UNIVERSITY SQUARE

A SQUARE FULL OF HISTORY IN

BUCHAREST

University Square in Bucharest is in the very middle of city and was built more than 150 years ago, on the land where a 16th century monastery St. Sava would rise. Around this monastery a street network appeared for inside it functioned the first academy in Romania in the mid 19th century. St. Sava complex was demolished to leave way for the new University around 1860.

UNIVERSITY SQUARE OF BUCHAREST HISTORY

The first boulevard in Bucharest was also paved near this new building, called the Academy Boulevard, now part of Queen Elisabeth Boulevard. The old St. Sava church also disappeared in 1870 and in front of the University a garden was arranged. Between 1878 and 1884, one could visit here the BOTANICAL GARDEN which was then moved to its actual place, near the PRESIDENTIAL PALACE COTROCENI.

A SQUARE BETWEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT LANDMARKS IN BUCHCAREST 

Also in the middle of the University Square were located statues of Romanian Lords like Mihai Viteazul, famous Romanian writers like Ion Heliade Radulescu, or scholars like Spiru Haret. There are six main buildings and landmarks to guard University Square: The University, BUCHAREST MUSEUM, the old headquarters of Ministry for Foreign Trades, now Erste-BCR bank, Coltea Hospital, The NATIONAL THEATER and INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL.

”MUST SEE” IN UNIVERSITY SQUARE OF BUCHAREST

An interesting statue representing the great Romanian Liberal Party, I. C. Bratianu but also the main historical moments of the modern Romania, like Independence, was built here in the beginning of the 20th century.

It was a symbol of Bucharest until 1948 when the communists destroyed it.

University Square was witness of dramatic events in the past 25 years. First of all, the Romanian Revolution in 1989 when the area was a passage for the people in their way to the Revolution Square where Nicolae Ceausescu tried to escape on December 21st from when communism fell in Romania. Then, another social movement took place here – the revolt of youth against the new leaders, believed to be neo-communists capturing power against all democratic principles. Ion Iliescu was their main target and it was him to call for miners’ help in June 1990.

REVOLTS IN JUNE 1990 STARTED IN THE UNIVERSITY SQUARE OF BUCHAREST

Many young people were killed by the miners in the University Square between 13 and 15 of June 1990. In their memory, a few crosses were placed in the middle of area.

LEARN MORE ABOUT UNIVERSITY SQUARE BUCHAREST

The main building, The University of Bucharest was placed, as we have already seen on the land were rose the old St. Sava Academy, the first school in Romanian language in history. Works started on October 10, 1857, when the Lord Al. Ghica and 7 representatives of the greatest European powers of the time, put the first bricks for foundation. The University, officially appeared in 1864 when Alexandru Ioan Cuza set it up by decree. King Carol Ist inaugurated the building on December 14th 1869. The columns were made of marble brought from Budapest and famous painters like Gheorghe Tattarescu and Theodor Aman made paintings to decorate the halls. The initial exterior decoration was made by Karl Storck, but it was destroyed during World War 2. Now in its center, one can see 6 Ionian style, massive columns, sustaining allegorical sculptures and the goddess Minerva gathering together arts and sciences. The first two floors have Dorian pillars and round windows. A great part of the monument was destroyed by American and German bombs during the raids at the end of the war and had to be rebuilt, works being finished in the 60s.

The Faculty of Letters, Geography, History, Mathematics and Chemistry are housed in this main building of the University of Bucharest. Near it, to the Romana Square, you will find the ITALIAN CHURCH.  There is also a fountain, highlight and meeting point for students, simply youth or lovers and the OLD CITY is a few steps away.
SEE MAP…