LOCATION

The city situated in the Southern area of the country, on Baragan Plain, at half distance between the Danube and the chain of the Southern Carpathians, being crossed by the rivers Dāmbovita and Colentina. Geographical background is: 2.5 degree Eastern longitudine and 44.24 degreed Northern latitude.


CLIME

Temperature - continental
The yearly average temperature in Bucharest is - 2.5 Celsius centigrades in January and +22.5 Celsus centigrades in July.


VEGETATION

The city is crossed by the Dāmbovita and Colentina rivers and is surrounded by forests, which makes Bucharest a city with large green areas, which have come parks and, at the same time, places for rest and entertainment, such as: Baneasa, Herastrau, Floreasca, Tei, Lebada Fun area. Herastrau Park is the largest in the city, being situated on the Colentina river, including the Herastrau and Floreasca akes, providing special opportunities of entertanment. There are also a few artificial parks in the central area of the city, having a special historical and decorative value, such as Cismigiu Gardens, arranged in 1850, hosting several rare species of trees and ornamental flowers, which is remarked by a special charm. Here we also remind Libertatea Park - arranged in 1906 and the Botanical Gardens - arranged in 1884 - which holds species of flowers and trees of a large variety and rare species, coming from all the parts of the world, an excellent place for rest, after an exhausting day.


SHORT HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

An ancient and beautiful legend tells us about a shepherd called Bucur who, having been attracted by the richness and beauty of the vegetaton, settled down on these places, becoming thus the founder of the city, which would bear the name of Bucharest, after the shepard's name. The legend says that Bucur had build a small church - Bucur Church - situated on the right bank of the Dāmbovita river, close to Radu-Voda Monasterz, near the actual Uniri Square.
The existence of the city is mentioned for the first time in documents lasting from the 14th century. The city had known a strong economic and cultural development during the Middle Ages and, beginning from 1862, it has become the capital of Romania.
The ancient centre of the city is known under the name of Curtea Veche (The Old Court), including Manuc's Inn and the streets Iuliu Maniu, Selari, Covaci and Sepcari. The preservation and restoration of the ancient centre of the city been one of the targets of Bucharet's Townhall, after 1989, year which market the replacement of the communist regime in Romana, which had brought great prejudiced to the historical architecture and monuments of the captal. However, the "Peoples' House" is best known to the foreigners - a huge edifice built at the order of Nicolae Ceausescu, between 1984-198, which is the second building in the world, from the point of view of its size, after the building of the Pentagon in Washington D.C., which is presently called "Parliament's Palace", permitting the access of visitors in organised groups.


POPULATION

2,351,000 inhabitants-in 1996.


RELIGION

86.54% Christian-Orthodox (there is also a large Roman-Catholic community, as well as adherents of the Greek-Catholic, Baptist, Adventist, Jewish religions etc.)
Despite of the communist period is went through, Bucharest is a city with a lot of churches, many of them having an important architectural value.