St Joseph's Cathedral
About St Joseph's Cathedral
The cathedral was built between 1875 and 1883 on the initiative of Bishop Ignazio Paoli, who raised the money for it across Europe; it was solemnly inaugurated on 15 February 1884. The plans are by the Viennese architect Friedrich von Schmidt, and the style is Romanesque with Gothic touches: a basilica with a nave and two aisles, 40 metres long and 22 metres high. Today it is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest.
The building has come through the earthquake of 1977, which damaged the Gothic crowning of the altar, and the bombing of 1944, which destroyed the original stained glass; the present windows date from the 1980s. Pope John Paul II, in 1999, and Pope Francis, in 2019, both celebrated here, and a plaque on the façade recalls each visit.
What you can see
Outside you see the red-brick façade, with a large stone rose window above the portal, where a mosaic shows the Virgin with the Child. Inside, the high altar is carved in Carrara marble to Schmidt's design and was paid for by the Roman princely Torlonia family; at its centre is the pelican feeding its young, a symbol of Christ's sacrifice. The walls and vaults carry decorative painting and frescoes, and the stained glass in the nave, made in the 1980s by the artists Natali and Ion Brodeală, is among the most colourful in the city.
It is worth raising your eyes to the Wegenstein organ, built in Timișoara, with three manuals and 3,375 pipes. The bell tower, put up in 1925 together with the archbishop's palace, holds six bells.
Good to know
Next to the cathedral stands Cathedral Plaza, an office building whose building permit was definitively annulled by the courts in 2011.
Information verified on 25 October 2026.
- The large stone rose window on the red-brick façade and the mosaic above the portal.
- The high altar in Carrara marble, with the pelican at its centre, designed by Friedrich von Schmidt.
- The colourful stained glass in the nave, made in the 1980s by Natali and Ion Brodeală.
- The plaques on the façade recalling the visits of Pope John Paul II (1999) and Pope Francis (2019).
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the cathedral is in the central area of Bucharest, on Strada General Berthelot, close to Calea Victoriei and a few hundred metres from Cișmigiu Gardens. The centre is busy and parking is scarce, so it is easier to come by metro or on foot.
Public transport: the nearest metro station is Piața Romană (M2), ~600 m away, about 10 minutes on foot. From the University and Piața Victoriei areas you can walk along Calea Victoriei and the side streets.
- Where to park
There are paid on-street spaces around the cathedral, taken quickly during the day; the underground car parks in the centre are a few minutes' walk away.
- Rules
This is a working cathedral: modest dress, quiet, and no visits during services.
- Facilities
services are broadcast live on catedralaonline.ro
Frequently asked questions about St Joseph's Cathedral
- How long does a visit to St Joseph's Cathedral take?
- A visit to St Joseph's Cathedral takes about 30 min (outside services, ~30 minutes).
- Where can I park at St Joseph's Cathedral?
- There is paid parking at St Joseph's Cathedral (on the street, paid). There are paid on-street spaces around the cathedral, taken quickly during the day; the underground car parks in the centre are a few minutes' walk away.
- How do I get to St Joseph's Cathedral?
- St Joseph's Cathedral is located at Strada General Henri Mathias Berthelot 19, București. By car: the cathedral is in the central area of Bucharest, on Strada General Berthelot, close to Calea Victoriei and a few hundred metres from Cișmigiu Gardens. The centre is busy and parking is scarce, so it is easier to come by metro or on foot. Public transport: the nearest metro station is Piața Romană (M2), ~600 m away, about 10 minutes on foot. From the University and Piața Victoriei areas you can walk along Calea Victoriei and the side streets.
- When is the best time to visit St Joseph's Cathedral?
- The best season for St Joseph's Cathedral: All year round (all year round).
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