Romania’s abandoned Bragadiru Beer Factory is located in Bucharest

You can travel back in time as you pass through the metal doors and descend to George Cosbuc Boulevard, imagining how the area functioned 100 years ago.

Dumitru Marinescu Bragadiru, who created the Bragadiru brewery at the end of the 19th century after going on to conquer an entire continent with his creations, is responsible for its existence. He was a very modest man who respected honesty, and he was a fairly well-known figure in his day. The top Romanian businessman is still remembered as Dumitru Marian Bragadiru.

But this merchant served as a “bridge” between the city’s renaissance in architectural and economic development. Few people are aware that the city hall was given 2 of the 10 acres he owned in order to construct the George Cosbuc Boulevard. In order to communicate between the brewery and the Bragadiru area, the merchant also constructed the first network of telegraph poles in Romania. The tradition claims that King Carol I offered him the position of minister of industry and trade, but Bragadiru declined, claiming that his experience and assiduous work made him more valuable to his country. Bragadiru’s brewery served as the official supplier of the Royal House.

The plant is currently degrading continuously, and it poses a threat to everyone walking by it on any given day. Even if there was no indication of restoration or a new project, an unforeseen fire did put a stop to any potential redevelopment. The monument is decorated with buildings in shades of grey and cream that allow you to repeatedly ascend and descend the abandoned steps inside. A creative game that never ends.

According to the Bragadiru family’s tale, they purchased 10 acres from the Laptev family, where the factory’s development started in 1883. The factory was the third one to be erected at that time, following that of Erhard Luther (1869) and Carol Oppler (1870). The newest generation of equipment was brought on by the passing years. Among other things, it added a movie theater and a variety of stores, and as a result, the production reached incredible heights like 3.126.528 liters, placing it third in Europe. The Bragadiru Palace, a cultural establishment, was intended to be a fun and relaxing environment.

The family inheritance of Bragadiru was disrupted by World War II; bombing and unrest caused several enterprises to fail. The Bragadiru family members were imprisoned by the new communist government after the war, and on June 11th, 1948, the entire industry was nationalized. The factory acquired its current name, the “Rahova” beer factory, at that point. The name of Dumitru Bragadiru was completely removed.

It’s a tale that must be told, and we should be proud to hold it close to our hearts. A tale about professionals and wealth, but one that is now in ruins.

You are fully aware that nobody has been pardoned by time. Alienation of this landmark, the symbol it stands for, serves as a reminder that as this building’s identity was lost in the summer of ‘48, so was ours. Unfortunately, the discovery does not appear to be made quickly.

More info: rusenski.com

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