Lipscani

Lipscani is a street and a district of Bucharest, Romania, which from middle age to early 19th century was the most important commercial area of the city and the whole Wallachia. It is located near the ruins of the old Princely Court built by Vlad III the Impaler.^[2][3]

History

It was named after Leipzig (Lipsca in 17th century Romanian), as that was the origin of many of the wares that could be found on the main street. The word lipscan (singular of lipscani) meant trader who brought his wares from Western Europe.

All trades were found in the area, including goldsmiths, hatters, shoemakers, tanners, saddlemakers, etc., many guilds (or isnafuri) having their own street: even nowadays, the nearby streets bear the name of a trade (Blănari = Furriers street, Șelari = Saddlemakers street, etc.).

During the Communist period, the whole area was scheduled to be demolished, but this never came to fruition. The district became neglected, but nowadays is the most attractive area for tourists of all Bucharest. As of 2013, many of the buildings were restored. In the early 21st century, much of the district has been transformed into a pedestrian zone.

Known mainly for its restaurants and bars, including the Caru' cu Bere, a few reputable shops, such as H&M, Adidas and Yves Rocher, have begun to appear in the area, slowly turning Lipscani into a commercial shopping district as well.^[4]

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  Carul cu Bere and Stavropoleos Church in the distance

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  Monument to Vlad the Impaler inside the Old Court

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  Manuc's Inn

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  National Bank of Romania (old building)

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  Macca-Villacrosse Passage

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  Covaci Street

References

Geography of Bucharest, Romania Sectors of Bucharest Sector 1 Sector 2 Sector 3 Sector 4 Sector 5 Sector 6 Districts (quarters): 13 Septembrie Aviației Băneasa Berceni Bucureștii Noi Centrul Civic Colentina Cotroceni Crângași Dămăroaia Dealul Spirii Dorobanți Dristor Drumul Taberei Dudești Ferentari Floreasca Fundeni Ghencea Giulești Giurgiului Grivița Iancului Lipscani Militari Moșilor Obor Odăi Olteniței Pantelimon Pipera Primăverii Progresul Rahova Regie Tei Tineretului Titan Vitan Văcărești Squares: Charles de Gaulle Constituției Revoluției Romană Rosetti Unirii University Square Victory Square Quito Square Major streets: Șoseaua Kiseleff Lipscani Magheru Boulevard Calea Moșilor Bulevardul Unirii Calea Victoriei Hills: Cotroceni Dealul Mitropoliei Dealul Spirii Rivers: Colentina Dâmbovița Lakes: Lake Băneasa Lake Cișmigiu Lake Dâmbovița Lake Fundeni Lake Floreasca Lake Grivița Lake Herăstrău Lacul Morii Lake Pantelimon Lake Plumbuita Lake Străulești Lake Tei Lake Tineretului Lake Titan Lake Văcărești Parks and forests: Băneasa Forest (Codrii Vlăsiei) Bordei Park Botanical Garden Carol Park Cișmigiu Gardens Giulești Park Herăstrău Park Grădina Icoanei Tineretului Park Vitan Park See also: Kilometre Zero (Bucharest) Bucharest metropolitan area

Coordinates: 44°25′54.59″N 26°6′5.93″E / 44.4318306°N 26.1016472°E / 44.4318306; 26.1016472

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