There is a vibrant world waiting to be discovered across Romania, outside capital city Bucharest and much of it rests unknown. Some of Romania's biggest cities have a rich history, have witnessed the creation of the country's culture and some of them are currently flourishing business hubs. Romania-insider.com starts a series of articles presenting major Romania cities. This week's pick is Timisoara, the first mainland European city to to be lit by electric street lamps in 1884. This was also the city where the anti-communist revolution spark started in 1989.

More than six centuries ago, when the Ilfov watcher was overlooking the Giurgiu road from the survey tower close to Dambovita, the scenery must have been lean. A couple of huts, maybe some water mills and a couple more chattels that made a so called village. The Vlasiei forests were surrounding the area, going deep and dark far beyond the distance.

There is no other building in Bucharest that holds that much history within its walls (except maybe the Old Court), than the former Royal Palace does. At the beginning of the 19th century, this area, which used to belong to the Kretzulescu family, was hosting the residency built by Dinicu Golescu between 1812 and 1815.

The North Western part of the Revolution Square is flanked by the imposing building which hosts the Central University Library. The institution was created at the initiative of King Carol I (read more about him here), who set up the University Foundation in 1891. The foundation was active until 1948, when it became the Central University Library.

Casa Capsa, standing on a street corner on Calea Victoriei, used to be the core of the political, artistic and high life in Bucharest. It was set up by the Capsa brothers late 1800s, but its rich history dates further behind.

I had found out about the lake dwellings near Bucharest by accident, while browsing through a biking magazine. The idea to go there came immediately. I was attracted by the mysticism of medieval style dwellings and of the legendary background of the Vlasiei Forest. The fact it was so close to Bucharest was even more motivating.

By Anca Berger

The “Monteoru Renaissance” association, headquartered in Sarata Monteoru, has started a campaign aiming at promoting and relaunching tourism in the area of Buzau Mountains and Dealu Mare Region. The main activity will focus on the village and spa facilities of Sarata Monteoru.

Across the street from the Continental Hotel you will find the large facade of the Novotel hotel building. The hotel's facade resembles the building which used to be there – the National Theater, that was damaged in the 1944 bombing and was demolished at the beginning of the 'democratic popular' regime.

The premises of the current Atheneum used to host a monastery built in 1764 by Mihai Cantacuzino, the son of Matei Cantacuzino Magureanu. The monastery was surrounded by an orchard named Vacareasca's Orchard, taking by the name of Mihai's wife, Elena Vacarescu, who had received it as dower.

he Muddy Volcanoes in Buzau county are not the volcanoes you would expect. They're not the big, real volcanoes that scare off people and clog the European airspace with volcanic ash. Not by far. But they're a pretty amazing thing, hidden somewhere in the Buzau mountains.

There is a vibrant world waiting to be discovered across Romania, outside capital city Bucharest and much of it rests unknown. Some of Romania's biggest cities have a rich history, have witnessed the creation of the country's culture and some of them are currently flourishing business hubs. Romania-insider.com starts a series of articles presenting major Romania cities. This week's pick is Timisoara, the first mainland European city to to be lit by electric street lamps in 1884. This was also the city where the anti-communist revolution spark started in 1989.

More than six centuries ago, when the Ilfov watcher was overlooking the Giurgiu road from the survey tower close to Dambovita, the scenery must have been lean. A couple of huts, maybe some water mills and a couple more chattels that made a so called village. The Vlasiei forests were surrounding the area, going deep and dark far beyond the distance.

There is no other building in Bucharest that holds that much history within its walls (except maybe the Old Court), than the former Royal Palace does. At the beginning of the 19th century, this area, which used to belong to the Kretzulescu family, was hosting the residency built by Dinicu Golescu between 1812 and 1815.

The North Western part of the Revolution Square is flanked by the imposing building which hosts the Central University Library. The institution was created at the initiative of King Carol I (read more about him here), who set up the University Foundation in 1891. The foundation was active until 1948, when it became the Central University Library.

Casa Capsa, standing on a street corner on Calea Victoriei, used to be the core of the political, artistic and high life in Bucharest. It was set up by the Capsa brothers late 1800s, but its rich history dates further behind.

I had found out about the lake dwellings near Bucharest by accident, while browsing through a biking magazine. The idea to go there came immediately. I was attracted by the mysticism of medieval style dwellings and of the legendary background of the Vlasiei Forest. The fact it was so close to Bucharest was even more motivating.

By Anca Berger

The “Monteoru Renaissance” association, headquartered in Sarata Monteoru, has started a campaign aiming at promoting and relaunching tourism in the area of Buzau Mountains and Dealu Mare Region. The main activity will focus on the village and spa facilities of Sarata Monteoru.

Across the street from the Continental Hotel you will find the large facade of the Novotel hotel building. The hotel's facade resembles the building which used to be there – the National Theater, that was damaged in the 1944 bombing and was demolished at the beginning of the 'democratic popular' regime.

The premises of the current Atheneum used to host a monastery built in 1764 by Mihai Cantacuzino, the son of Matei Cantacuzino Magureanu. The monastery was surrounded by an orchard named Vacareasca's Orchard, taking by the name of Mihai's wife, Elena Vacarescu, who had received it as dower.

he Muddy Volcanoes in Buzau county are not the volcanoes you would expect. They're not the big, real volcanoes that scare off people and clog the European airspace with volcanic ash. Not by far. But they're a pretty amazing thing, hidden somewhere in the Buzau mountains.