Inn-side a piece of Bucharest history

A tour of Bucharest’s Old Town wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Hanul lui Manuc (Manuc’s Inn), a landmark of the country’s tumultuous history that dates back to the 18th century, evocative of the local Brancoveanu style of architecture, with tall arches and terraces surrounding the interior garden.

Built in 1808, by the mid-19th century the inn had become the city’s most important commercial spot, with 15 storage sites, 23 stores, 107 rooms and a salon. The construction, which stands on a site of approximately 3,000 sqm, was started by Emanuel (Manuc) Marzaian, also known as Manuc Bei, a wealthy merchant and politician of the 1800s.

After his death in 1816, the inn was sold to Dimitrie D. Dedu and Nicolae Alexiu, then resold several times, and in 1862 its new owner, Lambru Vasilescu, changed its name to Hotel Dacia. The inn did not escape the communist nationalizations and in 1949 entered into the state’s administration. It was given back to Prince Serban-Constantin Cantacuzino in 2007, after a ten-year lawsuit, when the prince proved he was the great-grandson and successor of owner Cleopatra Baicoianu. Today the inn hosts, among other venues, a café, the Manuc Bistro and Lebanese restaurant Manuc Levantin. A winery is set to open this year as well.

The site has witnessed some of the most important moments in the country’s history. The Bucharest Peace Treaty was sealed here in May 1812, and talks preceding Romania’s entry into the First World War took place here. The pact by which Romania ceded Basarabia to Russia was also signed on the premises. The inn had no standard inventory of furniture as many of its guests lived here for periods of six months or longer and used to decorate their rooms to their liking, bringing their own furniture.

Overall, the site stands out with its cosmopolitan spirit, which reflects that of its founder, Armenian Manuc, who lived in Turkey, Russia and Romania. Its caravanserai style is reminiscent of an oriental-architecture fortress, offering a safe place for merchants coming with their goods in caravans and looking for a safe space to rest.