The park's name, 'Cișmigiu,' comes from the Turkish word 'çeşmeci,' meaning fountain master, referring to the official who maintained the city's water supply.
During the winter, the central lake is frozen over and transformed into a public ice skating rink.
The park features over 30,000 trees and shrubs, some of which were brought from the Vienna Botanical Garden during the 19th century.
The 'Rondul Roman' contains 12 marble busts representing prominent Romanian cultural figures, including Mihai Eminescu and Ion Luca Caragiale.
The park contains a specialized area known as the 'Monte Carlo' terrace, which historically served as a central social hub for Bucharest's elite.
Cismigiu Gardens, or Parcul Cișmigiu, is the oldest public park in Bucharest, designed by German landscape architect Carl Meyer and opened in 1860. The park occupies 16 hectares of land on the site of a former stagnant lake, which was drained to create the current landscape. Its centerpiece is a large central lake that offers rowboat and pedal boat rentals during the warmer months. The garden features a prominent Rose Garden, an English-style landscape design, and several distinct areas including the 'Rondul Roman' (Roman Round), which displays busts of famous Romanian writers. Numerous historical monuments, such as the French Heroes Memorial, are scattered throughout the winding pathways. The park serves as a green buffer in the middle of the capital's busy downtown area. It maintains a network of secondary paths that connect its various garden sections and seating areas.
The wooden bridge crossing the center of the lake provides the most iconic view of the park's landscape.
Enter from the main Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta entrance to immediately access the most formal garden sections.
Look for the hidden, smaller alleyways branching off the main path to find quieter seating spots away from the central lake crowds.
If visiting with children, head to the northwest section where you will find dedicated playground facilities.
Avoid the boat rental queues on weekend afternoons; stick to the peripheral paths for a more peaceful experience.
Maintain noise levels near the memorial zones; keep dogs on a leash.
