3. Bucharest: Charm of the Belle Époque Private Tour
Imagine yourself in the late 19th century, in a romantic era of peace & prosperity called the “Belle Époque”. Bucharest was a city where the West met the East, instantly charming travelers with its multicultural diversity, Boehme lifestyle and gorgeous architecture. Back then, the flourishing city was experiencing the greatest cultural boom of its history, with King Carol the 1st being the mastermind behind it. His family ties with Napoleon the 3rd or Wilhelm the 1st amplified the process, turning Bucharest into a Paris of the East.
The tour is structured as a story, taking you along the famous Victory Boulevard and through the fully restored Old City. Each major attraction has its own tale to tell, allowing you to go back in time and discover the social and cultural life of the era. You’ll see beautiful palaces and historical buildings – architectural gems displaying a mix of styles: Neoclassic, Art-Nouveau, Baroque or Byzantine blended in with the local Brancovenesc.
Along the way you can admire various impressive buildings – hot spots for the era’s high society: the palace of one of the most famous composers of 20th century; the Athenaeum music hall; the former Royal Palace; the Capsa Restaurant (meeting place for noblemen & artists); the former Lafayette Galleries (providing latest Parisian fashion) etc. Next, you’ll enter the Old City – an area bursting with life that truly resembles the charm of the Belle Époque: old street lamps, vintage cafes, bistros & lounges nested within 18th century houses or street musicians playing the violin. Some places are former cabarets, theaters or dance halls while other still continue a century old tradition, operating as inns and beer houses.
Take the Belle Époque tour to feast your eyes with architectural wonders and to journey back in time…In a time of Tango & Charleston dances, balls permits, jockey clubs, fringed dresses and secret love letters!