 | Bucharest Palaces in Bucharest Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 42 |  |
 | |  |  | Palaces in Bucharest: A Monastery, A King, A Grave: Cotroceni Palace 1 | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
In May 1679 Serban Cantacuzino started to build Cotroceni Monastery, made of a church, cells for the monks and a voyevodal court. Constantin Brancoveanu also used the settlement as a residence and Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the ruler that had two of the Romanian kingdoms unified, developed the court, bringing fine pieces of furniture. When he got on the Romanian throne in 1866, Charles the 1st of Hohenzollern was given the Cotroceni as a summer residence. However Charles the 1st preferred as a summer residence the new palace in Sinaia.
In 1893 the Romanian Government decided to demolish the old voyevodal court and raise on the same location a Royal Palace, preserving Cantacuzino’s church in the middle. The design was done by the chief architect of the Romanian royal house, namely Paul Gottereau, and the palace was built between 1893 and 1895. Prince Ferdinand and his wife, Maria, moved into the palace in March 1896. Between 1900 and 1910, respectively between 1913 and 1915, Maria started to redecorate the interiors, especially the Golden Hall, the Green Hall, the Silver Bedroom (which she redecorated in a blend of Byzantine and Celtic style), the Norwegian Hall and the Paintings Hall. This way, the old Romanian architectural lines Ball Room met the Secession or Norwegian halls and the Neo-Romanian White Hall. The northern façade was added two new structures with obvious influences from Hurezi Monastery in Northern Wallachia. The furniture was ordered in Vienna and Paris. Leave a Comment Directions: The president's entrance is on Doctor Gheorghe Marinescu Street. Another entrance is on 37 Cotroceni Road (for poor mortals, also known as tourists), tel.: (021)2211200. Visits are only possible with previous appointment made by phone.
|
 | |  |
| | | | Palaces in Bucharest: National Museum of Art (formerly Royal Palace) | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
Dramatic history. Fine art
Erected (present-day building) : 1930-1937; architect : Nicolae Nenciulescu
This imposing building has a dramatic history - here are some key dates :
1820 - great boyar Dinicu Golescu erected a house
1837 - ruler Alexandru Ghica transforms the house into a ceremony palace
1859-1866 - the building serves as princely palace during the rule of Alexandru Ioan Cuza
1866 (May 10th) - general Nicolae Golescu (son of Dinicu Golescu) presents the palace to the prince Karl von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, the future king of Romania (Carol I)
1882-1906 – extension works (architects : Paul Gottereau, Karl Liman)
1926 (December 6th) – the central part of the palace is distroyed by fire
1930-1937 – reconstruction works initiated by King Carol II (architects : Arthur Lorentz, Nicolae Nenciulescu)
1938-1940 - construction of the north wing
1944 (April) – the north wing is partially destroyed after the great USAAF/RAF bombing raid
1948 - the Art Museum is founded, housing the former Royal Collection
1989 (December) – during the Romanian Revolution, the building is partially destroyed
1990 - 2000 – renovation works; the museum is closed
Today, the National Museum of Art houses more than 110.000 pieces in the following collections :
- Romanian Art
- Universal Gallery (divided into European Art Gallery and Oriental Art Gallery)
- Drawings and Engravings Cabinet
Opening hours : Wednesday - Sunday 11-19 (May-September), 10-18 (October-April)
Closed : Monday, Tuesday, 1st January, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day
Next main event : Night of the museums (17.05.2008) Leave a Comment Address: 49-53 Calea Victoriei, BucharestPhone: + 40 21 313 30 30Directions: Revolution Square, Bucharest Transportation : Metro : M2 (Universitate) Buses : 122,137,268,300,368 Website: www.mnar.arts.ro
|
| | |
|
 |
 |
Search Hotels
Find the best room rates |
|
 |
|
Bucharest
on September 4, 2004
on January 7, 2005
on September 27, 2006
