History Cișmigiu Gardens

1856, photo taken ludwig angerer

the park built in 1847, @ time when bucharest capital of wallachia, on site formerly known lacul lui dura neguțătorul (the lake of dura merchant ), or dura. pool replaced popular site fishing 17th century, , inhabited mallard colonies. part of present-day gardens occupied vineyard, planted around water source: latter had been tapped during bubonic plague epidemic of 1795, when 2 sons of prince alexander mourousis took refuge in largely uninhabited zone.

the decision replace lake taken in 1846, during period of imperial russian administration introduced regulamentul organic. based on earlier proposal made russian governor pavel kiselyov in 1830, , various small-scale works had first been undertaken in 1837. initiative, countersigned prince gheorghe bibescu, part of series of major public works, , plan dates 1844. on 27 february 1845, area passed public ownership through princely decree.

in 1843, bibescu had called on experts in horticulture , planning join in effort restructure city gardens; result, 2 citizens of german confederation, horticulturist wilhelm friedrich carl meyer , assistant, gardener franz hörer, arrived in bucharest, first work involved floral arrangements on each side of Șoseaua kiseleff. become involved in redesigning dura area: meyer responsible setting new lanes, planting new floral species, setting romantic landscape rocks leading down lake. central lake connected dâmbovița river through canal. gardens inaugurated on 23 september 1847, , meyer appointed administrator in 1848.

the word cișmigiu comes turkish: ceșme public fountain , cișmigiu (or cișmegiu) used person responsible building , maintaining public fountains. name replaced older references dura, , coined public because, @ time, administrator of bucharest fountains living on park grounds (in house located between central lake , sărindar quarter).

cișmigiu continued developed meyer long after official inauguration: in 1870, horticulturist laid out plan redesign lanes, introduce artesian aquifer, , create kiosk orchestra. proposed have gondolas carrying visitors on lake. 1851, new species of trees brought in: chestnuts gorj county, walnuts dâmboviţa county, , other plants places such vienna , brașov. @ same time, lanes reinforced debris ruins of curtea nouă , zlătari area. works completed despite meyer s sudden death result of typhoid fever (august 1852).

the park delimited after bucharest became capital of romanian kingdom: in 1871, academiei boulevard extended western side, and, in 1890, under mayor pache protopopescu, elisabeta boulevard created on southern side. during 1860s, bucharest visited socialist activist , philosopher ferdinand lassalle, argued cișmigiu exceeds far germany has offer .

in 1882, gardens fitted electrical lighting. 7 years later, gheorghe lazăr high school built on southwestern corner (it extended during 1930s). during late 19th , 20th century, cișmigiu became noted housing thierry restaurant, kept frenchman, , various amateur photographers made affordable portraits. building in front of park assigned city hall during communist regime.

meyer succeeded in office of garden administrator other germans: ulrich hoffman, wilhelm knechtel, , friedrich rebhuhn. rebhuhn who, after 1910, redesigned many parts of gardens present-day appearance.