Cișmigiu Park, Bucharest

1. "La Cetate"

We enter the park at the highest entrance on Schitu Măgureanu street. This leads after a few steps into the upper, northern part of the park. This place is called "La Cetate". Here are the ruins of a monastery built in 1756 by the logofătul Văcărescu. It was penetrated by a secret tunnel that linked the Crețulescu Palace to the banks of the Dâmbovița river.

2. Small Lake and Eminescu Spring

We go down the stairs and follow Crețulescu alley to the left towards the alley of the Small Lake. In winter the lake is dry. Across the lake is a playground animated by the presence of many children. We pass by a monument dedicated to the students of the Drăgășani gendarmerie school who died in 1944. Next to the stairs leading down from Știrbei Vodă street, there is Eminescu Spring, sadly crumbling from what it looked like in my childhood. Here is a natural spring with cold water, today captured by a pipe. In the past, many passers-by quenched their thirst here.

3. Alleys, plane trees, pigeons and benches

We are in an old park in Bucharest. I wonder how many passers-by, grandparents, parents, children, Romanian or foreign citizens have strolled through the alleys of this park or rested on its old benches and fed the pigeons or admired the people walking on the Great Lake?

4. Nuc Bridge, the French Soldier Monument and the Great Bridge

We are on the shores of the Great Lake which is crossed by 2 bridges, actually 3 if you add the one at the island.

Walnut bridge is one of the oldest buildings in Bucharest. It dates back to 1859. The attraction is its walnut branches, which give an archaic and poetic air to the whole building. It is certainly a favorite haunt of many passers-by. We cross it ourselves.

We'll pass by French soldier monument. It is a group of statues made of Carrara marble and is dedicated to the memory of the "French soldiers who fell on the field of honor of the Romanian soil during the Great War 1916-1918".

We return to the other side of the lake crossing Great Bridge. It was resurfaced in 2022, but I don't like the result. The original bridge was built in 1913-1914.

5. Big Lake, the fountain and the Ice Rink

Great Lake or Lake Cișmigiu The lake covers an area of 3 hectares, is 1.3 km long, 50 m wide and 1-2 m deep. In winter, the lake is dried up and an ice rink is set up in the southern part of the lake near the fountain. The lake has a boat pier. Lake Cișmigiu is a former meander of the Dâmbovița river. In the time of Matei Basarab it was known as Balta lui Dura neguțătorul. For several years the lake has been dried up for renovation works.

6. Perennials clock and lawn

The clock in Cișmigiu has 4 dials and is gold-plated and can be found at the entrance from Regina Elisabeta Boulevard. There are also several amphorae and flowerbeds, one of which is called the Perennial Plateaus Lawn.

7. Central Ground Floor

8. The Sturdza Monument, the "La șahiști" area and the Roman Rondul

These landmarks are on the western side of the park. We pass the monument dedicated to the aristocratic Sturdza family and cross the "La șahiști" area to enter the Roman Rondul.

The "Shushers" area is the place where for decades, not only backgammon enthusiasts, but also backgammon fans and microgammon players have gathered. In my childhood chess was played directly on the specially set up stone tables, today players come with their chess boards from home. This place is another symbol of Cișmigiu Park.

Roman Round or Writers' Rotunda is a monumental ensemble that was inaugurated in 1943. It is a sort of roundabout (circular alley) with a radius of 30 meters. In the middle is an ancient clay vessel. Around the circumference of the roundabout are 12 marble busts, on Muscel stone pedestals, representing Romanian personalities: Alecsandri, Bălcescu, Caragiale, Creangă, Coșbuc, Eminescu, Hașdeu, Ștefan Octavian Iosif, Maiorescu, Odobescu, Vlahuță and Duiliu Zamfirescu.

9. Sissi Spring, the bandstand, the bandstand, the stump and the waterfall

We cross the 2 alleys of the Central Ground Floor to reach the center of the park, perhaps the busiest place in Cișmigiu. Here we find the Sissi Spring and the gazebo.

Sissi Spring Stefanidi was erected in 1927. It is a stone carving that attracted me very much as a child, especially since the spring was active then. It was erected at the request of the Stefanidi family after the death of their daughter, Sissiat the age of 21.

Fireplace The brass band is a shady, relaxing place where you can listen to the unmistakable brass band music. Hundreds of pigeons nest here and enjoy being fed by people.

In the middle of the park is the "stump", where there is a path leading up to a prominent spot, where a waterfall once flowed, now destroyed.

We end our walk in the old Parc Cișmigiu.