Why does the CEC Palace stand so proudly on Calea Victoriei? This isn’t just another beautiful building in Bucharest. The CEC Palace embodies Romania’s ambition and modernization. It now houses the headquarters of CEC Bank.
Before this grand palace, a monastery stood here. Saint John the Great Monastery served Bucharest for centuries. Constantin Brâncoveanu renovated it in the 1700s. By the late 1800s, it had fallen into disrepair and was demolished. In 1897, they laid the first stone for something new. King Carol I and Queen Elizabeth were there.
Romania needed a headquarters for its oldest bank. The Casa de Depuneri, Consemnațiuni și Economie became CEC Bank. The bank bought the land. They used their own money to build the palace. Work began in June 1897 and finished in 1900.
Paul Gottereau designed the CEC Palace. He studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Ion Socolescu supervised the construction.
Look at the CEC Palace. It is an eclectic style building topped with a glass and metal dome. Notice the entrance arch. Two pairs of composite columns support it. The four corners boast gables and coats of arms. Renaissance domes cap them off.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries were a time of change. Bucharest wanted to be like Paris. The plans for the CEC Palace reflect this influence. Gottereau followed the Beaux-Arts style.
See the white marble columns at the entrance. This marble came from Dobrogea. Above, find the ancient clock. Flanking it are statues. Mercury the god of commerce stands to the left. Demeter the goddess of fertility is on the right. The central dome lets sunlight flood the interior.
Inside the CEC Palace, admire the mural of Fortuna. She is the Roman goddess of fortune. She offers gifts in the mural. Portraits of Romanian royalty once graced these walls. Communists covered them with paint. Artists recreated them after the 1989 revolution.
The Council Chamber is special. Communists left this room untouched. Imagine bank meetings in such a luxurious setting. The walls have hand-carved wood. Green silk panels with floral motifs decorate the upper part.
The CEC Palace has survived many challenges. It functioned during communism. It suffered only minor damage in earthquakes and WWII bombardments. This impressive building stands strong. The CEC Palace stands as a testament to Bucharest’s resilience.
So, take a moment to appreciate the CEC Palace. It is more than just a bank. It is a symbol of Romania’s history.