Set between București Nord Railway Station and Cișmigiu Gardens, this area passes unnoticed for most visitors unless they go to a classical music concert at the Sala Radio. However, this part of town has preserved many interesting houses and one of those small, unexpected and enjoyable parks in town. While there is no major sight around except for St. Joseph Cathedral, this makes it for a fine walk while not straying too far away from the central area.
What to see: 2-6 storey properties set in Modernist and Neo-Classical styles, but not exclusively.
Having a bite: waterpipes, good coffee and baklava at Ahmed Lounge (formerly known as La Bouche Bée Lounge) along the Știrbei Vodă on the corner with Popa Tatu Street, otherwise my next recommendation goes for a simple, yet fine meal at the Bistro Athenaeum, at the end of the walk (next to the Romanian Athenaeum).
Duration: from Eroilor metro stop to Revoluției Square, 1 hour and a half to two hours.
The walk: start at Eroilor metro stop; I have chosen this spot for convenience. Go out through the Western exit, cross the river and go on along the Știrbei Vodă which is bordered for the initial leg by the typical Communist concrete blocks. Sandwiched between the ones to the right as you go, do not miss the structure hosting the Court of Justice for District 6. Continue along the Știrbei Vodă until, just before it bursts in the crossing with Berzei, a signpost shows you to the right to the Cuibul de Barză Church. Turn right and visit the church, then go on and exit on the other side, cross the street ahead and follow the Grigore Cobălcescu straight ahead; it is bordered by fine period houses and administrative buildings.
At its end, turn left and up along the Schitu Măgureanu almost until the Știrbei Vodă, take a left along the Stahi passing by the fine Bucharest Apostolic Nunciature; go on, cross the Știrbei Vodă and continue ahead along the Popa Tatu, then turn right along the Temișana, which pops into the small Luigi Cazzavillan Park at N44 26.557 E26 05.209. Cross it, exit on the other side and take a right along the street with the same name. Exit in Știrbei Vodă again and take the first to the left, lack up, along the Puțul cu Plopi, hosting some fine period houses. A right along the General Berthelot will take you by St. Sava College and St. Joseph Cathedral to Luterană Street. A right along it, passing by the Lutheran Church, will get you in Revoluției Square.
The Court of Justice of District 6. It was set in 1934-1936. The building raised in Modernist style was designed by architects Emil Nădejde and Eugen Cuscenko. The building impresses through its monumental facade, adorned with the frieze made by Miliţa Petraşcu, an avant-garde artist in interwar Bucharest. It has four halls: 2 large ones and 2 small ones. In the main hall, there is an impressive painted background behind judge’s seat.The facade was unfortunately partly altered in 1947 as the original name (Ro. ‘Judecătoria Ocolului 8 Urban’ / En. ‘The Court of City District 8’) no longer fit the situation and the large stone inscription mentioning it was destroyed. For a better view, cross the avenue; the afternoon is a good time, as the light is at its best then.
GPS - N44 26.318 E26 04.737
Cuibul cu Barză Church. The church was built in 1760 on the site of a previous, ruined one. As the roof was made of shingles, storks used to nest there and this is why people started to call it ‘the Stork Nest Church’. In 1898 it was thoroughly restored by Italian Architect David Petro, when the painting was redone. Between 1984-1987 it was surrounded with 3 concrete belts meant to reinforce it. In 1988, as it lay in the way of the future avenue the Communist regime was developing, it was moved 12 meters off the avenue, and a row of concrete buildings separate it now from the Știrbei Vodă.
GPS - N44 26.366 E26 04.860
The Apostolic Nunciature was built in 1901 by the Bucharest Archbishop Francisc Xaveriu de Hornstein, a Swiss priest. The funds came partly from the Swiss government, partly from King Charles I of Romania. The project was drawn by Architect Luigi Magni. During the Communist period (starting with 1950), the Pontifical representative had to leave Romania and the Nunciature was reopened in November 1992.
GPS - N44 26.365 E26 05.145
St. Joseph Catholic Cathedral. The cathedral was built between 1873 and 1884, with funds being provided by the Catholic community in Bucharest and abroad. It was designed by Architect Carol Berisch. The main altar was made in Rome of Carrara marble. The painting was done by Georg Roder. The initial stained glass window panels were done in Munich, but they were destroyed during the 1944 bombing over Bucharest. The actual panels were done by Natalia and Ion Brodeală (1980), respectively Dorin Dănilă (1985). The actual organ was built in Timișoara in 1930, as it replaced the original one, brought from Paris in 1892. Just like the Armenian Church, the cathedral was involved in a scandal, as the City Hall approved the building of a tall office building next door, fact that affected its structure.
GPS - N44 26.541 E26 05.486
The Lutheran Church. In 1574 Pierre Lescalopier mentioned the existence of a Lutheran church in Bucharest, in the Stejarului (En. Oak) Quarter. However this church was accomplished on July 4, 1777; it was built mainly for the Transylvanian Saxons living in the city, and its construction was possible thanks to the pressure exercised by the King of Sweden through his Ambassador in Constantinople. Next to the old church there was raised a more imposing one between 1851 and 1853; it was the tallest structure in the city at its time (36 m. tall); important figures of the time contributed to its being raised: the Austrian Emperor, Prince Bibescu, Composer Franz Liszt among others. The church also hosted around it an important Girl School, which reached 2000 pupils and 64 teachers in 1910. The church was damaged by a great fire in 1912, and also during the 1940 earthquake. The 1944 Allies' bombardments destroyed most of the adjacent buildings (the parish house, the school). It was restored in 1994. The church hosts the grave of Principe Wilhelm Friedrich Heinrich von Wied (1876-1945), ruler of Albania in 1914, nephew of Queen Elizabeth of Romania.
GPS - N44 26.435 E26 05.575
Click here for an album of pictures shot along this walk, with their respective GPS coordinates; I have arranged them in the sequence mentioned in the walk description above.