“Hunchiar” means governor in Turkish. The Moscheea Carol Hunchiar stands as Bucharest’s oldest mosque. Its story intertwines with Romania’s history. The Moscheea Carol Hunchiar is located on Constantin Mănescu Street. It is near Piața Eroii Revoluției.
In 1906, Romania celebrated Carol’s 40th year as prince. It also marked 25 years since he became king. A grand exhibition was planned to honor this. Filaret Hill was chosen for this event. It is now known as Carol Park. The exhibition included symbolic monuments. These monuments were the Roman Arenas and the Palace of Arts. There was also a water tower called “Cetatea lui Țepeș Vodă”. King Carol ordered a mosque to be built. It was meant to show Dobrogea’s place in Romania. Dobrogea was once Ottoman territory. The mosque also symbolized tolerance. It showed respect for Turks and Tatars. They had fought against the Ottoman regime. Until then, Bucharest had no mosque. The French architect Édouard Redont designed the entire ensemble.
The Moscheea Carol Hunchiar was in the park’s center on an island. “Carol-Hunchiar” means “Carol Governor” in Turkish. It served as a place for Islamic worship. This lasted until 1959. Then the communist regime decided to demolish it. They wanted to build the Monument to the Heroes. This monument honored those who fought for freedom and socialism. It later became a mausoleum for communist figures. Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej was among them.
But in 1960, the regime changed its mind. They decided to rebuild the Moscheea Carol Hunchiar. This time it would be outside the park. Romania wanted stronger ties with Muslim states. These states were in Africa and the Middle East. The capital needed a mosque for this purpose.
Pieptănari Square was chosen for the new location. It is near the current Piața Eroii Revoluției. This is a few streets south of Carol Park. Until the late 1990s, Moscheea Carol Hunchiar was Bucharest’s only mosque. Later, other places of worship appeared. They were started by Islamic groups.
The Moscheea Carol Hunchiar has a common style. It resembles small Turkish mosques. It features a modest prayer hall. The minaret is about 26 meters tall. It has all the typical elements of a mosque. There is a mihrab. It indicates the direction of Mecca. A minbar is present for Friday sermons. There are also fountains for ritual washing. After 1993, a wooden hall was built. It provided more space for worshipers. This hall stands next to the old stone mosque.
Today the Moscheea Carol Hunchiar stands as a testament. It shows Bucharest’s diverse history and culture. It is a place where faiths intertwine. The Moscheea Carol Hunchiar welcomes all.