CEC Palace

The CEC Palace is a monumental building at Calea Victoriei 13 in Sector 3 of Bucharest, Romania, and the headquarters of the CEC Bank, Romania's state savings bank founded in 1864. It was designed by the French architect Paul Gottereau and built between 1897 and 1900 on the site of the Saint John the Great monastery, a Wallachian complex dating from the 16th century that was demolished to make way for the new building. The palace combines French Eclectic and Neoclassical styles, with a central dome of glass and metal, a facade of stone with columns and sculptural detail, and corner towers. Inside, a large central hall under a glass dome has a marble and stone finish, while the facade overlooks Calea Victoriei, opposite the Postal Palace area. The palace was inaugurated in 1900 and has remained the bank's headquarters. It was restored in the early 21st century, and the exterior now appears in good condition. Interior spaces are used by the bank, so most of the building is not open to visitors, but a cafe and the gardens along the facade are open to the public during the day. The architecture reflects the ambitions of the Romanian Kingdom around 1900, when Bucharest was often called Little Paris. The palace is one of the best known landmarks on Calea Victoriei, and its dome is a favourite photo subject. It is easy to see in a walk through the Old Town that links Stavropoleos Monastery, Manuc's Inn and Curtea Veche. Occasional events and tours allow limited interior viewing; visitors interested in the interior should enquire locally or look for official open days. The site is free to view from the street, and the cafe offers a place to sit and see the facade.