Carturesti Carusel | Literary Destinations

Known for its beautiful 19th century architecture, Old Town Bucharest, the only area of pre-WWII Bucharest that remains, has melded into the modern world and become a center where community and culture thrive. Restaurants, elegant shops, and nightclubs line the charming streets that were once home to the court of Vlad Tepes. History blends with modern life in the Old Town, new life breathed into places of the past. 

Tucked within the charming streets of Old Town Bucharest is Carturesti Carusel—a bookstore that, despite only being seven years old, has a rich history. Beyond the facade—which displays a striking mix of modern and historical architectural design elements befitting the store’s history—is the most famous bookstore in Romania, loved not only for its sheer size and beauty, but for the cultural oasis it offers the community. 

Built in 1903, this building originally belonged to a family of wealthy Greek bankers, the Chrissoveloni family, and served as their banks’ headquarters for several decades in the early 20th century. Having survived the bombing of WWII, the building was taken over by the communist regime in the 1950s and made into a general store. Eventually abandoned, the building was left to fall into disrepair as communism collapsed in the 80s. 

Jean Chrissoveloni, the grandson of the original owner of the building before its confiscation, requested that the historical—now abandoned and decayed—building be returned to his family as its rightful legal heirs in the early 1990s. After more than two decades of legal battles, the Chrissoveloni family reclaimed the building in 2007. Jean invested about one million euros and hired an architectural firm to oversee the former bank’s transformation. 

After years of renovations that aimed to honor the original building’s style and beauty while also making the space relevant to today’s modern desires, Chrissoveloni leased the building to Romania’s largest bookstore chain—Carturesti. In 2015, Carturesti Carusel opened to the public, inviting them into a place defined by a love of literature, art, culture, and the space to connect over it. 

While some have suggested the name Carturesti Carusel means “carousel of light,” it doesn’t. Carturesti was an already existing bookstore chain that likely chose its name based on the words carte meaning book and carturar meaning learned man or scholar. 

Bright and airy, Carturesti Carusel’s Art Nouveau style feels both ornate and simple, modern and historic. Balconies mark the upper levels of the store’s six floors as Byzantine-inspired marble colonnades, archways, and spiral staircases add an undeniable sense of elegance and grandeur. 

With over ten thousand books lining the shelves, there’s no doubt that Carturesti Carusel aims to create a book lover’s paradise—but there is so much more they offer. The top floor is home to Bistro Carusel, a café where patrons are invited to sit and connect with others over lunch or a cup of coffee beneath a glass ceiling. There is also a “multimedia space” in the basement and a modern art gallery on the first floor. The store, in addition to books of every genre (including some in English), also sells music, movies, stationary, and items from local businesses and artisans including chocolate, wine, and Romanian souvenirs. 

Ornate and striking, Carturesti Carusel is a unique piece of Romanian history transformed into a cultural beacon attracting readers from around the world. This bookstore—with all its grandeur, charm, and the sense of artistic community cultivated within its walls—is a literary destination that is sure to delight all bibliophiles.