Saturday 20 June 2026 - Bucharest (4)

Today we enjoyed our own walking tour.

Apartment to coffee break at Casa Capsa via Calla Victoriei and via a short section by the river, where a Little Tern was busy fishing just next to us.

The red plaque indicates earthquake damage that could cause the building to collapse. 

Holocaust memorial

Then we continued along Calla Victoreie to its terminus at Piata Victoriei.

After that we turned down Bulevardul Lascar Catargiu ro reach Piata Romana.

Then down Bulevardul Magheru for lunch at a French café, before continuing to Theodor Aman Museum, the private home of the artist, Theodore Aman.

Finally, by late afternoon, we were back at the apartment enjoying a pot of tea after returning via Cismigiu Gardens.

I think the pictures are in order but the text may be a little out of order. To be edited at home.

An evening meal outside Energiea rounded off the day nicely.

Here's Sue's take on the day:

Sat 20 June
Breakfast of croissants and yogurt in the apartment before leaving around 9, to walk the length of Calea Victoriei, as recommended in our guidebook. Going south we went past the Holocaust memorial to the river, then met Calea V at its end, closed to traffic on a Saturday. We passed the National History Museum and dived down the pedestrian street past Caru’ cu Bere to revisit Stavropoleos Monastery. Nearby is the Macca-Villacrosse Passage, curved with a glass ceiling, joining Calea V with the Romanian National Bank, where coins are minted.
After admiring the Military Club and its fountain, we found a shady seat outside Casa Capsa, for coffee. With the road closed we saw our first joggers and stalls were being set up for festivities.
We revisited Piata Revolutiei but crossed the road this time to look at the Cretulescu Church, built in the 1720s but restored after being damaged in the revolution.
Continuing north, we stopped to admire the frontage of the Novotel, which used to be the national theatre. A Romanian woman discussed with us that the theatre had not been bombed in the Second WW (as we’d been told on our tour) but suffered a fire.  The facade is apparently a replica, rather than what remained after the bombing.
To our right was the Athenee Palace Hotel, which featured in the Fortunes of War book we’ve just read. The Roman Atheneum is a concert hall, with circular form and a domed roof, with pillars and a garden in front.
Other notable buildings were the former home of George Enescu, composer, with ornate stonework and art nouveau entrance.
At Piata Victoriei, we turned south again, along a busy boulevard to Piata Romana.
Lunch was a sandwich under the trees on a side street, after which we went into the Theodor Aman Museum, his house painted with his own murals and home to paintings , sketches, copper plates, portraits and carvings. It was cool and there was some exquisite work.
We returned via Piata Universitatii, and Cismigiu Park, at around 4ish, glad to have the aircon replacing the 32 degrees of heat outside.
Lemon tea was also welcome.