Bucharest is not only worth visiting because of the sights it hides, but also because of the historical gems that are scattered around its territory, like soldiers who want to make sure they get the message across as soon as you approach the city's borders: Bucharest is not to be ignored!

Located just about 15 kilometers from Bucharest, Mogoșoaia Palace is more than just a building - it's a treasure of architecture and national history. Built more than three centuries ago (1702), Mogoșoaia Palace belonged to the Brâncoveanu family for almost 120 years. Devastated several times throughout history, reaching the point where you would never have thought it could be restored, the palace has somehow found its own resources to revive and still today delight our eyes and our pride as Romanians. 

Mogoșoaia Palace - the name that hides the story of a wise woman

It seems that the name of the palace, "Mogoșoaia", derives from the word "Mogoș" - the name of the widow of Șerban Cantacuzino, the squire who owned the land on which the palace was built. In folklore, it is said that Mogoș was a strong and wise woman, and the palace was named after her in her memory. 

Mogoșoaia Palace: Architecture, a mosaic of styles and influences

Although there is no concrete date when the construction of the palace began, we know that it was completed on September 20, 1702, its architecture combining several styles, thus reflecting the cultural diversity and influences of the time. As we can well imagine, the architecture of the palace is dominated by elements of the Brancovan style, with its famous spiral columns and fine ornamental details, with oriental and European influences in places, each detail of the palace telling a distinct story.

The wealth of ornamental detailing adorning the frames, columns and balustrades shows a clear Baroque influence through the presence of plant motifs composed in vrejuri. The plans are designed to create slender, harmonious proportions, and the vaulting is mainly semi-cylindrical or with hemispherical domes.

The Palace and Complex of Mogoșoaia combines Venetian and Ottoman elements, being composed of: the "palace" itself, the inner courtyard, the Gate Tower, the Cuhnia (the old kitchen), the Villa Elchingen (the old guest house), the ice-house, the family vault and the flower greenhouse.

Inside the palace building, access to the first floor is via an external staircase leading from the courtyard to the balcony on the façade. On this level are the generously proportioned apartments of the princely family. On the ground floor are the servants' rooms, smaller and more modest, while the basement has a cellar with a four-domed ceiling. 

The Cuhnia or Brâncovenetian kitchen is located in the palace courtyard and has four ventilation towers. The gate tower overlooks the entrance to the courtyard, and outside the palace walls stands the Church of St. George, which was founded by Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu and is the resting place of the tomb of George-Valentin Bibescu. 

Mogoșoaia Palace. Testimony to a challenging history

Over the centuries, Mogoșoaia Palace has witnessed countless historical events. It has survived devastating fires, wars and political changes. With each shake of time, the palace has risen from the ashes, preserving its splendor and historical significance.

The palace's beginnings were closely marked by conflicts with the Turks. After the death of Constantin Brâncoveanu in 1714, when he was executed along with his entire family, the Ottomans seized the entire family fortune and turned the palace into an inn. 

Later bought back by the ruler Ștefan Cantacuzino, it then reverted to the great ban Constantin Brâncoveanu, the ruler's nephew, and remained in the family until the early 19th century.

A victim of war, the palace was devastated by the Ottomans during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774, as a result of the fact that the grand ban ban Nicolae Brâncoveanu had sided with the Russians in the conflict. 

Although restored, a further blow to the palace came during the revolution of 1821, when the last surviving Brancoveanu, Grigore Brâncoveanu, fled to Brasov and the building was occupied by the Pandits. After Grigore's death in 1832, the palace was bequeathed to his adopted daughter Zoe Mavrocordat. After marrying the prince Gheorghe Bibescu, the palace passed into his family and was renovated between 1860 and 1880 by Nicolae Bibescu, who also built the family vault in the palace park and the nearby Elchingen villa. 

The palace was still administered by the Bibescu family who, however, moved to the new villa and the old building remained unoccupied. This was until 1911, when Maria-Nicole Darvari sold the palace to her cousin George-Valentin Bibescu, who gave it as a wedding present to his wife Martha.

After 1911, Mogoșoaia Palace was again witness to numerous historical events and social transformations.

During the Second World War, the palace was a meeting place for Allied diplomats and was rented for a few months to the Swiss Legation in Romania. After March 6, 1945, the estate was forcibly nationalized by the communist government, and Martha Bibescu obtained from the authorities the declaration of the palace, which she still owned, as a historical monument. The princess left the country in September 1945, leaving the palace to her daughter Valentina and her husband Dimitrie Ghika-Comănești.

In the post-communist period, Romania experienced the transition to a market economy and democracy, and Mogoșoaia Palace was restored and opened to the public. It has become an important tourist and cultural landmark, symbolizing both the country's historical heritage and its ability to reinvent itself and adapt to changing times.

Mogoșoaia Palace. A symbol of national identity

Over the past decades, Mogoșoaia Palace has been the subject of conservation and revitalization projects aimed at improving accessibility and promoting Romania's cultural heritage. Today, the palace continues to be one of the most important historical and cultural monuments in the country, attracting visitors from all over the world and contributing to the promotion and protection of Romania's national identity and rich cultural heritage.

Mogoșoaia Palace. Why you should visit it 

Today, Mogoșoaia Palace houses the Brâncovenească Art Museum and is a major tourist attraction. What's more, the palace's park is a perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon outside in the fresh air. You can visit the permanent and seasonal exhibitions, stroll through the flower gardens, read in the shade of a lime tree or cool off under the conifers and enjoy your senses on the terrace or in the "Domnița Bălașa" lounge of the "Mogoșoaia Palace" restaurant hosted at the entrance of the Palace Park, serving delicious dishes.

The lake also welcomes you with the possibility to relax by hydro-bike or kayak.