Casa Presei Libere (Casa Scanteii) -- History & Visiting

History

Casa Presei Libere — originally named Casa Scanteii after Scanteia (“The Spark”), the official newspaper of the Romanian Communist Party — was built between 1950 and 1956. The project was personally championed by communist leader Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej as a symbol of the new socialist order. Architect Horia Maicu led the design, drawing direct inspiration from the Stalinist “Seven Sisters” skyscrapers in Moscow, particularly the main building of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

The building was conceived as the centralized headquarters of the entire Romanian state press. Under one roof it housed the editorial offices of every major newspaper, the Romanian news agency Agerpres, publishing houses, a massive printing works, and even a bookshop. At its peak, the printing complex could produce millions of pages daily. The 92-metre central tower was originally crowned with a large red star, which was removed after the 1989 Revolution.

After the fall of communism, the building was renamed Casa Presei Libere (“The House of the Free Press”) in a pointed reversal of its original purpose. Today it houses the offices of several Romanian media organizations, television studios, and commercial tenants. The vast square in front — Piata Presei Libere — hosts occasional events and is dominated by a Soviet-era monument that has itself been the subject of public debate.

Architecture

Casa Presei Libere is the largest and most complete example of Socialist Realist architecture in Romania. The building was designed in the Stalinist style that dominated Eastern Bloc construction in the early 1950s — monumental in scale, symmetrical in composition, and intended to project the power and permanence of the communist state.

The structure consists of a massive central block rising to 92 metres (including the antenna spire), flanked by two symmetrical lateral wings that extend outward to form an imposing U-shaped courtyard facing Soseaua Kiseleff. The total floor area exceeds 32,000 square metres. The facades feature classical elements — pilasters, cornices, and arched windows — rendered in the heavy, oversized proportions characteristic of Stalinist architecture.

The building’s relationship with the urban landscape is deliberately dramatic. Positioned at the northern terminus of Soseaua Kiseleff, one of Bucharest’s grandest boulevards, it serves as a visual anchor visible from kilometres away. The Arch of Triumph sits roughly midway along the boulevard, creating an axis that connects two very different expressions of Romanian national identity.

The interior, while largely inaccessible to the public, features grand entrance halls, marble staircases, and the industrial infrastructure of what was once one of Eastern Europe’s largest printing operations.

What to See

The monumental facade — best appreciated from Piata Presei Libere, where the full scale of the building is visible
The 92-metre central tower with its distinctive spire, once crowned with a communist star
The symmetrical wings extending outward in the classic Stalinist “wedding cake” style
Piata Presei Libere — the vast square in front, with its Soviet-era monument
The Kiseleff axis — looking south from the building toward the Arch of Triumph gives a sense of the urban planning ambition

“Whether you admire it or find it oppressive, Casa Presei Libere is impossible to ignore. It is one of the most striking buildings in Bucharest — a monument to an era that shaped the city in ways still visible everywhere.”

Tips for Visiting

The building is not open to the public — you can only admire it from outside. But the exterior and the surrounding square are well worth the visit for anyone interested in architecture or 20th-century history.

Best viewpoints: The front plaza (Piata Presei Libere) gives the most dramatic perspective. For a different angle, the view from across Lake Herastrau — where the tower rises above the treeline — is equally striking.

Getting there: The nearest metro station is Aviatorilor (M2), about a 20-minute walk north along Soseaua Kiseleff, passing the Arch of Triumph on the way. Alternatively, buses along Soseaua Kiseleff stop nearby. A taxi or rideshare from the city center takes 10-15 minutes.

Combine with: The walk from Aviatorilor metro along Soseaua Kiseleff is one of Bucharest’s finest urban walks, passing the Arch of Triumph and skirting Herastrau Park. Make a half-day of it by visiting the Arch of Triumph, the Village Museum, and Casa Presei Libere in sequence.

Therme shuttle: Piata Presei Libere is one of the main departure points for the free shuttle bus to Therme Bucharest, Europe’s largest spa resort, located 30 km north. If you are planning a visit to Therme, you can combine a walk around Casa Presei Libere with catching the shuttle.

Is It Worth It?

If you have any interest in communist-era architecture or 20th-century history, absolutely. Casa Presei Libere is to Bucharest what the Palace of Culture is to Warsaw or the Seven Sisters are to Moscow — a building that tells you more about a political era than any museum exhibit could. Even if brutalist and Stalinist architecture is not your thing, the sheer scale of the building and its dramatic setting at the end of Kiseleff make it a memorable sight.