosoaia Palace

Fourteen kilometers away from Bucharest, you can find the Mogosoaia palace which was build in 1968 by the order of the Ruler Constantin Brancoveanu. In 1860, the palace was restored and rebuild. Surrounded by a very large courtyard, the palace has a wine cellar, at the first floor there are a lot of rooms and the second floor has the princely suites/apartments.

The front part, influenced by the Venice architectonic style, is dominated by the balcony, the arcades and the columns specific to the art created by Constantin Brancoveanu. From 1957, the palace became the Museum of Brancoveanu, with painting exposition with a great value, wood and rock sculptures, rare books and ancient scripts.

The Snagov lake and forest

Placed at a 35 km distance outside Bucharest and away from the agitation of the city, at the coolness of a generous vegetation and in the calmness of a quiet and settled life village, the place is preferred and chosen by those people that want to spend a day of relaxation, and also by the ones that want to spend a recreational weekend. On an island from the middle of the lake there is the monastery which shelters the grave of the ruler Vlad Dracula Tepes.