Palaces in Bucharest, Bucharest

This palace was designed by the architect I.D.Berindei in French Baroque style and construction was started in 1899. Above the main entrance there is a giant shell-shaped porte-cochere; two stone lions guard the entrance. George Enescu - Romania's national composer - lived here for a period of time. The building belonged to his wife Maria Cantacuzino. In fact Enescu preferred a life of simplicity and he and his wife chose to live in a smaller town house that previously housed the administrative staff of the palace; this house is located behind the main palace. Nowadays the palace houses the George Enescu Museum which displays the musicians manuscripts (scores of his compositions) and personal belongings like one of his first violins.

It's not really Bucharest, but it is so wonderful.

Peles Castle
Rumoured to be the basis for Walt Disney's fantasia castle and considered by many one of the most beautiful castles in all Europe, Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture. Commissioned by King Carol I in 1873 and completed in 1883, Peles' interiors are an opulent display of elegant design and historical artefact. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, Meissen and Sevres porcelains, ebony and ivory sculptures. It even has a secret staircase from the library to the bedroom. Unfortunately, it has been forbidden to visit the upper floors for some years.

The town of Sinaia (elevation: 2,500 ft.), home to the Peles and Pelisor castles, is nestled at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains, in the Prahova Valley, about two hours by train or car from Bucharest.

Almost adjacent to Peles Castle is Pelisor ("Little Peles"). King Ferdinand, who succeeded Carol I, intended to use Peles Castle as a summer residence. Supposedly he found Peles too big and overwhelming, so he commissioned the smaller, art-nouveau style, Pelisor Castle. Pelisor's 70 rooms feature a unique collection of turn-of-the century Viennese furniture and Tiffany and Lalique glassware. Peles and Pelisor are located 3 miles northeast of the center of Sinaia.

The Old Princely Court area can be identified with the medieval history of Bucharest, though continuity of human life in this part of the town dates back to the 10th and 4th centuries b.C., as attested by archaeological findings. In the absence of old drawings, scale models or engravings, and having at hand few and incomplete documents drawn by medieval Romanian chroniclers, or by foreign travellers, Romanian specialists find it difficult to reconstitute the plans of the princely residence.

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The Palace of Justice was built between 1890-1895 in French Renaissance style, according to the plans of the architect A. Ballu. The construction was finished by the great Romanian architect Ion Mincu. The statues at the entrance are the work of K. Storck and symbolize the Law, the Righteousness, the Justice, the Truth, the Force, the Prudence

Canatacuzino Palace is without a doubt one of Bucharests most impressive sights. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century and today it houses the "George Enescu" museum. Enescu, who was the greatest Romanian composer used to live at this palace for a short period but he preferd more simple places to live at.
The building has a beautiful entrance ornamented with 2 lion sculptors, you shouldnt miss also the beautiful small details over the upper windows.

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This is a must see if you are in town. If you have time to visit just one place in Bucharest, make Cotroceni Palace the place! Make sure you have your passport with you, the security is tight here. Last time I was in Bucharest and visited the place, the admission entrance was about $7. It is closed on Monday. You are not allowed to take pictures inside, but you can take as many as you want outside :)

The palace is the official residence of the president. It was built by Carol I in the late 19th century. It has undergone many transformations since the initial designs were executed: During Ceausescu's dictatorship it was used as the "Pioneer's Palace," where young leaders were schooled in the ways of Communism, and -- after the devastating earthquake of 1977 -- restored as a guesthouse, although it never served this function.
You will pass through a host of reception rooms, sleeping quarters, and private chambers, each styled to a particular theme: the German New Renaissance dining room, private dining quarters of Carol I in Florentine style; Oriental painting room used by Queen Marie and her children; the hunting room which showcases trophies hunted by King Ferdinand, as well as bearskin rugs hunted by Ceausescu.

Mogosoaia Palace is situated near Bucharest (10 kms) in a splendid park on the shore of Mogosoaia Lake.

The Palace was built in 1698 -1702 by Constantin Bracoveanu - a famous Romanian Voivode. It is typical of the "Brancovenesc" (Brancovan) style, as the façade is dominated by traditional staircase balconies, arcades and columns. It has some Byzantine decorative features and adornments which join stylistic elements characteristic both of the Italian Renaissance and the Baroque.

"Muzeul Brancovenesc" (Brancovenesc Museum) is housed in the main building. The exhibits include paintings, wood and stone sculptures, gold and silver embroideries, rare books, and precious miniatures.

There is a pleasant lake in front of the main building and an interesting church and ancillary buildings in the area.

This picture shows the store house which has been converted into a hotel.

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The Palace of Justice was built between 1890 and 1895 in French Renaissance style. The main facade is dominated by six strong pillars and four statues (Law, Rightfulness, Justice and Truth) placed in special niches, while the other two (Strength and Prudence) lie on the sides of the clock. Inside the building there is the famous “Hall of the Lost Steps”, with a reference to those losing trials, this hall taking about one fourth of the whole surface. In 1985 President Ceausescu intended to have it demolished (at a certain point he wanted to move the institution to the new megastructure he was building on the former site of Vacaresti Monastery), as it spoiled the “great quarter” he was building to the South, as well as the “new Dambovita”; it is still unknown how it could survive.