MANUC’S INN

Artline
anuc_s_Inn_13533.html
Nov 28 2007
Romania

Manuc’s Inn (Hanul lui Manuc) in Bucharest is not only one of the
oldest places in the Romanian capital, but also a major presence on
the map of the collective memory of those who live here. Despite the
fact that not so many of them have ever visited it, everyone knows
where it is, anyone could tell even a small story or legend about
it and so the Manuc’s Inn remains an ever so popular place. Being a
major touristic place, a historical monument and a beautiful place,
the Manuc’s Inn was actually founded by Manuc Bei (1769-1817) also
called Manuc Mirzaian or Manuc Mirzaiam. His actual name was most
likely Emanuel Marzaian, an Armenian who was a merchant and diplomat,
but also a very appreciated person by the Ottoman authorities. Born
in Rousse (today in Bulgaria) he must have been both inteligent and
a very good diplomat, to be so valuable for the Ottoman Empire. He
must have been, for at one time he was appointed the Bei for Moldavia.

Stories about his life are largely just stories, and we have little
about this misterious Bei, and surely he would have been forgotten if
it wasn’t for the inn. In about 1806 Manuc first came to Bucharest
and eventually settled here, most likely due to the hardships of
the Turkish – Russian war, during which he must have also acted as
a negociator. Far from the dangers of the conflict, Manuc decided
to use the time and wealth to start a business, in a thriving city
which was to his liking. And an inn seemed like the best ideea, as
the number of travellers and merchants grew day by day. Manuc Bei
bought the piece of land that we know today, and also a great number
of estates near Bucharest (but not only). He began building the inn,
and all was completed in 1808.

While we don’t know how the inn looked originally, for no drawings
survived, it must have been an impressive structure. A list compiled at
the beginning of the 19th century said that Manuc’s Inn had 15 cellars,
23 stores on the ground level, two large halls, 10 storage places,
several servant’s chambers, kitchens and a tunnel. Upstairs, there
were over one hundred rooms, most of them rented for guests. In the
interior court there was even a little coffee house and a small garden,
with a fountain. Facing Dambovita, the river that cut Bucharest in
half, the Bei built a stone pier. Later, by this facade several new
stores were opened.

By all means, even if this list would have several stlight
exagerations, the inn was huge compared to other structures in
Bucharest, especially in those times. After the Russian-Turkish war,
Manuc moved to one of his estates in the country, Hancesti, and
eventually decided to sell the famous inn, for he didn’t find the
time to take care of it properly. He must have asked for a large sum
of money, for in 1817, when he died, he still hadn’t found a buyer.

As his children were still underaged, his entire legacy – including
the inn -was managed by a custody. To ease all this, in 1827 the
custodes decided to lease most of the properties, including the inn,
to Dimitrie Dedu and Nicolae Alexiu.

A devastating earthquake that ravaged Bucharest in 1838 also severely
damaged Manuc’s Inn, and most of it’s structure was afected. The
authorities decided to demolish a large part of the inn, and then
to rebuild it, but Murat, the son of Manuc, was opposed to this
projects. After several years of pressures from both sides, in 1841 –
1842 Murat finally decided to sell the inn, as he didn’t have the
money to repair it. Manuc’s Inn was bought by Dimitrie Iconomidis
(Economu), together with another two investors, and the three would
run the inn until 1860, when it was once again on lease, this time
to Milan Lomovici. It was once again sold, in 1861 or 1862, this
time to Lambru Vasilescu, who changed it’s name to "Grand Hotel de
la Dacie", which in short time became an important place for high
life parties and a popular place in Bucharest. It would also host
theatre and illusionism spectacles, dances, parties. The Manuc’s inn
was renovated in 1848, 1863, 1966-1970 and 1991-1992 and is now going
through another rebuilding, mixing it’s former beauty and glory and
nowadays style and needs. It is surely not the end for Manuc’s Inn.