DISCOVER BUCHAREST

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Romania

Bucharest

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HISTORY

1459  Bucharest was first mentioned in a document by Prince Vlad the Impaler. He built a fortress here to protect Walachia from the Turkish invasion. The town was founded earlier in the late 14th century. It was named after a shepherd called Bucur.

1595   Bucharest was temporarily occupied by the Turkish who did great damage to it.

1688-1714 During the reign of Constantin Brancoveanu, an enlightened ruler, Bucharest enjoyed great economic and cultural prosperity.

Coltea Church, Stavropoleos Church, Kretzulescu Church, the Antim Monastery and the Vacaresti Monastery were built in the Brancovan style in the first half of the 18th century.

1802 Bucharest was damaged by a great earthquake

1804 Bucharest was damaged by a great fire.

1859 Bucharest became the capital of the United Principalities (Wallachia and Moldavia).

1866-1914 During the reign of Carol I, Bucharest developed into a modern capital.

1918 Bucharest became the capital city of Great Romania.

Between the two World Wars, Bucharest enjoyed a great economic and demographic development.

1940 Bucharest was damaged by a great earthquake.

1944 Bucharest was bombed by the American aviation.                                                                        

After World War II, Bucharest increased its industrial output and size.

In the early 1980s two grand building projects were initiated: The Underground Railway and The New Civic Centre. Many old houses and even architectural monuments (The Vacaresti Monastery - a jewel of early 18th century architecture) were pulled down (by order of Nicolae Ceausescu) to make way for the new buildings.

1989 Some buildings in Revolution Square were badly damaged in the 1989 Revolution (the Central University Library, The Royal Palace etc.).

1990-up to present  Banks, shopping centres, blocks of flats, villas etc. have been built.

Facts collected by the 7th grade students

Many thanks to Cosmin B.

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Project coordinator: Andreea Silter, The Department of English, School No.191, Bucharest, Romania

Last updated: 15/03/2005