Hotel Capitol is a 4-star hotel in a historic building on Flag Square, on the corner of Victory Boulevard in the center of Bucharest.
History Of Hotel Capitol
The history of the building in which the hotel is located goes back to the late 17th century when the land belonged to the wealthy Cocorascu family, who contributed to the construction of the Sărindar Monastery in the area. In 1890, the family sold the land surrounding the monastery to the successful cereal trader Ch. I. Zerlendi. The merchant constructed a building on Sărindar Square (now Flag Square), to which he later added more floors with the help of architect Henri de Wurmb.
Initially, the building housed the Anker Insurance Company from Vienna, but after a restoration between 1900 and 1905 the ground floor became Magasin de Luvru (named after The Louvre), which sold merchandise from Paris, and the building was named Casa Luvru. On the upper floors were several offices, including those of the Sports Club and the Romanian Writers’ Association.
In 1911, a fire started in the Magasin de Luvru which burns down the entire building. With the help of the architect Arghir Culina, the building is completely rebuilt in the eclectic style it still has today with the dome on the corner of Calea Victoriei.
During the First World War, the building was occupied by the German troops. From 1920, the building hosts the Banque Belge pour l’Etranger, a Belgian bank which expanded its business to Romania. In 1929, the Belgian retreated from Romania and gave up its Bucharest branch to Banca Comercială Română (BCR).
In 1935, Café Royal opens on the ground floor of the building and becomes a popular hotspot for the elite of the city, including famous writers and artists. In 1945, Café Royal closes down after the building and many surrounding buildings were damaged by the World War II bombings of Bucharest.
During the Communist times, the property was nationalized and from 1950 until 1976 the building was used for the National Union of Consumer Co-operation (CENTROCOOP). After that, an extensive renovation took place to transform the building into the Capitol Hotel. Further restorations and refurbishments took place in 2001 and 2014.
Hotel Capitol Today
Hotel Capitol is a modern 4-star hotel in one of the most central locations in Bucharest, at a walking distance to most major attractions. The hotel has 80 rooms, a cafe, and a restaurant, as well as meeting rooms, free wifi, and onsite parking.
