Bucharest - Paris of the East Trivia Quiz

Answer: Arc of Triumph

At a quick glance, you could be forgiven for thinking the picture shows the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. The photo is actually that of the Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest, Romania. Both names translate to Arc of Triumph in English.

The Parisian Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments of the city. It was built in the 19th century to commemorate those who laid down their lives for the country in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. After World War I, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was created beneath the Arc.

The Arcul de Triumf is located in the northern part of Bucharest. A wooden structure was originally built when Romania won its independence in 1878 for the army to march under and enter the city. The current structure was built in 1935-36 and modeled after its better known Parisian counterpart.

Answer: Yes

The Louvre is famous for housing one of the world's most recognized paintings - Leonardo daVinci's "Mona Lisa". This is just one of the many, many art works found within this museum. The Louvre is the world's largest and most visited art museum. Located on the Right Bank of the Seine, the Louvre Palace was originally built as a fortress and then became the royal residence under Charles V in the 14th century.

The National Museum of Art of Romania is located within the Royal Palace of Bucharest, also known as the Palace of the Republic. It served as the Royal residence until 1947 when Romania fell under Communist rule. In 1950, the National Museum of Art of Romania was created within the palace. The museum features various collections by Romanian artists, ranging from the medieval period to modern art. It also showcases various international artworks that were acquired by the royal family.

Answer: Dambovita

The Seine flows through Paris and is closely associated with the city. Many important Parisian landmarks like the Notre-Dame, Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower are located along its banks. River cruises and restaurants and cafes located along the river are popular with tourists and locals alike.

The Dambovita river originates in the Iezer Mountains in the Southern Carpathians in Romania. It passes through Bucharest before meeting with the river Arges.

Answer: Cismigiu Gardens

The Cismigiu Gardens are located in the central part of Bucharest and are the city's oldest gardens. The park was originally laid out in 1847. Spread across 17 hectares, the gardens are full of cozy areas, well laid out plants, and even lakes. During our trip to Bucharest, we kept returning to this place for some peace and quiet. The name of the park itself comes from a Turkish word for the person whose job it is to maintain public fountains.

Monumentul Eroilor Francezi ("The Monument of French Heroes") was built in 1922 as a memorial to the French soldiers who gave up their lives during the Romanian Campaign of World War I. In 2002, the Monumentul Eroilor Americani ("The Monument of American Heroes") was inaugurated to honour the 378 US soldiers who perished in Romania during World War II.

Among my favourite gardens in Paris are the Trocadero, from where you can enjoy a good view of the Eiffel Tower, the famous Tuileries Garden, and the Jardin de Luxembourg, where I stumbled upon a replica of the Statue of Liberty.

Answer: Earthquake

In 1977, parts of Bucharest's city centre were completely destroyed by the Vrancea earthquake. This gave the country's dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu, a perfect excuse to rebuild the area. A large portion of the historic centre was razed to the ground to make way for his grand designs. Monasteries, synagogues, churches, a sports stadium - none of these were spared. His megalomaniacal project, the Palace of the Parliament, also commenced construction at this time.

The original name of the boulevard was Bulevardul Victoria Socialismului ("Victory of Socialism Boulevard"). Ceausescu wanted it to rival Paris' famed Champs-Élysées and specifically mandated that it be built longer and at least one meter wider than the Parisian thoroughfare. After the Romanian Revolution, the road was renamed Bulevardul Unirii ("Union Boulevard").

The Champs-Élysées is a major avenue of Paris. At one end is the Arc de Triomphe, and at the other is Place de la Concorde. It's 1.9 km length is lined with luxury stores, cafes and restaurants. The road was named after the Elysian Fields, a resting place for heroes in Greek mythology.

Answer: Romanian Orthodox Church

The Romanian Orthodox Church falls under the Eastern Orthodox Church and covers the territories of Romania and Moldova. A majority of Romanians profess to be part of this denomination. The Stavropoleos Monastery in central Bucharest was built in the early 18th century and is one of the most beautiful churches I visited in the city. It is built in the 'Brancovenesc' architectural style - a unique style that combines local Romanian elements with influences from Byzantine and Italian architecture.

When Nicolae Ceausescu was rebuilding the city centre of Bucharest in the 1980s, Romanian engineers moved entire structures of historical churches on rails to save them from being destroyed.

One of the most famous symbols of Paris is the Notre-Dame, a Roman Catholic church located on the banks of the Seine. Built over a period of almost two hundred years, the structure is one of the most outstanding examples of French Gothic architecture. In 2019, when the building was damaged by fire, help poured in from around the world to help in the restoration.

Answer: Romanian Athenaeum

The Romanian Athenaeum is another architectural gem that must be visited in central Bucharest. It is the home of the "George Enescu" Philharmonic, named after Romania's best known musician. Designed in the neoclassical style, the structure is crowned by a baroque style cupola. This concert hall was built in the late 19th century. Funds were partly raised from the public with "Donate one leu for the Ateneu!" used as an advertising slogan. As beautiful as the building looks from the outside, the interior is even more breathtaking. The fresco that covers the concert hall is a montage of important milestones in the country's history.

The Palais Garnier is a Parisian opera house. Built during the reign of Napoleon III, it has been immortalized in literature as the setting for Gaston Leroux's novel "The Phantom of the Opera", which has since also been made into a widely successful musical.

Answer: Bank

Beaux-Arts architecture developed at Paris' École des Beaux-Arts (School of Fine Arts) in the 19th century. It borrows elements from classical Greek and Roman architecture while also using relatively modern materials like glass and iron. Trained architects from this school then took this style as far as the United States of America.

The CEC Palace was designed by Paul Gottereau, a graduate from Paris' École des Beaux-Arts, and constructed under the supervision of Romanian architect Ion Socolescu. Built in 1900, the building was designed to function as the headquarters for CEC Bank, Romania's oldest bank.

Answer: 1989

As most revolutions erupt around the nexus of power, the French revolution also began in Paris, the political capital of France. Lasting over ten years from 1789 to 1799, one of the key moments of the movement was the storming of the Bastille, a prison located in Paris. The Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris, was the site of many executions including that of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette.

After years of brutal and bloodthirsty rule by Nicolae Ceaușescu, the Romanian people finally rose in revolt in December 1989, partly inspired by similar revolutions taking place in other communist ruled countries of Eastern Europe. The violence escalated over the course of a week and the military soon switched sides joining the people against the government. Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, tried to escape but were caught, tried and convicted. On 25 December 1989, they were executed by firing squad and photographs of the dead bodies were broadcast on Romanian television and later distributed to the West. Footage of the trial was also released. Less than a month later, on 7 January 1990, Romania abolished capital punishment, making the Ceaușescus the last to be executed.

The Memorial of Rebirth was erected in Bucharest's Revolution Square in 2005 to commemorate the victims of the Romanian Revolution. The 25 meter high marble obelisk has a metal crown near the top. The memorial did not win much popularity among the locals earning derisive nicknames like "potato on a skewer". Due to its distinct lack of acceptance by the public, it has been guarded at all times to protect from vandalism. Despite this, in 2012, red paint was splattered right below the crown, making it look like the pillar was bleeding. The paint was still there when I visited in 2015. Given the seemingly difficult to access location, the authorities have left it as-is.

Answer: No

The Palace of the Parliament was the pet project of Romanian dictator, Nicolae Ceaușescu, envisioned after a trip to communist North Korea. The 1977 earthquake was used as a perfect excuse to completely redesign the city centre with large blocks of buildings razed and over forty thousand people displaced. Built in socialist realist style, this gargantuan structure has many records to its name as rattled off by our tour guide - heaviest building in the world, most expensive administrative building in the world, and the second largest administrative building after the US' Pentagon.

The Union Hall inside the palace features two ornate spiral staircases to allow both Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, to make simultaneous entrances. According to our guide and various online sources, Ceaușescu had the staircase relaid twice - to ensure the steps were perfectly distanced to match his tread, conscious as he was of his short height. Even after spending over an hour touring the palace, we had seen less than 10% of the entire building. Today it houses an art museum, the Romanian Senate and Chamber of Deputies. Less than 70% of the building is occupied due to the high cost of maintenance.

Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife were executed during the Romanian Revolution, before the building was completed. Due to the significant amount of money already spent on its construction (the building was almost two-thirds complete), the structure was finished after Ceaușescu's death and it remains an ugly reminder of a dark past.