Feb 052010
Today’s photograph shows the building of the former Bank of Romanian Credit (Banca de Credit Român in Romanian), located on Stavropoleos Street next to the monastery with the same name. Nowadays the building serves as the headquarters of various public institutions. At the end of the 19th century Bucharest met with a rapidly growing economy and in order to cope with this development lots of banks were founded or opened offices in the streets around the National Bank of Romania, an area bordered by the Calea Victoriei, Stavropoleous, Smârdan and Doamnei Streets. This way a banking district was created within the perimeter of the Old Town, a place that was until then reserved for merchants, inns and monasteries.
A solemn building, it really need some cleaning to restore its imposing facade. I could trace some of the decorative patterns in similar, smaller buildings here.
What a fantastic, historic, monumental building! Our bank building in town are quite simple and plain. Zut alors!
Bon weekend, Andreea
It certainly gives the impression of being solid and dependable – like a bank should be! Quite beautiful!
It's very grand building indeed!