I would like to share with you, dear readers, my joy of concluding last week end of the first 10 Sunday architectural history and photography tours/ walks in diverse areas of old Bucharest. I started running this type of cultural excursion on 5 June ’11 and have been very pleased since to welcome so many participants with diverse backgrounds, ages, natives or from all corners of the world. I trust that my explanations were well received and the tours were a good educational endeavour in matters of Romanian architectural history seen not as an isolated phenomenon, but in a wider international and multidisciplinary context. That type of approach is badly needed in Bucharest and Romania in general, where is an acute deficiency of quality publications and properly qualified professionals in the field of period architecture treated in its complex multifaceted aspects. I hope that in time these tours, together with my blog articles and other projects that I have in store, would bear fruit through an increased public awareness about the beauty of Bucharest’s and Romania’s architectural heritage, its huge importance for the identity of the local communities, conservation and quality tourism.
Bellow are a series of photo-collages amassing together the images published in the blog articles that chronicled each of the tours (a complete list and links to those articles in mentioned under the first photomontage).
List of blog articles chronicling the first 10 Historic Houses of Romania architectural history and photography Sunday tours:
- From yesterday’s architectural photography tour of Cotroceni historic quarter, Bucharest
- Images from last Sunday’s architectural photo-tour in Mantuleasa historic quarter, Bucharest
- Images from last Sunday’s architectural history & photography tour in Carol Park area
- Images from last Sunday’s architectural history & photography tour: Cismigiu area
- Fire Watchtower area: images from last Sunday’s architectural history & photo tour
- Kiseleff area: images from last Sunday’s architectural history & photo tour
- Patriarchy Hill area: images from last Sunday’s architectural history & photo tour
- Gara de Nord area: images from last Sunday’s architectural history & photo tour
- Dorobanti area: images from last Sunday’s architectural history & photo tour
- Mosilor area: images from last Sunday’s architectural history & photo tour
The photomontage above is composed from generic images, representative of each area visited during the tours, which initiated each tour announcement article on the blog.
The above montage of photographs is composed from snaps taken in the course of the architectural tours depicting participants and guide in diverse locations throughout old Bucharest, which I believe reflects the ethos of those excursions, their intellectual purpose, value and general nice atmosphere.
The map shows the areas covered by the first 10 Sunday architectural tours. There are envisaged another 10 such destinations throughout the old Bucharest (tomorrow is scheduled the 11th such tour, for details, click here), repeats of the popular ones and also tours in relevant locations outside Bucharest! You are of course invited to participate! 🙂
Valentin Mandache, expert in Romania’s historic houses
***********************************************
I endeavour through this series of periodic articles to inspire appreciation of the historic houses of Romania, a virtually undiscovered, but fascinating chapter of European architectural history and heritage.
***********************************************
If you plan acquiring or selling a historic property in Romania or start a renovation project, I would be delighted to advice you in sourcing and transacting the property, specialist research, etc. To discuss your particular plan please see my contact details in the Contactpage of this weblog.
Valentin Mandache, architectural historian 