The rustling leaves whisper secrets of the past. Welcome to Parcul Regele Mihai I Al Romaniei. This expansive park wasn’t always a haven of tranquility. Once marshland it was transformed between 1930 and 1935. Imagine the Herastrau Lake a vast expanse of mud and water. The park opened in 1936. It wasn’t always called King Michael I Park.
Initially planned as the National Park it was renamed Parcul Carol II. Then came the era of I V Stalin. A statue of the Soviet leader stood at its entrance. The statue’s removal in 1956 marked a change. The park became known as Parcul Herastrau. The name Herastrau refers to water-powered sawmills once located on the Colentina River. This river shaped the area.
Parcul Regele Mihai I Al Romaniei is more than just a park. It’s a historical site. Evidence of Paleolithic settlements has been found. Flint tools made by Neanderthals were unearthed. Imagine woolly rhinoceroses and mammoths roaming these very grounds. Iron Age settlements existed here too. The Bordei-Herastrau culture thrived in this area. Archaeologists have discovered treasures of silver fibulae and bracelets. Ancient Greek coins were found here too.
Prince Alexander Ypsilantis added an Ottoman-style pavilion to the lakeside. This was centuries ago. The park served as a military training ground during the Russian occupation. In the mid-1800s it became the promenade of choice for Bucharest’s elite. The transformation into a park involved the demolition of houses and a factory. Architects Ernest Pinard and Friedrich Rebhuhn designed the park. The landscaping was the work of Rebhuhn.
Today Parcul Regele Mihai I Al Romaniei boasts the Elisabeta Palace. The Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum showcases traditional Romanian life. The park has an open-air theatre a yacht club and a sports club. Beraria H the largest beer hall in southeastern Europe is here too. Its capacity is huge. The park’s Japanese Garden offers a different style. So does the monument to the founders of the EU.
Walk the 5.92 km path around the lake. Feel the history beneath your feet. The park’s story is one of transformation resilience and enduring beauty. King Michael I Park is a place where the echoes of the past blend with the joys of the present. A place for recreation and reflection. A place of beauty and history. A true jewel of Bucharest.