Botanical Garden of Bucharest
Encyclopedia
The Bucharest Botanical Garden , now named after its founder, Dimitrie Brândză
, is located in the Cotroceni
neighbourhood of Bucharest
, Romania
. It has a surface of 17.5 hectare
s (including 4,000 m² of greenhouse
s), and has more than 10,000 species of plants.
The first botanical garden
in Bucharest was founded in 1860 near the Medicine Faculty
by Carol Davila
. Its first director was the botanist Ulrich Hoffmann, followed six years later by Dimitrie Grecescu. The garden was eventually moved to its current location in 1884 by Dimitrie Brândză, a Romanian botanist
, and Fuchs, a Belgian
landscape architect
. The gardens were opened in 1891, when the building of the greenhouses finished. The garden was damaged during World War I
, when it was used by the German
occupation troops, and during World War II
when it was hit by Anglo-American bombardments
.
In the Garden there is a Botanical Museum in a building of the Brâncovenesc style
, located near the entrance gate, where more than 5,000 plant species are displayed, including 1,000 exotic plants.
Dimitrie Brândza
Dimitrie Brândză was a Romanian botanist. He founded the Botanical Garden of Bucharest which is now named in his honor.He was a professor at the University of Iaşi and the University of Bucharest, as well as a member of the Romanian Academy....
, is located in the Cotroceni
Cotroceni
Cotroceni is a neighbourhood in western Bucharest, Romania located around the Cotroceni hill, in Bucharest's Sector 6.The Hill of Cotroceni was once covered by the forest of Vlăsia, which covered most of today's Bucharest...
neighbourhood of Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. It has a surface of 17.5 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s (including 4,000 m² of greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
s), and has more than 10,000 species of plants.
The first botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
in Bucharest was founded in 1860 near the Medicine Faculty
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy is a state-run health sciences University in Bucharest, Romania. It is the largest institution of its kind in Romania with over 2.865 employees, 1.654 teachers and over 4.800 students...
by Carol Davila
Carol Davila
Carol Davila was a prestigious Romanian physician of Italian ancestry.-Biography:He started from humble beginnings, most probably as an abandoned child, and the surname Davila was bestowed on him by his adoptive family and guirdian...
. Its first director was the botanist Ulrich Hoffmann, followed six years later by Dimitrie Grecescu. The garden was eventually moved to its current location in 1884 by Dimitrie Brândză, a Romanian botanist
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, and Fuchs, a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
landscape architect
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
. The gardens were opened in 1891, when the building of the greenhouses finished. The garden was damaged during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when it was used by the German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
occupation troops, and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when it was hit by Anglo-American bombardments
Bombing of Bucharest in World War II
The Bucharest World War II bombings were primarily Allied bombings of railroad targets and those of the Oil Campaign of World War II, but included a bombing by Nazi Germany after the royal coup. Bucharest stored and distributed much of Ploiești's refined oil products....
.
In the Garden there is a Botanical Museum in a building of the Brâncovenesc style
Brâncovenesc style
Is a type of architecture developed in Wallachia during the reign of Constantin Brâncoveanu in the 17th and 18th century.Examples of buildings with this style:*Horezu Monastery*Văcăreşti Monastery**Brâncoveanu Monastery*Surpatele Monastery...
, located near the entrance gate, where more than 5,000 plant species are displayed, including 1,000 exotic plants.