With a population of two million inhabitants, Bucharest is the most important city of Romania. Located in central part of the Romanian Plain on the Danbovita's riverbanks, Bucharest had more then a half a millenium history, first mentioned in 1459 in a document issued by Vlad Tepes (the Impaler). It is a city of contrast with old churches and glass and steel skyscrapers.

The architecture is highly eclectic, a mixture of neoclassical and neo-Romanian architecture, comunist-era and contemporary architecture. In the city center lies Curtea Veche (the Old Court Of the King), buildings such as Manuc's Inn, Lipscani area,Romanian Athaeneum, Cretulescu Palace, Cotroceni Palace , National Bank of Romania headquarters, and Parliament Palace - the third biggest building in the world, built in the comunist era.

Large boulevards and Triumphal Arch remind of the period when the city was named Little Paris.

The culture is like the architecture, eclectic par definition with western and eastern european infuences. Art gallery, night clubs, casinos, museums (National Museum of Art, National Museum of Contemporary, Village Museum), theatres (I.L.Caragiale National Theatre, Nottara, Bulandra, Odeon), Romanian National Opera, represent only a parts of Bucharest cutural scene.

Outside the metropola lies the most representative ortodox monastery built in the 16-19th centuries: Cernica, Tiganesti, Snagov. Also to the north-west of the city stands Mogosoaia Palace, (18th century) and Stirbei Palace in the midle of secular wood.

 

A trip in the sorroundings of Bucharest city will be organised. Please visit the conference web site regularly for details.