Bucharest - Arcul de Triumf

Date of visit: 9th April

The first place that we stopped and get down for photographs was at Arcul de Triumf @ the Triumphal Arch. It is 1 of the landmark in Bucharest, built in its current form in 1935 and was modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It was hard for me to digest that Bucharest is "Paris of the East" as renown in the 1930's. Days later when we arrived in Paris, I have no doubt to say that it was not even near. But, it may be 1 of the modest city among all cities in Eastern Europe (since I've not been to any). No offense to all Bucharester. Peace! 

Bucharest is the Romanian capital of municipality, cultural, industrial and financial seated in the centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, lies on the banks of the Dambovita River, less than 70 kilometres north of the Danube River (the 1 that we encountered on the way to the city by Bosphor train express).

The sky was bright the whole day of our stay that makes all photos using my tiger lens gave me satisfactory result and awesome feeling. I'm proudly sharing the satisfactory photo quality in this entry and remaining entries in Bucuresti with you guys.

It is a triumphal arch located in the northern part of Bucharest, on the Kiseleff Road, next to the National museum. The first arch made of wooden, was a triumphal arch built hurriedly, after Romania gained its independence in 1878, so that the victorious troops could march under it. Another temporary arch was built on the same site, in 1922, after World War I, which was demolished in 1935 to make way for the current triumphal arch, which was inaugurated in September 1936.

The current arch has a height of 27 metres and was built after the plans of the architect Petre Antonescu. It has as its foundation a 25 x 11.50 metres rectangle. The sculptures with which the facades are decorated were created by famous Romanian sculptors such as Ion Jalea and Dimitrie Paciurea. Nowadays, military parades are held beneath the arch each 1 December, with the occasion of Romania's national holiday.

Its facades are decorated (see above photo) with stone carvings bas reliefs, medallions, royal crowns and effigies of Queen Mary and King Ferdinand, who had an important contribution to the 1918 union of all Romanian speaking provinces.