Are you curious to experience the communist legacy in Bucharest with all of its dark secrets and tragic outcomes? This article right here is for you.
Communism was one of Romania’s darkest ages. Human sacrifice and a violent revolution were needed to remove Ceausescu’s dictatorial regime and install democracy.
However, the communists did build some impressive buildings and their story still captivates millions of people worldwide. Everyone has heard of Ceausescu, but experiencing his legacy is something different. Stick around to learn more.
Palace of Parliament – The Most Notorious Communist Legacy in Bucharest
Grandious is another good description of the massive structure. In fact, it’s the second-largest administrative building after the Pentagon.
Former communist leader Ceausescu wanted it to be a symbol of wealth and power, so he had no issues with investing nearly 1.8 billion dollars into the structure.
Located in the heart of Bucharest, the colossal building houses the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies in the present. You may also want to know the Palace of Parliament is so big, about 70% of it is empty. You can learn more from this article.
Revolution Square
Up to 1989, the place was known as Palace Square. It’s actually where the bloody revolution started. But the buildings surrounding the square are the ones which point to a communist legacy in Bucharest.
Here you can see:
- The former Royal Palace,
- The Athenaeum,
- The Athénée Palace Hotel,
- The University of Bucharest Library,
- The Memorial of Rebirth,
- The building of the former Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party (from where Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife fled by helicopter on December 22, 1989).
Primaverii Palace – The Private Residence of Ceausescu
Elena and Nicolae Ceausescu lived the last 25 years of their lives in this mansion, together with their three children.
Make no mistake, the building is a real palace. It has 80 rooms, a swimming pool, and even a cinema. The interior is decorated with silk wallpaper, wood paneling, and paintings signed by famous Romanian painters.
Visiting this communist legacy in Bucharest will help you get a better idea of the luxurious lifestyle the former dictator was enjoying while ordinary people were starving. Go ahead and learn more.
House of The Free Press (Casa Presei Libere)
Up until 2007, this building was the tallest one in Bucharest.
At first, the building was named Combinatul Poligrafic Casa Scînteii “I.V.Stalin” and later Casa Scînteii (after the Communist Party’s official newspaper – Scînteia).
The building is designed by a Romanian architect, Horia Maicu, in the style of Soviet Socialist realism. The House of The Free Press was intended to resemble the main building of the Moscow State University and to house all of Bucharest’s printing presses, the newsrooms, and their staff.
You Can Visit All of Them And More in a Single Tour
Are fascinated and curious about how “Little Paris” looked like before 1990? Would you like to see most of the communist legacy in Bucharest? We’ve prepared you a special tour.
You will get a guided visit to all of the places mentioned in this article and the tour will conclude with Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu’s final resting place in the Ghencea Cemetery. Long-story-short: you get the whole package.
The tour is called the “Last Days of Communism in Romania” and you can even book it online. For any questions or if you want to learn more, go ahead and get in touch with us.