Dear readers,
I will organise a thematic architectural tour, this coming Sunday 24 May ’15, between the hours 17.00h – 19.00h, on the subject of the Great Fire of Bucharest of 1847, one of the most significant and transformative catastrophic events that affected Romania’s capital, and the important consequences for the architecture of the city that emerged in its aftermath. This cultural excursion may be of interest to any of you visiting the town as a tourist or on business, looking to find out more about its fascinating historic architecture and identity.
The Great Fire occurred on 23 March 1847, in the Jullian calendar used in what was then the Principality of Wallachia, which also corresponded with the Orthodox Easter Day, and obliterated most of the central built area of the then city, which had an Ottoman Balkan character in its architecture and urban set up. It happened during a critical incipient period of westernisation and emancipation from the centuries old Ottoman dominance. The new buildings that emerged in its aftermath were inspired from the French and other West European c19th historicist styles, that gave rise to what I call the Little Paris style, expressing the aspirations of the emergent Romanian nation. That architecture, which had its first green shoots in those years in the aftermath of the Great Fire, won Bucharest in the following decades its nickname on the “Little Paris of the Balkans”. We will investigate the place that was the source of the fire, in the area of Post Office’s church, proceeding from there to discover many of the remaining traces of the conflagration and examine the extraordinary architectural phenomenon, which sprung out of its ashes.
Book by emailing v.mandache@gmail.com or using the comments section of this post. You will be informed of meeting place on booking.
I look forward to seeing you at the tour,
Valentin Mandache, expert in Romania’s historic houses (tel: 0040 (0)728323272)
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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.
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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 