In northern Bucharest, along Sos. Kiseleff lies Bucharest's
Triumphal Arch (Arcul de Triumf). Modelled on the triumphal arch in Paris, the
structure was erected in 1935-1936 to commemorate the creation of Greater Romania
which took place in 1918. It sits on the spot where two earlier arches stood: the first
arch made of wood and cardboard was erected in 1878 to mark Romania's independence from
the Turks; the second arch made of timber was erected in 1922 to mark Ferdinand's entry
into Bucharest as the first king of Greater Romania. The current arch is built of concrete
and granite. Portraits of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie decorate one face, while the names
of battles fought by Romanians during the First World War can be seen on the other face. The
portraits of the king and queen were destroyed during the communist rule but they were
restored in 1992. The sculptures decorating the arch were created by leading artists of the day,
including Ion Jalea, D. Onofrei and Constantin Baraschi.
