27/03/2026
Cișmigiu Park Bucharest.
Cișmigiu Garden or Cișmigiu Park is the oldest public garden in Bucharest that exists today with an area of about 16 hectares, situated in the city centre of Bucharest on Regina Elisabeta Boulevard, 46 across from the City Hall of Bucharest.
The name Cișmigiu comes from the Turkish word – çeşme, which translates in the Romanian language as cișmea – which means – public fountain.
The original fountain was built in 1779 at the west side of the park. The head of works over the city’s fountains was then called then “cișmegiu” meaning in the Romanian language “fântânar” or in English – water fountain builder.
Later in 1847 the authorities decided to transform the surrounding area into a public garden. It was made after the design of the Viennese landscape architect Carl Wilhelm Meyer (former director of the Imperial Gardens in Vienna) and helped by the gardener Franz Harer.
The works were complete in 1854 when the Cișmigiu Garden was officially inaugurated.
The alleys lead the visitors through the trees, flowers, birds, famous statues, playgrounds, chess zone, kiosk where the military band plays on different occasions, and features five arched bridges that cross the water ways and features a restaurant with a nice terrace toward the lake named Monte Carlo Restaurant.
The lake has little boats for hire in the summer where one can have a relaxing journey and in the winter, has an ice rink where people of all ages can skate.
Monte Carlo restaurant
In the centre of Cișmigiu park stands proudly the Monte Carlo Restaurant built, on the water with a beautiful terrace towards the lake. This restaurant was built in1964 on the site of the original restaurant which was constructed in 1926 and was destroyed later by the earthquake of 1940.
The statue of Sissi Stefanidi Fountain
The statue of Sissi Stefanidi fountain, installed in 1927 in Cișmigiu Park in Bucharest, is a sculpture made by Ion Dimitriu-Bârlad.
The statue depicts a mother grieving the death of her daughter, pouring water from a jug. The monument, carved in stone was donated by the Stefanidi family to the city hall in the memory of their daughter, Sissi Stefanidi, who died at the age of 21.
The Monument of the French Heroes
The monument of the French Heroes was inaugurated on October 25, 1922 and created by the Romanian sculptor Ion Jalea , dedicated to the French soldiers who fell on the battlefield, on Romanian soil, during the Great War (1916-1919).
The statue made of Carrara marble depicts a female nurse, holding in his arms a young wounded soldier and kisses him on the forehead.
On the pedestal there is an inscription as a tribute dedicated to the French soldiers. It is written in French and in Romanian language, means in English: TO THE FRENCH SOLDIERS FALLEN ON THE FIELD OF HONOR ON ROMANIAN LAND DURING THE GREAT WAR 1916-1919.
Years later, in 1968, when General De Gaulle visited Romania, Ion Jalea would receive the French Legion of Honor at the rank of Officer.
La Cetate – At the fortress
Another nice feature in the park is La Cetate – At the Fortress, which is the ruined part of a former monastery built in 1756.
