Carol I Central University Library
About Carol I Central University Library
The Carol I Central University Library occupies the building of the former Carol I University Foundation, on Revolution Square, opposite the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum of Art of Romania. In 1891 King Carol I voiced his wish to found "an institution for the good of university youth", and the project was entrusted to the French architect Paul Gottereau, who also designed the old Royal Palace and the CEC Palace. Building ran from 1891 to 1893, and the foundation was inaugurated on 14 March 1895.
The building, in the Beaux-Arts style, gained a second wing between 1911 and 1914, again to Gottereau's plans. The façade has a portico of tall columns beneath a pediment with a clock and the inscription "Fundațiunea Universitară Carol I", and above it rise the mansard roof and the domes. In front of it stands the equestrian statue of King Carol I by Florin Codre, which replaced the work of Ivan Meštrović, destroyed under the communist regime.
In December 1989, during the Revolution, the building went up in flames: more than 500,000 volumes and almost 3,700 manuscripts burned, among them manuscripts of Eminescu, Maiorescu, Caragiale and Blaga. Reconstruction began in April 1990 under the auspices of UNESCO, with donations of books from Romania and abroad, and the library reopened in November 2001.
What you can see
The exterior is the easiest part to see, from Revolution Square: the portico, the pediment with its clock, the domes and the equestrian statue. Inside, the showpiece spaces are the Aula, the only room to escape the 1989 fire, restored after its original model, and the Carol I Salon, with a painting by Ion Drăghici and architectural details from the early 20th century. The reading rooms are working spaces for readers, not rooms to tour.
Good to know
The library is not a museum and has no free public entry. Tourists enter on a guided tour, booked in advance (tururi@bcub.ro, +40 21 312 11 18), Monday to Friday, between 10:00 and 15:00. Anyone who wants to read in the reading rooms needs an access permit, issued at the Permit Office in the building on Strada C.A. Rosetti no. 2–6.
Information verified on 25 October 2026.
- The Beaux-Arts façade on Revolution Square, with its columned portico, clock pediment and domes.
- The Aula, the only room that survived the 1989 fire, restored after its original model.
- The equestrian statue of King Carol I in front of the building, by Florin Codre.
- The Carol I Salon, with a painting by Ion Drăghici and architectural details from the early 20th century.
- The neighbours: the National Museum of Art in the former Royal Palace across the road, and the Romanian Athenaeum nearby.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the building is in central Bucharest, on Revolution Square, close to the Romanian Athenaeum. Traffic in the area is heavy and parking spaces are few.
Public transport: the simplest option is the metro; Universitate (M2) and Piața Romană (M2) stations are a ~10–15-minute walk. STB surface lines also run in the area.
- Where to park
The library has no visitor car park. Around it you park on the streets, paid, in the central zone, and the spaces fill up quickly. The metro is more convenient.
- Fees & discounts
The guided tour costs 50 lei per person, plus a photography fee of 25 lei per group. Free entry applies, among others, to University of Bucharest students, students and pupils on social scholarships, Olympiad pupils, people with disabilities, pupils taking part in the Școala Altfel programme and participants in cultural events such as the Night of the Museums. Payment is by cash or card at the Permit Office, or by bank transfer. The access permit for readers costs from 5 lei per day (without a photo) to 10–30 lei per month or per six months, depending on the category.
- Rules
Visits are guided only, on the basis of a booking. Photography during the tour is charged separately, as a group fee. Only readers with a permit enter the reading rooms, and the library's rules apply (quiet, no food or drink).
- Facilities
permit office · reading rooms · online catalogue · digital library
Frequently asked questions about Carol I Central University Library
- How much is a ticket to Carol I Central University Library?
- A ticket to Carol I Central University Library costs 50 lei (guided tour, with exemptions). The guided tour costs 50 lei per person, plus a photography fee of 25 lei per group. Free entry applies, among others, to University of Bucharest students, students and pupils on social scholarships, Olympiad pupils, people with disabilities, pupils taking part in the Școala Altfel programme and participants in cultural events such as the Night of the Museums. Payment is by cash or card at the Permit Office, or by bank transfer. The access permit for readers costs from 5 lei per day (without a photo) to 10–30 lei per month or per six months, depending on the category.
- How long does a visit to Carol I Central University Library take?
- A visit to Carol I Central University Library takes about ½ – 1 hours (guided tour, by appointment).
- Can you visit Carol I Central University Library with kids?
- Yes, Carol I Central University Library is suitable for children (tours for pupils, grade 6 and up).
- Where can I park at Carol I Central University Library?
- There is paid parking at Carol I Central University Library (on the street, in the centre). The library has no visitor car park. Around it you park on the streets, paid, in the central zone, and the spaces fill up quickly. The metro is more convenient.
- How do I get to Carol I Central University Library?
- Carol I Central University Library is located at Strada Boteanu 1, sector 1, București. By car: the building is in central Bucharest, on Revolution Square, close to the Romanian Athenaeum. Traffic in the area is heavy and parking spaces are few. Public transport: the simplest option is the metro; Universitate (M2) and Piața Romană (M2) stations are a ~10–15-minute walk. STB surface lines also run in the area.
- When is the best time to visit Carol I Central University Library?
- The best season for Carol I Central University Library: All year round (all year, Monday–Friday).
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