b u c h a r e s t




bucharest is the capital and largest city of romania, located in the southeastern part of the country. the city is situated about 65 km north of the danube river, near ploiesti, on the banks of the dmbovita river. bucharest lies on a generally level plain and, including suburban districts, occupies an area of about 300 sq km.
the first written appearance of the name bucuresti dates from 1459, when it was recorded in a document of vlad iii the impaler, the ruler of walachia. vlad iii built the fortress of bucharest--the first of many fortifications--with the aim of holding back the turks who were threatening the existence of the walachian state. by the end of the 16th century, bucharest was south-eastern europes largest christian city. in 1640, a traveller remarked that the population of the city exceed 100,000. under the ottoman suzerainty that was eventually established, bucharest developed rapidly as the m...