The consecrated walking day here is Wednesday. In fact, the walk can be done anytime but the reporting is done on Wednesday because @tattoodjay invented #WednesdayWalk. An opportunity to take a short walk and tell about the place and what we saw there. Sometimes an occasion for good photos, sometimes for stories about places and people, about travels near and far. Because I can't boast of very good photos, I have to tell stories about my travels. Now, another trip to the center of the city where I live, Bucharest.
This time I'm going to University Square, once the most famous square in Bucharest. Here is the Zero Kilometer of Romania, from here we measure the distances to the other localities. It was also the favorite meeting place of the inhabitants. When someone wanted to meet, obviously, with someone else, the easiest way was to choose the clock at the University. Most lovers chose this meeting point. That's why, in the past, it was impossible, if you passed through this square, not to see a few men carrying bouquets of flowers with them. I was among them!
In the center of the square is the statue of Michael the Brave.
Michael the Brave (Romanian: Mihai Viteazul [miˈhaj viˈte̯azul] or Mihai Bravu [ˈbravu]; 1558 – 9 August 1601), born as Mihai Pătrașcu, was the Prince of Wallachia (as Michael II, 1593 – 1601), Prince of Moldavia (1600) and de facto ruler of Transylvania (1599 – 1600). He is considered one of Romania's greatest national heroes. Since the 19th century, Michael the Brave has been regarded by Romanian nationalists as a symbol of Romanian unity, as his reign marked the first time all principalities inhabited by Romanians were under the same ruler.
The Statue of a warrior leader is placed in a square where much blood has flowed. The revolution of 1989, when Romania was liberated from communism. Here, in this square, barricades were built by young people, trying to oppose the army of the communist state. Many of the barricade defenders died.
The University Square remained a symbol of the struggle for freedom, known all over the world. The Romanian Revolution was the first revolution seen on TV all over the world. It was then a famous square. Now it has been forgotten, because of the political takeover of the revolution. Because of the abandonment of the principles, wishes, and promises made by politicians and not fulfilled.
Romania is now a free state, a member of the European Union and NATO, but the implementation of democratic reforms is very slow and corruption is high. Romania now is far from what it could have been, unfortunately!
An unjust history and a people unprepared for great things and deeds.
Now we have a changed square here, there have been many changes in the last thirty years. The present form is the most successful in my opinion.
Let me tell you more about what we find here, apart from the statues. First of all the name. Why it's called University Square.
It is called so because the most important building here is the Bucharest University building.
The University of Bucharest (Romanian: Universitatea din București), commonly known after its abbreviation UB in Romania, is a public university founded on 4 July 1864 (158 years ago) by a decree of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza to convert the former Princely Academy into the current University of Bucharest, making it the second oldest modern Romanian university. It is one of the five members of the Universitaria Consortium (the group of elite Romanian universities).
Practically one side of the square is occupied by this building.
Opposite are several similarly old buildings that have now been restored and house bank headquarters.
In such places where many people gather there are small terraces and cafes. Now, when I walked around, it was early enough in the morning for the square to be almost deserted.
I like this market for one minor thing. Because birch trees have been planted. Birch trees are my favorite trees.
I can't walk around too much just in a square. That means it was a short walk.
University Square is one of the most famous places in Bucharest. Whoever visits the city can't miss it. This place has been modernized and is attractive, on certain occasions fairs or concerts are organized here. However, it seems to me that it is too little.
I cross this square every week. It also strikes me with nostalgia, remembering so many things that have happened here in the last fifty years. My life is also linked to this place. University Square is one of the places worth visiting in Romania.
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