Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Romanian Athenaeum

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Romanian Athenaeum

Romanian-Athenaeum by Mastermindsro/Wikimedia Commons

The Romanian Athenaeum, nicknamed the Romanian temple of arts, is an architectural jewel whose uniqueness and merits were recognized.

It was classified as a historical monument, home to the Romanian George Enescu Philharmonic, the stunning Romanian Athenaeum is the city’s most prestigious concert hall.

With its majestic baroque cupola, the stunning edifice is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and delightful cafes and shops.

If you are planning a trip to Bucharest soon, make sure to include this iconic landmark in Romania in your travel itinerary.

1. The interesting Romanian Athenaeum is located on Calea Victoriei at the center of Bucharest

Ateneo rumeno di Bucarest by Camelia Boban/Wikimedia Commons

The Romanian Athenaeum is a concert hall in the center of Bucharest, Romania, and a landmark of the Romanian capital city.

Located on Calea Victoriei, the Romanian Athenaeum is an important cultural center and a must-see architectural gem,

It is also defined by the fact that it is one of the oldest and most important cultural institutions in Bucharest.

It is part of the European heritage since 2007, which is granted to sites that have a strong symbolic value for European history and heritage.

2. The amazing neoclassical beautiful Greek architecture of the Romanian Athenaeum

Romanian Athenaeum Ateneul Român interior by Samuel Mudrik/Wikimedia Commons

This is a beautiful building in a city that has many beautiful buildings with Great Greek architecture.

The overall style is neoclassical, with some more romantic touches. In front of the building, there is a small park and a statue of Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu.

The Athenaeum resembles an ancient Greek temple with a 41-meter-high dome and a peristyle of six Ionic columns.

The interiors feature a lobby of intricately painted gold-leaf ceilings, cascading balconies, and spiral marbled staircases.

On the ground floor, you’ll find a grand marble hall with twelve Doric columns which support the concert hall.

Resembling the famous ancient Greek-Roman amphitheaters, the concert hall can comfortably fit up to six hundred people.

3. An adult ticket is RON 10 one can visit the concert hall and admire the history

The price of a ticket for an adult is RON10, there is plenty to see to make your time worthwhile.

Visits can be made from 1.30 pm to 5 pm Tuesday to Sunday, and from 10 am to 4 pm on Mondays.

You can visit the reception hall and the Main Concert Hall where you can admire scenes from Romanian history featured in the collection of elaborate frescoes.

It’s an excellent way to get a glimpse into the country’s past. What’s more, you’ll also be able to discover the room’s exceptional acoustics.

The best time to visit the Athenaeum is in the morning. That’s because there are usually concerts or rehearsals being held here in the afternoon.

4. The astonishing Palace of the Athenaeum has a unique circular shape

The Romanian Athenaeum – Ateneul Roman by George.M.Groulasa/Wikimedia Commons

 The Palace of the Athenaeum has a unique circular shape, and it attracts many curious eyes thanks to the special touch of the architectural style.

The Athenaeum is surrounded by important buildings like the historic Athenee Palace Hotel, the National Romanian Art Museum hosted in the former Royal Palace, and many more.

This part of Bucharest is wide and special as it includes elements from different stages of Romanian history.

5. The amazing George Enescu musical festival is the biggest classical event 

Today the Romanian Athenaeum is the musical building of Bucharest, besides the traditional classical music concerts and the Cultural Conferences.

The Romanian Athenaeum is home to one of the most important International Music Festivals, the George Enescu International Festival and Competition.

Held in honor of the celebrated Romanian composer George Enescu, this event is the biggest classical music festival and classical international competition in Romania and one of the biggest in Eastern Europe.

Over the years, at the festival organized at the Romanian Athenaeum and the Radio Hall, high-prestigious orchestras and musicians performed.

Now, the festival takes place every two years in Bucharest for the whole month of September, and it’s a big tourist attraction.

6. The exquisite Romanian Athenaeum Hall has 600 seats with the perfect view 

The six hundred seats ensure perfect visibility of the stage from every point and impeccable acoustics.

Its exceptional acoustics place the Romanian Athenaeum Hall among the most successful constructions of its kind worldwide.

But, for us, the Romanian Athenaeum shows that Romanian people can be best friends and that we can be perseverant when we have a common goal.

A fresco by Costin Petrescu decorates the inside of the circular wall of the concert hall. Painted using the al fresco technique.

The piece depicts the most important moments of Romanian history, starting with the conquest of Dacia by Roman emperor Trajan and ending with the realization of Greater Romania.

7. One can get their ticket to visit the fascinating Athenaeum at the ticket office 

There is a ticket office at the Athenaeum which is open on the afternoon of a concert. You can buy tickets there.

The ticket office is open Monday to Friday 12 pm to 7 pm, Saturday-Sunday, 4 pm-7 pm, only if there are concerts.

The performances are usually excellent, but the beauty of this very elegant, Concert Hall is also an attraction in itself.

8. The astonishing Hilton Garden inn Bucharest is the best place to stay 

Situated in the Old Town of Bucharest, Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town provides facilities like free WIFI, a fitness center, and a shared lounge.

The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk and a business center for guests. An airport transfer can be arranged upon request.

Cismigiu Gardens is an 11-minute walk from the accommodation, while Romanian Athenaeum is 900 m away.

9. The fascinating Tatu bar and grill that offers delicious cuisines 

Tatu Bar and Grill is a restaurant for friends. And for friends, they offer the best delicious cuisines.

The terrace of the restaurant is one of those places, so if you want to discover a new place or need a meeting space to relax, I suggest you try the tatu bar and Grill

10. The history of the amazing Romanian Athenaeum owned by the Vacarescu family

Romanian Athenaeum by Swarve/Wikimedia Commons

The place where the Athenaeum and the garden in front of it are located was 1730 an orchard, owned by an important family at that time, the Văcărescu family.

A church called the Church of the Episcopate was built on the site of the orchard, in the courtyard of which a school operated.

After the destruction of the church and the school, on the remaining land, a garden was arranged, called the Episcopal Garden.

The garden was incorporated into the Athenaeum only in 1888 and was later called the Athenaeum Garden.