Mauriciu Blank Chapel

Why did Mauriciu Blank, a prominent banker, choose such a secluded spot for his final resting place? The Mauriciu Blank Chapel stands as a silent testament to a life intertwined with Bucharest’s financial history. Tucked away in the serene Băneasa Forest, this unassuming chapel holds the echoes of a remarkable man. Mauriciu Blank, born in 1848, rose from humble beginnings to become a co-founder of the renowned Marmorosch Blank Bank. He started his career in Bucharest’s bustling streets, working as a money changer and lender. His partnership with Jacob Marmorosch led to the establishment of their bank in 1874. The Mauriciu Blank Chapel, designed by the esteemed architect Duiliu Marcu, reflects a simple elegance. Built in 1927, it features twelve sturdy buttresses supporting a stone spherical dome. The interior walls, crafted from calcareous sandstone quarried from Baschioi, exude a quiet grandeur. Marble slabs form the floor, while the exterior showcases bare brick. Originally intended to house five ground-level tombs and five stone sarcophagi above, the chapel now holds only three central sarcophagi. The chapel bears the scars of time and turmoil. The inscription above the oak door has faded. Traces of bullets from the Romanian Revolution mark the brickwork. While the family’s remains were moved to the Jewish Cemetery in the 1960s, the Mauriciu Blank Chapel remains. It serves as a poignant reminder of the banker’s legacy and the passage of time. The chapel’s secluded location adds to its mystique, inviting contemplation on the life of Mauriciu Blank and his impact on Bucharest’s financial landscape.