Walachia

Bukarest

Walachia is shaped by strong economical contrasts. On the one hand there are the agrarian areas where the cultivation of corn, flour, fruits and vegetables is the basis to earn a livelihood. On the other hand there are the metropolitan areas with a strongly developed industry. One of the biggest and most important metropolitan areas is the Romanian capital Bucharest. Especially companies of mechanical and electrical engineering have their domiciles there. In 1459 the city was first mentioned in written form by the monarch Vlad lll. Draculea, who is nowadays known as Dracula and misleadingly connected to Transylvania. With more than 2 million inhabitants it ranks among the European Metropolises. But Bucharest is not only the economical and financial focus of Romania. Thanks to numerous universities and academies it is also the scientific centre of the country. As everywhere in Romania tourism has developed to be one of the most important sources of income for the city. In this respect Bucharest offers an interesting view, considering its incredible architectural „chaos“. In closest proximity it represents a mixture of buildings from different eras and in different architectural styles, which is not comparable to any other metropolis in Europe. From a number of interesting sights there should be mentioned the Arcul de Triumf, a triumphal arc adapted from the one in Paris, and the Romanian Athenaeum. Inaugurated in 1889, its hall, which is laid out for 1000 people, is the domain of the philharmonic orchestra. Another recommendable sight is the patriarchal cathedral, one of about 100 city churches. Bucharest has also got to offer a lot of museums and theatres, which are not only useful to study the regional history, but they also represent an access to the vivid Romanian culture of the present time. After all there is an infinite number of restaurants and bars that provide unforgettable culinary experiences.