Perhaps you’ve walked by without realizing the history beneath your feet. Welcome to the vaulted cellars of Manuc’s Inn. This isn’t just another stop. It’s a journey into Bucharest’s vibrant past.
Manuc’s Inn stands as the oldest operating hotel building in Bucharest. It began its life in 1808 as a khan. Emanuel Mârzăian. He was a flamboyant Armenian entrepreneur known as Manuc Bei. He built it. By the mid-19th century, Manuc’s Inn was Bucharest’s most important commercial hub. It housed wholesalers, retail stores, offices and a popular pub.
Imagine the bustling courtyard. It hosted fairs and performances. Romanian Television crews even filmed folkloric shows here. The hotel and restaurant got a facelift in 2007. But its soul remains untouched.
Located at 62-64 Strada Franceză, Manuc’s Inn is across from the Old Court ruins. The street has seen many names. Iuliu Maniu. 30 Decembrie. Carol. Today, one side faces Piața Unirii. But the courtyard retains its old-world charm.
Manuc’s Inn has survived many restorations. 1848. 1863. 1966-1970. 1991-1992. And again in 2007. It is the only 19th-century inn in the Lipscani district still operating as a hotel.
This inn was the site of preliminary talks for the Treaty of Bucharest. This treaty ended the Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812. In 1842, it briefly served as Bucharest’s town hall. Around 1880, a hall here became a theatre. It hosted the first Romanian operetta performance.
Before World War I, the “Sala Dacia” hosted meetings. The Romanian pro-war party met here. They sought a Greater Romania by uniting with Transylvania and Bukovina. Nicolae Filipescu spoke here. So did Take Ionescu. And Barbu Ștefănescu Delavrancea. Octavian Goga also graced this hall.
The building was nationalized in 1949. Ownership returned to Prince Șerban-Constantin Cantacuzino in 2007.
Manuc’s Inn stands as a witness to centuries of Romanian history. Its construction began in 1806. It finished two years later. Manuc Mârzăian, or Manuc Bei, was an Armenian merchant and diplomat. He had served the Ottoman Empire. In 1808, he became a bei of Moldova.
The inn occupies part of the old Princely Court. Manuc bought the plot at auction. It was in the commercial center. Streets were named after merchants. Lipscani. Gabroveni. Covaci. Șelari.
Manuc was involved in negotiations between Russia and Turkey. Discussions about peace happened here. The Peace of Bucharest was signed here in May 1812. The Ottoman Empire ceded territories to Russia. Eastern Moldova. Bessarabia.
After Manuc’s death in 1818, the inn changed hands. Vasilescu Lambru bought it. He renamed it “The Grand Dacia Hotel” in 1874.
The inn expanded over the years. By the late 19th century it had 107 rooms. The ground level held 20 rooms and 23 stores. The basement had 15 cellars.
In the early 20th century, the inn was a meeting place for elites. They planned Romania’s entrance into World War I. They dreamed of union with Transylvania and Bucovina.
The inn combines Brâncovenesc style with modern touches. It once had a stone pier on the Dâmbovița River.
Look closely at the 166 iron pillars wrapped in oak. Renovations removed over 24 layers of paint. This revealed the wood’s original beauty.
From the outside, it looks like one level. But inside the yard reveals two levels. The builders gained an extra level by using the slanting plot.
The Princely Hall has unique windows. Twenty windows. Each with four smaller windows. Each of those with 42 colored panes. A total of 3,360 glass pieces.
Some original elements remain. Wooden tiles from the 19th century. Original wood in the verandah, pillars, and stairs. Lamps modeled after the originals. A wheeled well on the terrace.
Today, Manuc’s Inn houses a restaurant. Coffee shops. Stores. It is a Bucharest landmark. Its cellars whisper tales of diplomacy, commerce, and revolution. Take a moment. Listen closely. You might just hear them.