Places to Visit: Carturesti Bookshop, Bucharest, Romania

[FlameFox]

Once or twice this place has saved my imagination and took place on my shelf. This is not a miniature TARDIS, thank you for the thought. This is Carturesti in Bucharest. Not living in Romania, I am visiting once every two years but what a visit this is! ?

For the ones who have heard about this shop for very first time, I will spare a row or two.
Carturesti is a bookstore which actually has great online selling and few smaller shops outside the capital of Romania. Here, you can find many titles, both in English and Romanian however, books in other languages are not missing as well. Knowing what they’re doing, these people are also selling gifts and souvenirs catchy art supplies and even board games.

Yes, that’s a large menagerie but trust me, they have the space.
My favourite shop from this chain and the one I will share more about has 3 floors where the third one, at the top floor is a café shop as well. Being traveller, I have tried to figure out the way their coffee machine works and whether it’s magical because of the charm their drinks have. Yes, they are most probably magicians and no, they didn’t tell me their secret. The atmosphere tho, is lovely, lively during holidays and it definitely has the bookworm place smell. Among the three floors of charm, you can find and additional staircase which, as a proper wizard, I decided to discover and found the “secret underground” floor, full of board games … And manga. However, I paid attention to the board games. Found almost every game I love or plan to play in the future.
Another curious thing about Carturesti is that you can interact with some of the souvenirs and ideas for presents. During one of my visits, they even had eco displays. Chairs with different shapes, made of corrugated cardboard were available all over this place so that visitors could grab a book and sit comfortably while peaking into their future reads.

Right before the release of the first Harry Potter illustrated book, they even had a Potter theme display.
Around the chaos, visitors can also use the electronic guides - computers all over the place, where you can check if a certain book is available at all. Happens to get lost here. Don’t worry, you won’t be the first to do so … If that happens to you at all.
In case anyone is interested in visiting, please, feel free to get to the Bucharest old town, then make a wrong turn or two. This will take you there. The old town is at the heart of the Romanian capital, so you can’t miss it. The old town is a walk-only area. This means, you can’t take a bus. The nearest underground station is Piata Unirii. That basically means ‘Union Square’. However, willing to make your life easier, I am advising the location of the Old Town Carturesti. Hope that helps.
For the ones who have been here, I would like to say ‘why didn’t you say so’ and ask for your impressions. What’s the coolest book, toy, souvenir or best record you have found? For everyone else, I would be interested in your thoughts and questions. Hopefully, we can find the answers.

[BorrisS]

Hello @FlameFox ,

Thank you for all these incredible details and explanations, I really enjoyed reading your story.

I don’t know much about Romania, but here is a very beautiful place that I discovered thanks to you.

You can always introduce yourself and get to know other Local Guides via our monthly topic Introduce Yourself - March 2019.

Furthermore, here is an article which will help you in the Community for your future posts: 14 helpful tips for using Connect.

[FlameFox]

Hiya, @BorrisS !

Thanks for the suggestions. Furthermore, I have been thinking of joining the March kick indeed. Guess that’s a sign

Carturesti is an awesome place to begin a Romanian journey indeed. Although, one must not pend too much time indoors in this country. (Sean Bean memes coming)

[bmsteckel]

@FlameFox First, a have to say: WHAT A BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING PLACE! I’m absolutely delighted! Second: Are you from Romania? It is a country that I want to visit someday!

[Abdoado]

@FlameFox I liked your post alot, in fact I go to Romania every year so I will visit this place.

[FlameFox]

Thanks for having a look @bmsteckel . This bookshop is stunning indeed. It’s not only the architecture but also the content that makes it valuable … for the book addicts
I am not from Romania but I go there every once in a while. That’s why you may see here a post or two about different places in that country.

[FlameFox]

It’s part of the old town culture in Bucharest - being located there, which will let you enjoy both the city and atmosphere. I am greeting you with the choice, @Abdoado . Here’s a quick tip - Bucharest and Romania handbooks in this book shop are cheaper than the ones at souvenirs shop within the old town

[Abdoado]

@FlameFox thank you for the advice, places that are related to culture and history are in the top of my preferences.

[FlameFox]

The whole old town and the Carturesti place fit in that case, @Abdoado . The bookstore building is a historical place which I can hardly imagine being bank and clothing store. It does look like a mini-shopping center but still. Feel more than welcome. I will be curious to read or hear your impression of the place when you visit later.

[DeniGu]

Hi @FlameFox ,

I absolutely love this place and I enjoyed reading your post a lot!

One of the reasons why I visited Romania a couple of years ago was actually to step inside Carturesti Carusel, the bookstore that was all over my social media feed. And wow, was I impressed! I even included a photo of the bookstore in my Introduce Yourself post because it’s that amazing.

I did just like you–I got lost in the Old town a couple of times, and then I got lost inside the bookstore. And on the underground floor among the board games. Almost bought one of them!

As for the coolest book I found, it was a collection of Hans Christian Andersen’s stories which had the most beautiful blue-and-pink cover and gold edges.

Did you get something from there, too?

By the way, I’d quite appreciate a TARDIS-themed bookstore.

[FlameFox]

Hi @DeniGu ,

My last visit was mainly because of a tradition. A friend of mine lives in Bucharest and we are visiting that store together once a two years at the first Friday of September. We even have an arrival hour - 11:00 a.m. It’s in a bright memory of the Eleventh Hour episode of Doctor Who, we watched together (this is why I threw the reference in the above post). Carturesti is like a TARDIS to me indeed. Bigger on the inside

On the spending topic - I almost declared bankruptcy this time. Spent mainly on books and got the extension of my favorite board game. It’s Saboteur. I wanted to buy the first three books of Galbraith’s story line about Strike in English but they were sold out (the moment we all do sad face). On the other hand, I bought the Sherlock Holmes extended edition. Which was a massive win

The photo you left at the introduction post even has the section where I found Holmes’ book. Makes it even close. Did you take it from the bistro floor and did you have time to spend with a drink or a book in hand?

[DeniGu]

First of all, that’s a pretty awesome tradition, @FlameFox ! And in honour of one of the best Doctor Who episodes, in my opinion. :))

The Sherlock Holmes extended edition has been on my to buy/to read list for ages, so thanks for letting me know where to find it in Carturesti. I’ve heard quite a few positive opinions about Saboteur, too! Guess it’s time to give it a try.

As for your question, I took the photo from the second floor. Unfortunately, there was no time to kick my feet up in the cafe, as I was on my way to another part of Romania, Sinaia. But next time I’m going to Bucharest just for Carturesti Carusel! (and maybe for the thermal pool, too).

Have you been to the bookshop’s branch in Brasov? It’s smaller, but still bigger on the inside and with an amazing quaint atmosphere.

[FlameFox]

Whoa! So good to see that there’s at least one more person from Bulgaria who’s aware of the Brasov shop, too. I do know know that place, @DeniGu . :)) The most intriguing question is what took you there? 0.o

I found it during a ski holiday in Poiana while on a hunt for pencils because someone needed to draw and forgot her supplies at home (needless to say that I was cloud nine knowing that heaven’s been this close all the time). This is what it looks like on the outside:

You can also, count me in for a Saboteur game, if needed. I am like an addict. The photo from the article was made during the 5th game after buying the extension.

However, please, don’t take any board games in case you have decided to visit The Therme. They will look at you strange even if taking it to the Hard Rock Cafe but it’s still a better location for a game. Tried both options in person. Let’s say that board games cannot swim … at all. Burgers and board games do get along.

I was also wondering, what would it be like to play at the Salina Slanic Prahova but I never get the time for a visit, while in Bucharest or the area so far. Please, share if you had the chance to at least see the mine.

[Abdoado]

@FlameFox do you speak Romanian?

[FlameFox]

Curious question, @Abdoado !

My Romanian is one hell of awful. I even have a funny story of me and a fellow Bulgarian (with a zero knowledge in Romanian) at a shop. She wanted to buy a Rom chocolate - this is a chocolate with rum called Rom because it’s produced and primary sold in Romania … obviously. So, there’s me, the seller and that friend of mine trying to explain about the chocolate both with Romanian words, mimic moves and English words. I am still getting muscle strain remembering the complicated moves and ridiculous words while explaining what does the chocolate look like, how big it is and what do we actually want.

But we did it! I even bought white wine (which is a big achievement considering the effort)

[DeniGu]

Haha, it’s always good to learn from someone else’s experience!

I was on a mandatory one-day trip to Brasov from Sinaia when I stumbled upon the treasury of Carturesti there, @FlameFox. Being too budget-conscious at the time, I didn’t get anything from there, but I still got my hands on an illustrated book with Romanian stories from the souvenir shop at Bran Castle. :))

This is how the bookstore looked like inside–quite festive, as it was December.

Guess I’ll have to add Salina Slanic Prahova mine to my list of places to visit during my next trip to Romania. I haven’t heard the name before, but the photos and reviews on Google Maps made me go ‘wow’. How do you reach it from Bucharest?

One more thing, I admit I’ve never set foot in a Hard Rock Cafe. Have you thought about writing a post about the best Hard Rock locations you’ve been to? That’ll be quite interesting!

P.S. Burgers and board games do go quite well together. One place to enjoy this great combination in Sofia is The 3 Trolls.

[FlameFox]

These places are magically making the money fly out of the wallet like snitches indeed, @DeniGu . One can always find whatever, whenever there. It’s awesome to see that you were less shy to simply take the stupid photo at the Brasov Carturesti. The place was lively at that time indeed. This is not the crowd I remember for sure. What’s more curious is that you got the Romanian stories. Never thought of buying such book. Probably because of the language barrier. Is it in English?
On the other hand, you did great leaving a lot of funds for the rest of your trip. Bran Castle, Castle of Horror with the souvenir market and the Time Tunnel are salty. Peles and Pelisor in addition … ! Not sure you had the time to see all of them but that’s at least 200 Lei altogether. Without the kurtos. That’s another thing
About Salina, it will sound lazy but the easiest and fastest way is to simply drive - car hire or just use own vehicle. The other option is to use the Central Bus Station at Bucharest to Slanic and then do the walking. That’s a day trip if you are to use buses and enjoy the mine in full. Distance is too big which is the main reason I have not been there myself as well. Our Local Guides society will be the first to know after the ‘crusade’ one day.
About the Hard Rock idea - challenge accepted! Will have to wait for a while because of the small queue of topics but you have an awesome suggestions. The Three Trolls was one of the things I am writing about. Are you a fan of any of their branches as well?

[DeniGu]

The Romanian tales book I got was actually bilingual, @FlameFox. ? I love languages, so it’s interesting to make a parallel between the two versions. I also love children and traditional stories, and I’m usually on the lookout for such treasures when I travel.

The theme of my trip to Romania was indeed “castles”! That’s why we stayed in Sinaia, to take our time exploring Peles and Pelisor castles (wow!). We passed through Bran castle and Rasnov citadel on the way to Brasov.

Have you been to Rasnov? The views from the citadel–which is on top of a hill–are amazing.

In the meantime, I keep on adding things to my to-visit list thanks to your great ideas. ? And I can’t wait to see what topics you have in store for us!

As for the 3 Trolls, they now have only one bar open, close to the National Palace of Culture. I loved the House of the 3 Trolls, which unfortunately closed down almost a year ago.

[FlameFox]

Awesome to hear that this type of books are available even in Romania, @DeniGu ! I believe you have found an interesting way to get to know different cultures. Have you got preferred type of books, like comic books or it’s just whatever the fairy tale book would look like?

In addition, yes, I spent a whole afternoon in Rasnov. My gang booked an escape room experience where most of the things were in Romanian but the hosts were kind enough to translate and adapt it as much as possible. What I really adored was the constant middle ages atmosphere and even one of us got locked for a while. (it was not me because they needed someone shorter )
The Rasnov Citadel does have a magnificent view. It reminds of the Bran view, only Bran is offering lower height and less fortification tools within the complex and village. From what I heard, Rasnov was in ruins for very long time because of all damages caused during the centuries of fights. It’s hard to believe local authorities managed to pick all the pieces and bring this place back to life. Were you allowed in the dungeons during your visit? It was closed when I was there last year.
My curiosity was partially satisfied by the Biertan Church - the fortified one, not the smaller. It had a proper jail with a lot of funny stories, actually. Considering the route and theme of your trip you have probably seen it as well. Hope I am not wrong?

I am not going to hide that our conversation brings back so much memories as well. You’re, frankly, giving me more and more ideas for future posts. Even the Three Trolls could be a magnificent reason for a future post. It’s bad that we can no longer book a table at the House or pay a visit to the Garden. The new place is good looking, still it has to absorb a lot of board game energy … and butter beer

[DeniGu]

Frankly, the more illustrations the book has, the better, @FlameFox . I like comic books, too, but one- and two-page illustrations offer greater detail in my opinion.

Wow, an escape room in Romania sounds like quite the adventure! Where did you go? Have you been to escape rooms in other countries as well? Here’s one more topic you can consider for your future posts. :))

I’ve been to a few escape rooms in Bulgaria only, but I did one in English, when I had Danish friends over. I think it was Questomania Escape Rooms. We didn’t get locked in a dungeon, though!

To be honest, I wasn’t so familiar with the history of Rasnov, and I haven’t heard of the Biertan Church before. So thank you so much for sharing all the details! I’m adding the church to my list as well–it has the proper sturdy medieval vibe about it. Would you share some funny stories about its jail, or shall I anticipate a full-fledged post with photos and everything? I’d love both!