In the late c19th Romania became an important grain exporter, where the plains of the Lower Danube prairie constituted the most important cereal producing areas. The grain exports were conducted in large part through ports dotting the Romanian bank of the great river. One of those ports was the city of Turnu Magurele, which greatly benefited from that trade, a fact seen in the many beautiful Little Paris style architecture (what I call the Romanian provincially interpreted French c19th architectural styles raging from neo-rococo, historicist and even Art Nouveau) buildings constructed in the city in that period. The old postcard above shows one of those superb edifices in Turnu Magurele that hosted a local bank. I very much like the hand coloured tones of the photograph and how they convey, together with the large ground floor window awnings, the near tropical summer climate of that prairie town. The style of the building is a picturesque mixture of rococo and Art Nouveau rendered on a tall symmetrical façade.
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I endeavor through this daily series of daily articles to inspire appreciation of the historic houses of Romania, a virtually undiscovered, but fascinating chapter of European architectural heritage.
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If you plan acquiring a historic property in Romania or start a renovation project, I would be delighted to advice you in sourcing the property, specialist research, planning permissions, restoration project management, etc. To discuss your particular plan please see my contact details in the Contact page of this weblog.
Valentin Mandache, architectural historian 
Buna ziua,
Va multumesc pentru imaginea acestei bancii pe care am gasit-o aici, tot cautand imagini vechi cu orasul meu natal. Mai tarziu, in aceasta cladire a fost sediul bancii “Franco-Romana:” apoi al Bancii Agricole. Peretele din dreapta cladirii, dinspre Catedrala Sf.Haralambie), era decorat foarte frumos cu monograme si dungi pictate in culori, cam cum se poate vedea pe unele cladiri din Germania, sau Austria.
Acasta cladire a fost distrusa in anii 70-80, impreuna cu alte cladiri foarte frumoase din jurul parcului si din oras, pentru a se construi blocuri…tot ce era foarte frumos a fost distrus….
Cu respect,
George
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Multumesc pentru comentariu George si pentru foarte interesantele informatii privind locul acestui edificiu in set up-ul urban de acum un secol din Turnu Magurele! Este o tragedie daramarea acestei mosteniri si stirbirea identitatii locului; imi este teama ca se vor mai pierde multe asemenea bijuterii arhitecturale pana cand populatia va realiza ca se saraceste si nu imbogateste prin vise imobiliare cu cladiri noi in locul celor de epoca. VM
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