Bucharest, the capital of Romania, is also the country’s largest city. With a population that tops two million, no other city in the nation comes close to Bucharest in scope and scale and, as a result, it has become Romania’s cultural, artistic, and financial epicenter. Bucharest’s economical prowess extends beyond the country’s borders, though, making it one of the most important industrial cities in all of Eastern Europe.
What is surprising about Bucharest is that it is a remarkably wealthy city considering its large urban area and sizable population. It certainly helps that the city is home to such financial powerhouses as the Rasdaq Electronic Exchange and the Bucharest Stock Exchange. All the same, it is rare that a town with two million people should have such a high cost of living and, upon realizing that the unemployment rate is lower than three percent, it is clear that Bucharest is a city that certainly has control of its growth. The most fascinating aspect about this abnormal metropolis, though, has got to be the demographics: Ninety seven percent of Bucharest’s population is of Romanian descent. This is even stranger considering the internationality of the majority of cities in Eastern Europe.
Despite Bucharest’s homogenized makeup, the city’s cultural scene is surprisingly diverse. The performing arts of the city incorporate elements from many different nations and there is a vast amount of French inspired architecture to be found everywhere you look. This curious trait has earned Bucharest the nickname “Little Paris”. Among the Parisian influences scattered about Bucharest, one of the most notable is the Arcul de Triumf. This beautiful arch is based on Paris’ own Arc de Triomphe.
Many other beautiful buildings and sculptures draw countless visitors to Bucharest each year, including the Romanian Athenaeum and the Memorial of Rebirth, but none of these landmarks can come close to the Palace of the Parliament in terms of size and breadth. This astonishing structure was built very recently in the 1980s but its glory is not lost in its youth. It is the largest building in all of Europe and only one building in the entire world, Boeing’s Everett Factory, is bigger than the Palace. Lest you think all of Bucharest’s grandeur lies on the outside of its buildings’ facades, the city is also home to some of the most incredible art museums ever seen. The National Museum of Art of Romania, for instance, is filled with rare Medieval paintings and sculptures that thrill thousands each year. The Zambaccian Museum is similarly revealing, with classics by Picasso among others. The National Museum of Contemporary Art houses some of the more recent masterpieces but no matter where you look you’ll see museums and buildings that will thrill your senses. No other city in Romania even comes close to Bucharest in terms of beauty and design and there are very few places in the entire world that can compare with this slice of heaven in Eastern Europe. If you get the chance to backpack through some of the more notable countries in the Western World, make sure you don’t pass up Bucharest. You’ll regret it every day for the rest of your life if you do.
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