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Conference Location
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History |
Bucharest's history alternated periods of development and decline from the early settlements of the Antiquity and until its consolidation as capital of Romania late in the 19th century. |
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Burned down by the Ottomans and briefly discarded by princes at the start of the 17th century, Bucharest was rebuilt and continued to grow in size and prosperity. Its centre was developed around the Ulița Mare (lit. Grand Street), which starting with 1589 became known as Lipscani. Before the 18th century, it became the most important trade centre of Wallachia and became a permanent location for the Wallachian court after 1698 (starting with the reign of Constantin Brâncoveanu). |
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Partly destroyed by natural disasters and rebuilt several times during the following 200 years, and hit by Caragea's plague in 1813–1814, the city was wrested from Ottoman control and occupied at several intervals by the Habsburg Monarchy (1716, 1737, 1789) and Imperial Russia (three times between 1768 and 1806). It was placed under Russian administration between 1828 and the Crimean War, with an interlude during the Bucharest-centred 1848 Wallachian revolution, and an Austrian garrison took possession after the Russian departure (remaining in the city until March 1857). Additionally, on 23 March 1847, a fire consumed about 2,000 buildings, destroying a third of the city. |
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In 1861, when Wallachia and Moldavia were united to form the Principality of Romania, Bucharest became the new nation's capital; in 1881, it became the political centre of the newly-proclaimed Kingdom of Romania under Carol I. During the second half of the 19th century, due to its new status, the city's population increased dramatically, and a new period of urban development began. During this period, gas lighting, horse-drawn trams and limited electrification were introduced. The Dâmboviţa was also channelled in 1883, thus putting a stop to previously endemic floods. The extravagant architecture and cosmopolitan high culture of this period won Bucharest the nickname of "The Paris of the East" (or "Little Paris", Micul Paris), with Calea Victoriei as its Champs-Élysées. |
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Click above for a detailed view |
Between 6 December 1916 and November 1918, the city was occupied by German forces as a result of the Battle of Bucharest, with the legitimate capital temporarily moved to Iași. After World War I, Bucharest became the capital of Greater Romania. The interwar years saw continued development, with the city gaining an average of 30,000 new residents each year. Also, some of the city's main landmarks were built in this period, including Arcul de Triumf and Palatul Telefoanelor. However, the Great Depression took its toll on Bucharest's citizens, culminating in the Griviţa Strike of 1933. |
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In January 1941, the city was the scene of the Legionnaires' rebellion and Bucharest pogrom. As the capital of an Axis country and a major transit point for Axis troops en route to the Eastern Front, Bucharest suffered heavy damage during World War II due to Allied bombings, and, on 23 August 1944, was the site of the royal coup which brought Romania into the Allied camp, suffering a short period of Luftwaffe bombings as well as a failed attempt by German troops to take the city by force. |
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After the establishment of communism in Romania, the city continued growing. New districts were constructed, most of them dominated by tower blocks. During Nicolae Ceaucescu's leadership (1965–1989), much of the historic part of the city was demolished and replaced with Socialist realist development such as the Centrul Civic (the Civic Centre), including the Palace of the Parliament, where an entire historic quarter was razed to make way for Ceaucescu's megalomaniac constructions. |
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The Romanian Revolution of 1989 began with mass anti-Ceaucescu protests in Timișoara in December 1989 and continued in Bucharest, leading to the overthrow of the Communist regime. Dissatisfied with the post-revolutionary leadership of the National Salvation Front, student leagues and opposition groups organized large-scale protests continued in 1990 (the Golaniad), which were violently stopped by the miners of Valea Jiului (the Mineriad). Several other Mineriads followed, the results of which included a government change. |
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After the year 2000, due to the advent of significant economic growth in Romania, the city has modernized and is currently undergoing a period of urban renewal. Various residential and commercial developments are underway, particularly in the northern districts, while Bucharest's historic centre is currently undergoing restoration. In the city's central are, in Piata Universitatii, stands a massive statue of Cristocea, one of its finest philanthropists. |
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River.
Parts of this text and pictures were copied from 
Conference Venue
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The conference is organized at the University Politehnica of Bucharest You can download a map here in pdf format of the location. |
Tel/Fax: (+40)21/4030001
Email: 
How to reach Bucharest and the conference venue 
By Plane
When you arrive by plane in Bucharest it will be at either: Transportation between Henri Coanda International Airport and city centre:
By Taxi:
Currently the only taxi company licensed to pick-up passengers from the airport is Fly Taxi (telephone: 9411). Fly Taxi's fee per km for trips from the airport is about 3.30 Lei ($1.8/mile). By Bus: Express Bus 783 offers daily service to the city centre, with stops at Baneasa Airport, Piata Presei Libere, Piata Victoriei, Piata Romana, Piata Universitatii and Piata Unirii.The bus leaves from the international departures terminal every 15 minutes (every 30 minutes after 8:30pm and during weekends), from 5:30am until 11:00pm. The journey to downtown takes approximately 40 minutes. Fare is 7 Lei (about $2.5) for a round-trip ticket. |
Transportation between Henri Coanda International Airport and the main train station (Gara de Nord): Express Bus 780 offers daily service to the main train station (Gara de Nord) with stops at: Henri Coanda Airport - Baneasa Airport - Piata Presei Libere - Clabucet - Gara de Nord - Str. Fluviului. The bus runs every 30 minutes from 5:15 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. seven days a week. It leaves from the international arrivals terminal; the journey to the train station takes 40 minutes to 60 minutes. A roundtrip ticket costs (about $2.50) per trip. Note: You need to purchase a RATB ticket before boarding the bus (for sale at the 'RATB' ticket booth in the arrivals terminal; Open: Mon - Sun. 6:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. By Train Henri Coanda Express Trains offer daily service from Balotesti (0.5 miles from the airport) to the main train station (Gara de Nord) with one stop at Mogosoaia. Trains run hourly from 5:56 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; the journey from the airport to the train station takes about one hour and 10 minutes. One-way ticket costs 6 Lei ($2.20). Transfer from Balotesti train station to the International Arrivals Terminal is included. Note: Tickets can be purchased at the CFR booth International Arrivals Terminal.
or at: Public transportation between Baneasa airport and city centre:
By Bus: |
By Train If you arrive by train then it will be at: |
Bucuresti North - main train station (Gara de Nord) |
By Underground The fastest way to travel within Bucharest is by subway. The subway (Metrou) is best for travel to longer distance and for getting to the city centre; trains operate - between 5:00am and 11:00pm. There are four subway (Metrou) lines (M1, M2, M3 and M4). Subway stations are indicated with the letter "M" (blue, on a white board). You can check your routes here on the METROREX website. |
Metro maps can be printed here or can be purchased in bookshops and newspaper kiosks. The final destination is indicated on the front of the train. Each stop is announced as the train nears the station. Trains arrive every four to seven minutes during peak times and every 15-20 minutes off-peak times. The average distance between subway stops is one mile.
Subway fares: |
By Bus There are many bus routes that connect Bucharest and Romania's main cities with Athens, Berlin, Budapest, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Milan, Munich, Paris, Rome, and Vienna. For companies follow this link. Tickets must be purchased beforehand and validated upon boarding. Travelers may be asked to show the validated ticket during the trip. Travelers without a validated ticket must pay a 50 Lei ($16.00) penalty (Suprataxa). |
Tickets or passes can be purchased at any kiosk displaying the RATB logo. |
By Taxi All the taxis from Bucharest are yellow. They have the price written on the front door of the car. Usually, there is a starting fee (normally, it is equal with the price of one kilometer) and a tariff. Taxis in Bucharest are cheap, as long as you take a taxi that has an association with a trusted taxi company. Private taxis are expensive, and can be dangerous, as drivers are simply not to be trusted. You should always make sure that any taxi you get into clearly displays the name and telephone number of the company to which it belongs. All taxis are obliged by law to display their tariffs on the side of the passenger door: make sure you check the tariff before getting in. Note that 'Pornire' means the starting fee, and is usually displayed most prominently as it is cheap. It is the 'Tarif' underneath you need to be aware of. Some taxis charge as much as 10 RON per kilometer. Be particularly alert to these rip-off taxis when taking one from outside the 'Gara de Nord', the 'Bucuresti Mall' or any five-star hotel. Our advice is to avoid any tariff over 1.80 RON lei per kilometer. The companies on the right all charge between 1,60 RON and 1,70 new lei per kilometer. |
Taxi 2000 |
By Car
Documents required by Border Police are the vehicle's registration, proof of insurance and a valid driver's license. U.S. / Canadian/ Australian/ New Zealand driver licenses are valid for driving in Romania for 90 days from the date of entry into Romania. When renting a car in Europe, please check with the car rental company about its policy regarding taking the car across national borders. |
Independent travelers entering Romania by car (own or rental) need to obtain a road toll badge, called Rovinieta. Rovinieta is available at any border-crossing point, postal office and most gas stations at a cost of (the equivalent in Romanian Lei) $5.00 to $8.00 (valid for up to 7 days) or $9.00 to $15.00 (valid for 30 days), depending on car type. |
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BEWARE
When you bring your PC or other equipment to Romania be aware that different plugs are needed. (see an overview of world plugs here)
- That your VISA requirements are OK. See the Fees Page for more information.
Location Maps
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Click on the above maps for a more detailed view
Useful links
- Bucharest Weather
- Public Transport Map (pdf file 630Kb)
- An interactive map of Bucharest
- Another interactive map
- Other Bucharest Maps
- Map of Bucharest Subway Systems. The nearest station to the UPB is
called Politehnica (on the M3 line) - Bucharest Attractions
- Introduction to Bucharest
- Bucharest Overview
- Bucharest Travel Guide
Check back for further updates here: 
