Bucharest

Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania.

It serves as a major cultural, political, and economic hub for the country. The city is also the capital of the Muntenia region. Geographically, Bucharest is an enclave. This means it is completely surrounded by Ilfov County.

The city is situated in south-eastern Romania. It sits on the banks of the Dâmbovița River. This river flows into the Argeș River, which is a tributary of the Danube.

The city is administratively known as the Municipality of Bucharest. It is subdivided into six distinct sectors. Each sector is governed by its own local mayor.

The city's geography includes several important water features. Large lakes stretch across the northern parts of the city. These include Lake Herăstrău, Lake Floreasca, Lake Tei, and Lake Colentina.

The Colentina River is a tributary of the Dâmbovița that flows near these lakes. In the center of the capital, there is a small artificial lake called Lake Cișmiciu. This lake is surrounded by the Cișmigiu Gardens.

These gardens were opened in 1847. They were designed by the German architect Carl F.W. Meyer. The gardens have a long history of being visited by poets and writers.

Bucharest has a very long and complex history. It was first mentioned in the year 1459 as the 'Citadel of București'.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, it became a center for Wallachian commerce and governance. The city served as the residence for the ruler of Wallachia, Voivode Vlad the Impaler. In the mid-16th century, Mircea Ciobanul erected the Old Princely Court, or Curtea Veche.

After 1698, the city became the permanent location of the Wallachian court. Over the following centuries, the city faced many changes. It was occupied several times by the Habsburg monarchy and Imperial Russia. In 1862, Bucharest became the capital of the Romanian United Principalities. It later became the political center of the Kingdom of Romania in 1881.

The city has experienced periods of great growth and significant damage. During the late 19th century, the city saw rapid urban development. New technologies like gas lighting and horse-drawn trams were introduced. The Dâmbovița River was also heavily channelled in 1883. This helped stop the frequent flooding that had occurred in the past. However, the city suffered during the Second World War. It was heavily damaged by Allied bombings because it was a major transit point for Axis troops. Later, under the Socialist Republic of Romania, the city grew massively again. This period was marked by socialist architecture and planning. Nicolae Ceaușescu led a program called systematization. This program involved demolishing parts of the historic city to build new developments. One major project was the Palace of the Parliament, which required razing an entire historic quarter.

Bucharest is a city of diverse architectural styles. In the late 19th century, its cosmopolitan culture earned it the nickname "Paris of the East."

Many people compare its famous street, Calea Victoriei, to the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

On weekends, Calea Victoriei becomes a pedestrian zone. The city also features many large green spaces. The Botanical Garden in the Cotroceni neighbourhood is the largest in Romania. It contains over 10,000 species of plants, including many exotic ones.

Other notable parks include Tineretului Park, which was created in 1965.

There is also the Văcărești Nature Park in the southern part of the city.

Today, Bucharest is a highly significant economic center. It is the most prosperous city in Romania. Since 2017, it has been the richest capital and city in the region, surpassing Budapest. The city is also one of the fastest-growing high-tech cities in Europe. Its population is quite large. There are officially 1.71 million residents within the city limits. The greater metropolitan area has 2.31 million residents.

This makes Bucharest the 9th most-populous city in the European Union by population. The city is also a major destination for travelers. In 2017, it had the highest growth of overnight tourists in Europe.

Bucharest connects history with modern life. It is a place where old landmarks meet new business districts.

The city has many large convention facilities and educational institutes. It also contains many cultural venues and traditional shopping arcades. While the historical center was listed as "endangered" by the World Monuments Watch in 2016, it has undergone restoration since the mid-2000s. The city continues to modernize through residential and commercial developments. These are particularly active in the northern districts. Bucharest remains a vital hub for the culture and economy of Romania.