Founded in the 15th century on the banks of the Dumbovita River between the Carpathian Mountains and the Danube, Bucharest was to become the chosen capital of the Wallachian princes. It was not until 1880 that Bucharest became the capital of a united Romanian kingdom. From that point on, it developed along the lines of a modern city. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, many architects in Bucharest were inspired by the French School. It was during this period that France and Romania enjoyed a political rapprochement that suited both countries. It was in these years that the great French writer, Paul Morand, compared Bucharest to a beautiful young woman, because of the city's elegance and charm.
But later in the 20th century, the architecture of the Romanian capital was destroyed and replaced by buildings intended to symbolize power. Fully illustrated with many photographs of both the old and the new Bucharest, this book is a welcome addition to Parkstone's "Great Cities" series.
