Bucharest Kretzulescu church is an architectural masterpiece from the late 18th century. It is Brancoveanu building style. During the communist times, the state wanted to demolish the building. Yet, a few architects tried and succeeded in stopping this. Since we have been living in Bucharest for more than 24 years, we visited it many times. It is a monument you rarely can see. And it is indeed a good things it resisted. We usually go to University Square and than we walk on Victoria Avenue. It takes you about 15 minutes to get to the church.

KRETZULESCU CHURCH HISTORY

Kretzulescu Church is part of the Bucharest history. A boyar built it between 1720 and 1722. Iordache Kretulescu and his wife, Safta Brancoveanu, Lord Constantin Brancoveanu’s daughter payed for the construction. It is the time when a monk built also ANTIM MONASTERY. A hundred years before, on its place rose a small, wodden church. So, they considered it was a holly place. Thus built a new worship place.

WHAT WAS ON THE AREA?

Around the new church, appeared on The Great Street. It was the nowadays Victoria Avenue, the main route of Bucharest. Also markets and shops appeared. They were all part of Kretzulescu Inn. This was one of the 10th inns Bucharest had in the mid-19th century. Authorities demolished them in 1939 to make place for the new Royal Palace. It is the nowadays NATIONAL ART MUSEUM. An earthquake almost destroyed the church in 1838. They rebuilt it between 1859 and 1860. See HERE how it looked like in the 1960s. A famous painter also restored the paintings. His name is Gheorghe Tatarescu.

 

FAMOUS RELIGIOUS PAINTINGS ON KRETZULESCU CHURCH BUCHAREST

At the entrance of Kretzulescu Church in Bucharest, you will see the original paintings, including “The young ladies dance” painting, The Lord Constantin Brancoveanu’s daughters. The original shape of Kretzulescu Church was brought back for the visitors, through great restoring works in 1935, being also discovered a Byzantine fresco from 1722. The Romanian Revolution in 1989 will damage the building, for there were people dead under firing guns in the Revolution Square and it be renovate in 2000.

By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2026-05-05
Description: View of the church from Cismigiu Gardens

If you want to learn more about the buildings on Victoria Avenue Bucharest, you can read our article dedicated to them. It was a funny experience in February 2019. See it HERE! 

At Bucharest Kretzulescu Church there are at least two old icons thought to be source of wonders. The Virgin Mary with the Child belonged to Kretzulescu family and is more than 250 years old. The Kretzulescu family descendants donated another icon with The Virgin Mary with the Child from the 19th century. Priests say that praying to it will make miracles. Very interesting is that inside the church there is a chandalier. It is in the nave and was commissioned in 1837, in Paris. House Barbedienne made it. It was one of the most important bronze manufacturers in Europe.

AROUND REVOLUTION SQUARE

Kretzulescu Church in Bucharest is, indeed, the witness of the end of communism in Romania but also witness to more than 300 years of history, just like its sister church, STAVROPOLEOS CHURCH in the Old City. It can be part of your journey in Revolution Square, THE ROYAL PALACE and the ROMANIAN ATHENAEUM near it or Cismigiu Garden.
SEE MAP…