Romanian Athenaeum

In front of you is Bucharest's best-loved building, the one on postcards and banknotes. The Romanian Athenaeum grew out of a cultural society founded in 1865 by Constantin Esarcu, Vasile Alexandrescu Urechia and Nicolae Kretzulescu, who wanted to give the capital a home for music, lectures and science.

1A leu for the Athenaeum

Money was short, so a public subscription was launched with a slogan every Romanian knows: «Dați un leu pentru Ateneu!», «Give a leu for the Athenaeum!». The campaign ran for years and thousands of people donated small sums. The building was designed by the French architect Albert Galleron on land that had belonged to the Văcărescu family. It opened in 1888, although work went on until 1897.

2Greater Romania

On 29 December 1919, in this hall, the country's representatives voted to ratify the union of Bessarabia, Transylvania and Bukovina with the old kingdom. So-called Greater Romania was born. That is why the great fresco by Costin Petrescu that runs around the interior, some 75 metres long, tells the country's story from Trajan's conquest of Dacia to 1918.

Today it is home to the George Enescu Philharmonic and the festival named after the great composer. Going inside usually requires a concert ticket or a guided tour, so check the programme; from outside, the stop works just as well.

3What to look for

• The portico of Ionic columns, inspired by Greek temples.
• The dome, crowning the circular hall.
• The statue of Mihai Eminescu, the national poet, in the garden.