Over time, several triumphal arches were built in Bucharest, but most did not survive for long. Few people know that immediately after the end of the First World War, the first arch was constructed using poor-quality materials, which deteriorated quickly and could not withstand even the weather. This experience led to the idea of erecting a monumental, durable structure that would become a permanent symbol of victory and national unity.
In 1922, when Matei Gheorghe Corbescu was mayor of the capital, the authorities organized a grand parade dedicated to the Great Union. On this occasion, the mayor proposed building a temporary wooden Triumphal Arch until the necessary funds could be obtained for an imposing one made of durable materials. His initiative was, however, heavily criticized by public opinion; even the composer George Enescu sent him an ironic letter asking, “And the real Triumphal Arch — when?”
That same year, for the coronation of King Ferdinand I and Queen Marie as sovereigns of Greater Romania, the ceremony’s organizing committee decided to build a true Triumphal Arch, turning to architect Petre Antonescu. Due to the short timeframe, only the skeleton of the structure was made of reinforced concrete, while the exterior bas-reliefs meant to embellish the monument were created in plaster.
At that time, the monument had become a true embarrassment to the image of interwar Bucharest, nicknamed “Little Paris.”
In 1932, following pressure from the press—especially, the municipal authorities were forced to act. Attention was drawn to the deteriorating condition of a monument so representative of national history. As a result, it was decided to replace the plaster bas-reliefs with permanent stone sculptures. Architect Petre Antonescu was once again appointed to lead the project, paying increased attention to detail and finish.
Between 1935 and 1936, considerable efforts were made to complete the construction, which would become one of the most important architectural achievements in Romania. The monument was built from Deva granite, in a classical style inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The official inauguration took place on December 1, 1936. The structure rests on two massive pillars, each equipped with interior staircases leading to the upper terrace. Inside the Triumphal Arch there is a small museum, open to the public only on special occasions, which includes four permanent exhibitions: “The Great War of National Reunification,” “Heraldry of the Great Boyar Families,” “The Triumphal Arch in Images,” and “The Great Union of 1918.”
During the communist period, the monument suffered due to anti-monarchic policies. The inscriptions honoring King Ferdinand were removed from the façades, and the bas-relief portraits of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie, created by sculptor Alexandru Călinescu, were destroyed and replaced with floral motifs.
After the fall of the communist regime in 1989, the Triumphal Arch was partially restored. On the southern façade, two bronze medallions depicting King Ferdinand and Queen Marie were installed once again, symbolically restoring the monument’s original image—a tribute to national unity and dignity.
Renowned visual artists contributed to the sculpted details, including I. Jales, C. Medrea, Cuțescu-Storck, Călinescu, C. Baraschi, Jugat, Costin Petrescu, and Mac Constantinescu.
