One of those instantly recognisable buildings of Bucharest, a symbol of the city’s history and past atmosphere, the Astronomical Observatory is hosted in the specially built structure which was owned at first by Vasile Urseanu. An admiral and lover of the skies and seas, Urseanu was so much into the study of the planets, stars and astronomical phenomenons that he didn’t hesitate in building a special place just for this hobby.
The unusual building, erected strictly according to his ideas and project, was completed in 1910 and was from the very start a structure with a distinct identity, an unique shape and form, which would later prove to be perfect for the Astronomical Observatory of Bucharest. In the first decades since the opening, the building hosted the Art Collection of the city. The Museum / Astronomical Observatory would only be opened in 1956, after the war, when the building was restored and prepared for that.
The museum hosted here has most of the collection that once belonged to Vasile Urseanu : documents, letters, photographs, old books, maps, ancient astronomical devices, sketches and so on. Besides this vast collection, more than interesting for anyone who is into space studies, the Astronomical Observatory in Bucharest is perfect for a visit, as here you can find out more about outer space and it’s misteries.
