Documented
The bank’s founding, the building dates, the architects and the journey of the gold to Moscow are all on record.
09Places of BUCARESDAVA
The National Bank of Romania
The bank’s palace, completed in 1890 on the site of the old Șerban Vodă Inn, in the merchant quarter around Lipscani Street.
- Shown
- 1890
- Period
- Built 1884–1890
- Status
- Standing, BNR Museum
- Location
- Strada Lipscani 25
01The history
A bank on the site of an inn.
The National Bank of Romania was founded on 29 April 1880. In 1881 it bought the site of the Șerban Vodă Inn, in the old commercial quarter between Lipscani, Calea Victoriei, Smârdan and Doamnei streets, and in February 1882 the design went to two French architects, Albert Galleron and Cassien Bernard, who had worked with Charles Garnier on the Paris Opera.
The foundation stone was laid on 12 July 1884 and the palace was finished in June 1890, with the engineer Nicolae Cerchez directing the works. The style is eclectic, with neoclassical elements. Statues of agriculture, industry, commerce and justice stand on the façade, and inside, the two-storey Marble Hall carries the bank’s old monogram.
In December 1916, with Bucharest occupied, the bank was working from Iași. From there about 93.4 tonnes of its gold went by train to Moscow for safekeeping, followed by a second shipment in 1917. The gold has never been returned.
- 1880
The National Bank of Romania is founded.
- 1884
The foundation stone is laid on 12 July.
- 1890
The palace is finished in June.
- 1916
The bank’s gold leaves Iași for Moscow.
- 1944
The New Palace is completed next door.
- 1997
The BNR Museum opens in the old palace.
02Three ways to read it
What is known, what is told, what is imagined.
Legend
A story repeated in the press, without evidence, says that half the gold coins minted in 1880 lie buried somewhere under the old palace.
BUCARESDAVA
Finished in 1890, between Chapter VI, 1888, and Chapter VII, 1907, the palace stands where the Șerban Vodă Inn stood: one layer of the city built straight over another.
03Today
What remains today.
The Old Palace at Strada Lipscani 25 still belongs to the National Bank and houses the BNR Museum, with coins from more than 2,500 years, gold ingots and the former governor’s office. Visits are by free guided tour, booked in advance, and the bank holds open days each year.