As part of the Long Night of Museums, the 'Carol I' Central University Library will open its doors to the public on Saturday from 19:00 to midnight, offering Romanian- and English-language guided tours and a journey into the history of Romania's great boyar families, the institution announced.
'In a single evening, the public will have the opportunity to traverse entire centuries of history, to step into spaces filled with cultural memory and to discover stories about royalty, libraries saved from ruin, rare manuscripts and the great boyar families that have influenced the destiny of the Romanian people. Founded at the initiative of King Carol I, the Central University Library was conceived as early as 1891 as 'an institution for the benefit of university youth', a place dedicated to study and intellectual formation. Today, the institution brings together more than 2,400,000 volumes and continues to be one of the most important university libraries in Romania,' the statement issued on Friday said.
Photo credit: Central University Library
Designed by French architect Paul Gottereau, also responsible for the landmark Royal Palace and the CEC Palace, the building is considered one of Europe's most beautiful university libraries.
The highlights of the Long Night of Museums programme include:
- the Aula, which has hosted since 1914 conferences and academic events attended by figures such as Nicolae Iorga, Mircea Eliade, Tudor Vianu, Nae Ionescu and Constantin Noica. Although it was the only space to survive the 1989 fire, it later underwent extensive restoration faithful to the original design;
- the Professors' Hall, which preserves the memory of the December 1989 blaze that destroyed more than 500,000 volumes, including rare books, manuscripts and documents. Normally accessible only to doctoral students and researchers, the hall will be open to visitors for this occasion;
- the Carol I Salon, one of the library's most elegant rooms, featuring a painting by Ion Draghici and early-20th-century architectural details;
- the Time Capsule, displaying original objects dating back to the library's 1895 inauguration: the director's furniture, alphabetical catalogues, historical registers, a typewriter, documents and other surprises.
The exhibition 'Great Romanian Boyar Families' brings together rare heraldic representations inspired by genealogist Ioan I. Carlova's manuscript and drawings by graphic artist Aurel Jiquidi. It highlights surprising genealogical links, alliances between major families and personalities who shaped Romanian society over centuries.
Visitors will encounter the stories of families such as Cantemir, Brancoveanu, Bratianu, Bibescu, Caragea, Callimachi, Cuza, Carp and Balaceanu.
'For the 'Carol I' Central University Library, the Long Night of Museums is an invitation to rediscover Romania's cultural memory. Visitors will be able to see the architectural beauty of a landmark Bucharest institution and hear the stories of people who shaped Romanian society across time. The exhibition dedicated to the great boyar families brings forward documents and heraldic works of exceptional value - pieces that could easily belong in a major auction house or European museum. Beyond their historical and artistic dimension, these materials also have a personal resonance: many visitors may discover unexpected connections with their own families. It is perhaps the most beautiful way to turn history into a living experience,' said Associate Professor, PhD Mireille Radoi, the library's General Director. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)
