Wallachia attractions

Located in central Bucharest, on one of its main boulevards, CEC Palace (Palatul CEC) was designed by French architect Paul Gottereau and opened in 1900. The headquarters of Romania’s oldest bank, CEC, the palace is an architectural masterpiece considered by many to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the city.

Also called the Brancovan Palace, the Mogosoaia Palace was built at the end of the 17th century by Constantin Brancoveanu. The building combines elements of both Venetian and Ottoman architecture, creating a style often referred to as “Brancovenesc.” Located just 10 kilometers from Bucharest in the village of Mogosoaia, it has been a museum since 1957 and is one of the most important tourist sites in the area. The palace is part of a vast complex that includes a guesthouse, watchtower, kitchen, vault, ice house, green house, church, and beautiful gardens. Today, visitors can tour parts of the palace or visit a museum featuring Brancoveanu style art. Exhibitions of paintings or textiles are often staged in the palace as well.

Housed in an ornately decorated and historic synagogue dating back to 1836, Bucharest’s Jewish History Museum of Romania was founded in 1978 and contains an extensive collection of documents, books, photographs, and religious artifacts that explore the history of the Jewish people in Romania, in addition to a Holocaust memorial.

The Macca-Villacrosse Passage is an indoor arcaded passageway connecting Calea Victoriei and the Lipscani district’s National Bank. Opened in 1891, its two branches were built to weave around an existing inn and allow access to jewelry shops. Today, visitors can find cafes, boutiques, restaurants, and a few remaining jewelers.

The Royal Court of Targoviste is an architectural complex built in Romania between the 15th and 17th centuries. The town of Targoviste itself was the capital of Wallachia for three centuries and occupied an important location on the main trade route connecting Wallachia to Transylvania and the Balkan Peninsula. The Royal Court consists of a southern gate, royal palace, bell tower, royal gardens, fortifications, the Chindia Tower, Lady Balasa’s home and several churches. Today, only ruins remain of the royal palace and its gardens. Numerous frescoes remain in the Great Royal Church, including portraits of Wallachian rulers, and visitors can see examples of old pottery work in the Small Royal Church. The Chindia Tower, which dates back to the 15th century, features a viewing platform that can be reached by climbing a flight of more than 100 stairs. The tower also hosts an exhibition about the reign of Vlad the Impaler, who was the inspiration for the fictional Dracula.

One of the few parts of the city to have escaped both WWII bomb damage and the drastic redesigns of the communist era, Lipscani is Bucharest’s historic hub. By day, its pedestrianized streets are ideal for strolling, antique shopping, and caféhopping, while at night, its many restaurants, bars, and clubs fill with fun-seeking revelers.

Housed in a grandiose neoclassical building along Calea Victoriei, the National Museum of Romanian History takes visitors on a journey through national history and heritage with its permanent collection of over 750,000 items. Note that the museum is partially closed for renovations until 2021, and exhibits may move to a temporary location in the interim.

The Cotroceni Palace (Palatul Cotroceni) in Bucharest is home to the country’s president and houses 300 years of history. Visitors to the palace can explore royal bedrooms, ornate hallways, children’s nurseries, and an elaborate music hall. The site also includes the National Cotroceni Museum (book separately), comprised of over 20,000 artifacts. Both attractions are perfect for travelers seeking a more immersive look at Romania’s past.

Take one look at the grand design of Cantacuzino Palace, and you’ll see why it’s regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in Bucharest. This historical monument was completed in 1903. The George Enescu National Museum was opened in 1956 following the composer’s death, who also lived near the property.

One of only a few active synagogues in Bucharest, the Moorish Revival-style Choral Temple (Templul Coral, which was originally built in 1857, has survived anti-Jewish persecution and pogroms. Behind its yellow and red brick exterior is a colorfully adorned interior. Outside stands a memorial to victims of the Holocaust.

Set up by Polish Jews in the mid-19th century, the Great Synagogue (Sinagoga Mare is one of less than a handful of working synagogues in Bucharest. Behind its simple facade is a lavish rococo-style interior and poignant exhibits documenting Jewish life in Romania and the persecution of Romanian Jews during the Holocaust.

Immerse yourself in the multi-sensory exhibits of Bucharest’s Museum of Senses, home to around 40 life-size optical illusions. The family-friendly museum provides plenty of photo opportunities and unique experiences, including the chance to dance in an infinity mirror room and walk through a dizzying Vortex tunnel.

The art nouveau-style Pelisor Castle was built at the turn of the 20th century to serve as a summer residence for King Carol I’s nephew and heir, Ferdinand I. Though more modest than Peles Castle, Pelisor does feature touches of opulence such as the gilded thistle-leaf walls of the Golden Room, a nod to Queen Marie’s Scottish heritage.

First laid out in the early 1900s, Carol Park spreads out over an area of about 75 acres (30 hectares. As well as greenery and tree-lined walking trails, the park also features a lake, an open-air theater, and several monuments, most famously a large Communist-era mausoleum that is now home to Romania’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Saint Nicholas Princely Church (Biserica Domneasca Sfantul Nicolae) in Curtea de Arges is one of the most important examples of medieval architecture south of the Carpathians in Romania. Built in the shape of a Greek cross with a dome resting on four pillars, the church is also the oldest Orthodox church in the region. The exterior of the church is notable for its alternating stone and brick layers, while the inside is home to what are possibly the oldest surviving examples of Romanian painting. The several hundred Byzantine style paintings date back to the 14th century and include a depiction of a pregnant Virgin Mary. Another highlight of the church is the tomb of Romanian ruler Radu I Basarab, which features a glass pane through which visitors can see the remains of his garments adorned with gold and precious stones.

Founded in 1834, the Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History was once housed in different buildings throughout the city as the current site was constructed up until 1944. It was named to honor the Romanian biologist Dr. Grigore Antipa who helped organize the site. The museum’s current collection exceeds 2 million objects.

Named the European Museum of the Year in 1996 and housing more than 100,000 artifacts, the Romanian Peasant Museum offers something for everyone. Guests can choose from several exhibits, including ceramics, costumes, and religious artifacts. Most noteworthy is the Customs Collection, which features masks, painted eggs, and decorative objects unique to Romania.

Built by the son of Vlad the Impaler at the base of a sheer cliff face, the simple white exterior of the 16th-century Ialomicioara Monastery and Cave belies an elaborate interior—inside, you’ll find frescoes and icons. Head past the mouth of the cave this monastery guards, and you’ll discover stalactite-smothered grottoes and a cave where hundreds of bear bones were discovered.

Union Square, also called Piața Unirii in Romanian and referred to as Union Park, is a public park and square in central Bucharest. One of the main squares in the city, it’s known for the Bucharest Fountains, which offer a dazzling—and record-breaking—show with music, lights, and 3D projections from May through October.

Originally built in 1461 by Vlad the Impaler, the real-life ruler who inspired Bram Stoker’s fictional Dracula, Comana Monastery (Mănăstirea Comana is a must-see for history buffs and legend lovers alike. Though today’s structure is a complete reconstruction, the necropolis dates back to the 15th century and is likely the burial place of Vlad himself.