Impressive due to their simplicity of form and colour, many of Bucharest´s churches are original expressions of Romanian architectural style. While churches were unwelcome in Ceausescu’s Romania, and many of them were neglected or destroyed, or even hidden behind apartment blocks, there are still scores of them to be found in the capital city. Here are some of the most intriguing and oldest churches, but for the truly interested, there are many more that are not listed here: an invitation to explore the city.
(German Lutheran Church of Bucharest)
Address: 2 Lutherana Str.
Phone: +40 21 313 31 65
Web: www.evkb.ro
Address: Str. Viitorului 110
Phone: +40 722 523 233
Web: www.ibc-bucharest.org
Lutheran church, opened in 1991, with services in English aiming for an expat audience.
Address: 3 Cpt. Demetriade Str.
Phone: +40 21 319 70 70
+40 21 319 70 60
Services in different languages: Romanian, French, English, Latin, and Arabic.
Address: 21-25 Dealul Mitropoliei St.
Set atop of the Mitropoliei hill (one of the city’s few hills) the Patriarchal Cathedral has been the centerpiece of the Romanian Orthodox faith since the seventeenth century. Next to the church (and closed to the public) is the Patriarchal Palace, which is the residence of Daniel Ciubotea, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Address: 47 Calea Victoriei
Nestled amid the other historical buildings in Piaţa Revoluţiei, this small redbrick Orthodox Church was built in 1722 by the great chancellor Iordache Kretzulescu and his wife, Safta (daughter of Constantin Brancoveanu) in the Brancovenian architectural style.
Address: 1 Sfintii Apostoli St.
One of the oldest churches in Bucharest (with parts dating back to the 16th century and a steeple built in 1715), the Apostles’ Church is brimful of some rather strange portraits that are well-worth seeing.
Address: 43 Carol I Blvd.
Now overlooked by a skyscraper, The Armenian Church is nevertheless one of the largest and best-preserved Orthodox churches in central Bucharest. An exact replica of a cathedral in the Armenian city of Ecmiazin.
Address: 33 Franceza St.
Curtea Veche Church was the church of the former Royal Court (that you can also visit nearby).
Address: 4 Sapientei St.
One of many churches that were actually moved to make way for the Civic Centre, Mihai Voda was originally constructed in 1601. In 1985 it was moved 285 meters east, on rails, and hidden in its present location behind apartment blocks.
Address: 6 Postei St.
This is a very interesting old church founded by a Greek monk in the early 18th century. Hidden on a corner near the History Museum and Caru cu Bere, it has outside frescoes and a delightful courtyard behind it, once an inn, giving it a very quiet and pleasant aspect.
Address: 29 Mitropolit Antim Ivireanu St.
Another of the moved churches, Antim Monastery was built in the early 18th century. This church is near the People’s House and was in the way of urban renewal projects, so it was given a new foundation, put on rails and simply moved to its present location.
Address: 28 Calea Victoriei
Built in 1683. it was the first church in the city to boast octagonal stone pillars.
Address: 16 Mărăşti Blvd., Sector 1
Casin Monastery was built in 1937 and is located near the Arc de Triomphe.
Address: 24 A Radu Voda St.
The church of the former Radu Vodă Monastery stands on a hill on the banks of the Dâmboviţa, though the construction of the Civic Centre hid it from the river and general view. There was originally a wooden church on this site.
Address: 15 B Sfantu Elefterie St.
Built in the 18th century, St. Elefterie Church is one of the most beautiful Orthodox churches in Bucharest.
Address: 49 I.C Bratianu Blvd
New St. George Church is in the Centre of Bucharest. It was built between 1705 and 1706 and holds the tomb of its founder, Constantin Brancoveanu, Wallachia’s ruler from 1688 to 1714.
(the Russian Church)
Address: 9 Ion Ghica St.
St. Nicholas Russian Church is located in downtown Bucharest, just off University Square. A Russian Ambassador initiated the building of this Russian Orthodox church in central Bucharest in 1905.
Address: 19 G-ral Berthelot St.
Built in redbrick between 1873 and 1884, this Roman Catholic cathedral is an architectural masterpiece combining both Gothic and Roman elements. Organ recitals are held weekly.
For an online bird’s-eye view map of historical monuments check out this link!
