The Palace of the National Military Circle (Palatul Cercului Militar Național) is a building of the Romanian army with a cultural role and is located on Flag Square (Piața Drapelului) in the center of Bucharest. The palace was built in 1911 in the French neoclassical style for the Officers’ Circle of the Bucharest military garrison, which was founded in 1876.
The location was the site of the former Sărindar Monastery, which is commemorated by the fountain on the square in front of the building. The monastery had to be demolished because of earthquake damage and the swampy ground underneath. The Palace of the National Military Circle was designed in the French neoclassical style by the architect Dimitrie Maimarolu and the interior decorations were designed by Ernest Doneaud.
In 1916, the German occupation of World War I caused severe damage to the building’s interior, but it was finally inaugurated after the war, in 1923, in the presence of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie. Later, under the communist regime, the name of the building was changed to Central House of the Army, but after the 1989 Revolution it was again renamed to the National Military Circle.
The palace of the National Military Circle is now an architectural monument and is used for art exhibitions, cultural events and protocol purposes. It consists of several monumental halls, including the most impressive Marble Hall, the Moorish Hall, the Gothic Hall, and the Norwegian Hall. There is also a restaurant with a terrace that is open to the public all year round.
