The imposing Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest is a neoclassical jewel, located in the center of the Romanian capital. Inaugurated in 1888, the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest has been the main hall for countless concerts and cultural presentations, giving it the value of a heritage icon for the Indo-European civilization.
From the beginning, the construction of the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest was aimed at making it an educational and recreational center for sciences and human arts. With a vaulted shape, the athenaeum is today the headquarters of the ‘George Enescu’ Philharmonic, as well as the official site of the International Music Festival of the same name.
The birth of the imposing Romanian athenaeum in Bucharest arose after the Cultural Society of the Romanian Athenaeum was founded, at the hands of the physicist, Constantin Esarcu, and the political leader, Nicolae Cretulescu. Both, also educators, promoted the construction of a place where the enjoyment of art and science would be celebrated together. Later, it was decided that the design of the athenaeum would be left to the architect, Albert Galleron.
The style of the Romanian athenaeum in Bucharest is notable for neoclassicism, with some characteristics of the romantic current. Inside there is a conference room, an auditorium with a capacity of 600 people in seats, while about 52 can be accommodated in the side boxes.
The wall of the concert hall is harmonized by a fresco by Costin Petrescu, where some of the key moments in the history of Romania were reflected. In addition, the athenaeum has a gallery of columns where the effigies of its monarchy were built, while In its impressive dome that rises 41 meters high, are the names of the most illustrious artistic and literary figures in Europe.
A curious fact is based on the origin of the funds for the construction of the athenaeum. As part of a popular collection carried out for 28 yearsthe financing of the imposing theater was produced thanks to the donations of the Romanians themselves, being promoted by a slogan that is still remembered, and which reads: «Donate a leu for the Ateneu!» The leu is known as the official currency of Romania.
Alongside culture and science, the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest was also the venue for important political events. Among them, the formation of Greater Romania after the convention of leaders of Bessarabia, Transylvania, Bukovina and the Old Kingdom of Romania, held on December 29, 1919.
For a magical atmosphere, stroll through the outdoor celebration of the arts, thanks to the spectacular gardens that house a statue of the Romanian composer, Mihai Eminescu, by sculptor extraordinaire, Gheorghe Anghel.
Ideal for lovers of culture, knowledge, and the arts in general. A trip to Bucharest must have as a must a walk through its imposing Romanian athenaeum, that, as if that were not enough, It is considered European Heritage since 2007.