CEC Palace
CEC Palace features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Bucharest. Give it roughly ~20 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type palace
- Suggested visit ~20 min
- Bucharest Bucharest guide
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About CEC Palace
The lavish 1900 headquarters of Romania's oldest savings bank on Calea Victoriei, crowned by a great glass-and-steel dome, a landmark of the Belle-Époque city that called itself the Paris of the East.
The CEC Palace, Palatul CEC, on Calea Victoriei, is the grand headquarters of CEC Bank, Romania's oldest bank. Built between 1897 and 1900 to designs by the French architect Paul Gottereau, it is an eclectic, French-influenced building whose central banking hall is roofed by a great dome of glass and steel, with four corner cupolas and an arched entrance crowned by a clock and reclining stone figures.
It was raised on the site of a demolished monastery as the seat of the savings institution founded in 1864, and the bank has worked here, little altered, ever since. With its sculpted stone and glittering dome it is one of the finest monuments of the Belle-Époque boom that gave Calea Victoriei the nickname of a Champs-Élysées and Bucharest the name 'Paris of the East'.
Did you know? The CEC Palace was built between 1897 and 1900 by the French architect Paul Gottereau as the headquarters of CEC Bank, Romania's oldest bank, founded in 1864.
How long is a visit to CEC Palace?
Set aside roughly ~20 min for CEC Palace. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is CEC Palace worth your time?
CEC Palace is among the 13 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Bucharest, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Bucharest
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about CEC Palace and read more:
Day 1 of the Bucharest in 2 days itinerary →
Updated:
Hear the story of CEC Palace
Preview the Bucharest tour free in the Gingerguide app.