Bulevardul Lascăr Catargiu
Bulevardul Lascăr Catargiu is a major thoroughfare in Sector 1 of Bucharest, Romania, linking Victory Square with Piața Romană.
Originally, the boulevard was part of Strada Colței, a longer road that also included today's Magheru, Nicolae Bălcescu, and Ion C. Brătianu Boulevards. In the early 20th century, it was named after the politician Lascăr Catargiu, whose statue was placed near the southern end. Under the communist regime, it bore the name of Ana Ipătescu, reverting to Lascăr Catargiu after the Romanian Revolution.
The boulevard is listed as a historic monument by Romania's Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs, as are twelve houses located along its course:
- Gheorghe Petrașcu House, at corner with Piața Romană
- Dimitrie Bălescu House, at No. 8
- Dinu Lipatti House, at No. 12
- General House, at No. 15
- Bucharest Observatory, at No. 21
- Henri Coandă House, at No. 29
- Ion Cămărășescu House, at No. 39
- Gheorghe Dobrovici House, at No. 40
- Dimitrie Mavrodin House, at No. 50
- Engineer Constantin Vasilescu House, at No. 54
- House at No. 56
- Nicolae Petrescu-Comnen House, at No. 58
The statue of Catargiu, built by sculptor Antonin Mercié in 1907, lies at the intersection of the boulevard with Viișoarei and Povernei streets. In 1957, the Communist authorities brought down the statue and stored it next to Casa Scînteii; it was restored in its current location in 2011.