OLD BUILDINGS ON VICTORIA AVENUE BUCHAREST?
Victoria Avenue in Bucharest has got a lot of buildings, many of them very old with interesting stories nobody ever heard of. I have spent some time in the area as a journalist, as a travel writer or simply as a tourist in his own town and always wonder what is the story of these buildings. We are talking about Victoria Avenue in Bucharest, the main structure the Romanian Capital has built since 17th century, or even earlier to nowadays.
HISTORICAL BUILDINGS ON VICTORIA AVENUE BUCHAREST
So I decided this year in February to take a look at the buildings you can see on your right or left on Victoria Avenue Bucharest. We started our journey from Victoria Square in order to reach, at the end, the Old City where we could have lunch like any foreign tourist would do if interested in the history and life of this street and its buildings. About the VICTORIA PALACE I won’t write now, for I have already done it, I’ll try to focus on unknown buildings.
GOVERNMENT BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: Victoria Palace is the Government Headquarters and its front side is 100 meters
We started our journey at about 11 A.M. We were in Victoria Square and, as always in February it was rather cold and windy. The best season to try a visit on foot on Victoria Avenue Bucharest is spring, which means April and May. It is also fine in autumn, September let’s say, when the summer hit begins to come to an end. One more thing: if you want to take photos, try to avoid this hour, 11 A.M. I mean because most of the interesting buildings on Victoria Avenue are on the right and you will have the sun directly in your camera. Anyway, I think I got some good pictures, ESPECIALLY after a local beer 🙂 In Victoria Square you can see the Government, the Geology Museum and the Natural History Museum.
ANTIPA MUSEUM BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: The Natural History Museum is in Victoria Square just near the Government Headquarters and the Geology Museum and also close to Peasant Museum
And here we go. This is the entrance to Victoria Avenue from Victoria Square.
ENTRANCE TO VICTORIA AVENUE
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: This is the entrance to Victoria Avenue from Victoria Square
The first building you meet when entering Victoria Avenue is the so-called Filipescu – Cesian House. It is not more than 200 meters from Victoria Square, so you will recognize its corner immediately.
FILIPESCU CESIANU HOUSE BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: The first building you see when walking on Victoria Avenue is Filipescu Cesianu House which is one of the few buildings in Bucharest keeping the Belle Epoque architectural style it was built
CESIANU HOUSE VICTORIA BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: Filipescu Cesianu House on Victoria Avenue is on the right side as you come from Victoria Square
This building on Victoria Avenue Bucharest belonged to a very rich family, Filipescu. They built the house between 1846 and 1850. Later, the lawyer Constantin Cesianu, also a very rich person, restored the building in 1892. It is said to be one of the few buildings in Bucharest in Belle Epoque architectural style. Later, in 1940, the house is almost closed to public and becomes a storage of the Bucharest Museums Society and will remain closed for more than 70 years. It will be restored again in 2014 and now it hoses the Ages Museum Bucharest. In the garden there is also an exhibition dedicated to Vacaresti Monastery, a worship place destroyed by the communists in 1986. It is interesting due to its architectural story. The Ages Museum inside is interesting for you can see here how people, including Bucharest, lived in the 18th and 19th centuries.
ART INSTITUTE G OPRESCU BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: Also known as Dissescu House this is the Art Institute George Oprescu in Bucharest and you can see it on the left side of Victoria Avenue as you come from Victoria Square
Now, next on your left when you come from Victoria Square on Victoria Avenue you will see a poor building and you will be ready to believe it is haunted. And, yes, it is. The Institute for the History of Art as it is known today was called Dissescu House in the past and was built in the 19th century by another rich family, Lahovary. Here also lived the son of a lord of the old times, Grigore Sturdza, also known as the Calf, according to some historians. It was Constantin Dissescu who restored the building after 1910. In 1933 it housed the Italian Culture Institute and from 1967 the The Institute for the History of Art. We didn’t dare to try to enter this building on Victoria Avenue and find some pieces of culture.
OLD BUILDING NOW CASINO ON BUCHAREST VICTORIA AVENUE
Do you like this building?
This is now a casino although it has one of the greatest stories in the Romanian Capital. It was called Lens-Vernescu House and was built in 1821. Between 1853 and 1856 it housed the Supreme War Council of the Russian Army and also the Romanian Ministry of War, being visited by the great Russian writer, Lev Tolstoi. Restored after 1887, it was sold to the Romanian State and will be the headquarters of the Economy Ministry and even the Romanian Government. It was seized by the communists after 1946 and became protocol house for the party leaders. In 1990 becomes the headquarters of the Union of Romanian Writers and, then, Victoria Casino. Now, only the name has changed.
PALACE CASINO BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18 Description:
Vernescu House was built in 1820 and after 1990 was the headquarters of the Union of Romanian Writers, now is Palace Casino and you can see it on the right side of Victoria Avenue as you come from Victoria Square
ACADEMY BUILDING ON VICTORIA AVENUE
Also on your right as you come from Victoria Square, the next interesting building you will see is the Romanian Academy. Founded in 1879, the institution which should have contribute to the cultural development of the country had no headquarters until 1890 and only after 1936 there was also place for a library. The building you will see on your right on Victoria Avenue hides 3,6 mil monographs and more than 5,3 special collections and manuscripts. The whole building is on the side of a great park.
ROMANIAN ACADEMY VICTORIA AVENUE
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: The Romanian Academy Headquarters is a historical monument and you can see it on your right on Victoria Avenue as coming from Victoria Square
We started our journey at about 11 A.M. It was 11.50 already and I stopped to smoke a cigarette. The most interesting thing about these buildings on Victoria Avenue was the architecture.
DANUBE RIVER NEIGHBORS COUNCIL BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: Yet we have no idea what this building is about but we keep on searching and you can see it on your left on Victoria Avenue
It was rather windy, as it might happen to be in February in Bucharest, but we kept on going. The next building on Victoria Avenue was one full of history – another Cesianu House, built in the late 19th century. It is also on the left as you come from Victoria Square and nowadays( February, 2019), is being restored. In 1880, it will become a kind of small embassy of Germany in Romania. The house belonged to Nicolae Cesianu, a politician and will become Victoria Casino after 1989, being, during the communist regime, Constantin Tanase Theater. In 1944, it was here where the German ambassador shot his secretary and then committed suicide after Romania decided to fight against Hitler. Here should have been Goethe Institute, but, yet, there are no signs of such thing.
GERMAN HEADQUARTERS BUCHAREST WW2
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: During World War Two here was the German Diplomatic Mission and after that the Cesianu House as it was known became Victoria Casino and now it is consolidated and you can see it on your left while coming from Victoria Square on Victoria Avenue
I know, it looks rather ugly, but I can assure you that from now on, you will see only beautiful buildings on Victoria Avenue. We are getting close to the center of Bucharest.
MONTEORU HOUSE VICTORIA AVENUE
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: Unfortunately Monteoru House which you can see on your right on Victoria Avenue immediately after the Romanian Academy was abandoned and is now under reconstruction as it was built in 1873
Monteoru-Catargi House is on your right as you come on Victoria Avenue and was built in 1873. In 1883 it was bought by a great land-owner called Grigore Monteoru who also brought in the garden three ancient Greek statues, stolen during World War I. Lascar Catargi owned the house with his wife, Elena, Monteoru’s daughter until 1949 when the communists took it and placed there the headquarters of an association responsible with the relations with Russia. In 1970 the building will become the headquarters of the Union of the Romanian Writers. Inside, there are marble stares, great halls, chandeliers, while the center of the entrance hall is dominated by a French baroque illuminator. We have only read this for the building is closed.
ENESCU MUSEUM VICTORIA AVENUE
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: George Enescu Museum is on Victoria Avenue and is a beautiful building you cannot miss on the right side as you come from Victoria Square
Enescu Museum in Bucharest is just a few meters from Monteoru House and you cannot miss it due to the two lions in front of the entrance. We have already wrote about ENESCU MUSEUM IN BUCHAREST so I will only tell you a few words about this building on Victoria Avenue and its story. It was built in 1900 for the former mayor of Bucharest Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, a very rich man called the Boss. His daughter, Maria-Rosetti Tescanu married George Enescu, but she and the great composer lived in the house hidden behind the museum. It was built in the French baroque style and will become since 1947 the headquarters of an Institute for studies about Russia and Romania diplomatic relations. In 1955, according to Enescu’s will, the building will house the Union of Romanian Composers.
Across the museum, there is a church. The first worship place built here was destroyed by an earthquake in 1838. It is called The Saint Vasile Church and here there is a small fragment of the Holly Cross Jesus was crucified. It is on your left.
CHURCH VICTORIA AVENUE BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: This church initially built at about 1804 is called Sfantul Vasile Church and is on the left of Victoria Avenue across George Enescu Museum
BUILDING OF ART COLLECTIONS ON VICTORIA AVENUE
Our next stop was the Art Collections Museum whose building has a fine story too. About the Museum we have already written HERE. Now, I will only tell you a few things about the building itself. It was built from 1801 to 1845 when the owner, a boyar as he was called, Gheorghe Faca died. As the new owner was called Romanit, this building on Victoria Avenue is also known as Romanit House. It became a protocol house for two lords in the early 19th century and also, here, it was signed the peace between Serbia and Bulgaria in February 1886. It was also the headquarters of the Government in 1838. Many of the architectural details will be destroyed by communists after 1954. Since 2003 it is the new Art Collections Museum you can see on your right walking on Victoria Avenue.
ART COLLECTIONS MUSEUM VICTORIA BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: Art Collections Museum is on your right on Victoria Avenue while coming from Victoria Square and it worth visiting if you have time
ANOTHER FINE BUILDING ON VICTORIA AVENUE BUCHAREST
It is on the right as you come from Art Collections Museum and it has got something strange so that it is impossible not to see it. Stirbey Palace was built in 1835 by the French architect Michel Sanjouand at the order of the next ruler of the Romanian Country, Barbu Stirbey. He will use it as royal residence. During communism, the building will become museum and then, after 1990, nothing. In 2005, Barbu Stirbey’s successors sold the building to a private and now you can have a drink in the backyard where there is a pub.
STIRBEY PALACE VICTORIA AVENUE
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: Stirbey Palace was built in 1825 and you can see it on your right side as coming from Victoria Square on Victoria Avenue
ART MUSEUM VICTORIA AVENUE
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: The Art Museum or the Royal Palace is on Revolution Square and you can see it on your right side if you come on Victoria Avenue from Victoria Square
After seeing Stirbey Palace, you will get to Revolution Square, dedicated to the 1989 Revolution that changed the history of Romania and got the country out of the communism influence. At least on papers. And only for the moment. The first thing you will see on Victoria Avenue is the NATIONAL ART MUSEUM. We have written about it already. It is on the right. Before you see this, you will surely notice the Romanian Athenaeum, which is on the left as you walk on Victoria Avenue from Victoria Square.
ROMANIAN ATHENAEUM VICTORIA AVENUE
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: The Romanian Athenaeum is on the left on Victoria Avenue just after you already saw the National Art Museum on your right
COMMUNIST PARTY BUILDING ON VICTORIA AVENUE
If you ask where the Romanian Revolution in 1989 began and you are in Revolution Square in Bucharest, the answer is on your left as you come from Victoria Square, across the Royal Palace. The Palace of Interior Affairs building on Victoria Avenue was built by the architect E. Nadejde between 1938 and 1948 in neoclassical style. It became the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and in 1989 of the Romanian Senate, until this institution moved to the PALACE OF PARLIAMENT.
EX COMMUNIST HEADQUARTERS BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: After you saw The Athenaeum on your left also on the left on Victoria Avenue you will the former headquarters of the Communist Party before 1989 and the place where the Revolution in 1989 began
Before this, you will notice a statue of King Carol 1st in front of another interesting building, now headquarters of a commercial bank but which has got an interesting story too. It is the former University Library. It was built from 1891 to 1895 by the architect Paul Gottereau, for King Carol 1st wanted a library for especially for the youth. In the beginning it had only 3,400 books, but in 1938, there were more than 120,000. During the revolution in 1989, a fire almost destroyed this building on Victoria Avenue and 500,000 books were burnt.
PALACE OF ROYAL FOUNDATON CAROL FIRST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: This Palace which housed the Central University Library was built on a place bought by King Carol 1st in 1895 and you can see it on your left on Victoria Avenue as you come from Victoria Square
On the right as you come from the Royal Palace, you will a church. It is Kretzulescu Church and what is interesting about it is that it was built in 1720 and was in the center of a complex with houses, shops and so on. It was almost destroyed by an earthquake in 1838. The painting at the entrance was restored, being kept the original one from the 18th century. The communists were closed to demolish it, yet some architects saved it and you can visit it today.
KRETZULESCU CHURCH VICTORIA AVENUE
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: Kretzulescu Church is on your right on Victoria Avenue just across the former Headquarters of the Communist Party in Revolution Square
AMERICAN TOWER BUILDING ON VICTORIA AVENUE
Two architects from New York built this massive building on Victoria Avenue from 1931 to 1933. It is the Communications Palace or Phones Palace. Their names are Louis Weeks and Walter Froy. It was the highest building in Bucharest until 1971 and the only one built on metal structure. It is Art-Deco style, a copy of the American skyscrapers. Almost destroyed by the bombs in 1944 and by the 1977 earthquake, it was restored in 2005.
COMMUNICATIONS PALACE VICTORIA AVENUE
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: The Communications Palace was built between 1931 and 1933 following the plans of two American architects and had been the highest building in Bucharest since 1971 and you can see it on your right on Victoria Avenue as you come from Victoria Square
Now, you are getting close to the end of your journey on Victoria Avenue. And me too. I was thirsty and a little bit nervous because of that damn wind. It is very tiring. So, after Communications Palace, you will see on your left Odeon Theater and Capsa House, while on your right, you’ll see the Capitol Hotel. Just near it, is the MILITARY CIRCLE which is now being restored.
CAPSA HOUSE VICTORIA AVENUE BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: Capsa House Hotel and Restaurant was built at about 1830 and has one of the most interesting stories in Bucharest, you can see it on your right coming on Victoria Avenue from Victoria Square
ODEON THEATER BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: Odeon Theater was built between the two world wars and in 1946 became the theater of the workers according to the communist ideology and you can see it on your left on Victoria Avenue
CAPITOL HOTEL VICTORIA AVENUE
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: Near Capsa House you can see on your right coming from Victoria Square The Capitol Hotel called in 1911 Louvre Hotel but which was destroyed by fire
We hope you enjoyed your trip and learned more about the buildings on Victoria Avenue in Bucharest. Many of them have interesting stories, some of them are almost ruins. There are two more buildings which will surely capture your attention before the street ends in the Dambovita River. The National History Museum is on your left and the CEC Palace on your right. From here, you can visit the OLD CITY of Bucharest, have lunch or dinner, have a cup of coffee or a glass of beer.
CEC PALACE BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: CEC Palace is on your right on Victoria Avenue as you come from Victoria Square and its museum cannot be visited right now
NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM VICTORIA AVENUE
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2019-03-18
Description: The Romanian National History Museum is on the left on Victoria Avenue as you come from Victoria Palace and the front side is a copy of Post Palace in Geneva
At the National History Museum there is also the TOYS MUSEUM OF BUCHAREST with toys from the 20th century. It can be very interesting. If you want to know more about Bucharest, you can leave a comment or ask us more on our Facebook Page, BUCHAREST TRAVEL, or our Twitter Account, BUCHAREST TRAVEL GUIDE. Have a great journey in Bucharest! Not to forget, it was 1,30 A.M. when we finished our journey and after taking photos of the buildings on Victoria Avenue and face the wind, I needed a beer. Two would be alright. See you.
