Equestrian statue of Carol I

The equestrian statue of King Carol I stands in Revolution Square in Bucharest and rises about 13 meters (43 feet) high. The bronze sculpture depicts the ruler seated on his horse in the heart of the city along Calea Victoriei street.

The current monument replaced an earlier sculpture by Ivan Mestrovic created in 1939, which communist authorities tore down in 1948 following King Michael's abdication. After communist rule ended, the nation decided to erect this new tribute to the king.

The sculpture shows King Carol I on horseback and was created after communist rule ended to honor the monarchy's role in Romanian history. Visitors can see it as a symbol of how the nation wanted to reconnect with this period of its past.

The statue sits in a central location near the National Museum of Art and the Central University Library. The area is easy to access, though visitors with mobility challenges may encounter some barriers in the immediate surroundings.

The new statue was designed after lengthy discussions because art observers noted similarities to Mestrovic's original work from 1939. The comparison between the two sculptures shows how artists handle historical memory when recreating something that was lost.

Location: Bucharest

Inception: 2010

Creator: Florin Codre

Height: 13 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Made from material: bronze

GPS coordinates: 44.43965,26.09701

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:09