The Botanical Garden Dimitrie Brândză (Grădina Botanică Dimitrie Brândză), named after its founder, is located in the Cotroceni neighborhood of Bucharest.
History Of The Botanical Garden
The botanical garden was established in 1860 by Carol Davila and was initially located near the University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Its initial purpose was for learning purposes for students and to provide medicinal plants for pharmacies. In 1874 it was moved to the garden of Suţu Palace, and in 1884, the botanist Dimitrie Brândză moved the garden to its current location opposite Cotroceni Palace with the help of the Belgian landscape architect Louis Fuchs. After the greenhouses were finished in 1891, the new botanical garden was opened.
The current layout of the park is mostly due to the rearrangement planned by the architect Octav Doicescu in the early 1930s. Over time, the Botanical Garden was also damaged several times. First during a flood in 1892, and later during both world wars. During World War II the garden was occupied by the German troops which made it a targed during the allied bombing of Bucharest.
In 1994, the garden was renamed Botanical Garden Dimitrie Brândză in honor of its founder.
Visiting The Botanical Garden
The park has a total surface of 18.2 hectares and is divided into 12 sectors. There are also two greenhouses and the Botanical Museum, located in a Brâncovenesc building. Both the greenhouses and the museum have shorter opening hours than the garden, which is something to pay attention to if you are keen on visiting these.
In total, the Botanical Garden has over 5,000 species of plants of which 1,000 are exotic. There is also a lake and there are several benches to relax and take in the views while enjoying the calm environment. There is also a cafe, a gift shop and there are public toilets in the park.
