Calea Victoriei, one of the oldest and most elegant boulevards of Bucharest, was in the 19th century the center of the city’s social and political life. Along this street, the most important boyar families and key figures who contributed to Romania’s modernization built their residences. Among these buildings of great historical value stands the house of General Gheorghe Manu, located at number 192. Behind its seemingly modest façade lies a rich story of courage, nobility, and devotion to the nation.

The history of a boyar residence on Calea Victoriei

The Manu House is one of the few buildings in Bucharest constructed before the 1848 Revolution that have remained almost entirely intact to this day. It was built in 1843 by the great logothete Alecu Florescu on “Ulița Mogoșoaiei,” the old name of Calea Victoriei. The house had one floor, a cellar beneath, and a slight setback from the street, in accordance with the urban regulations of the time.

In 1853, the house was purchased by Aga Dimitrie Ioanidis, who later sold it, in 1868, to Colonel Gheorghe Ioan Manu for the considerable sum of 8,000 Austrian gold coins. The building was designed in the neoclassical style typical of that era. 

It consists of a basement and a raised ground floor, with rusticated façades, smooth edges, and windows framed by pilasters. The main entrance is marked by two impressive Neo-Corinthian columns. Behind the main structure were once the annexes and stables, while the interior reflected the refinement of a 19th-century boyar residence.

George Costescu, in his book Bucureștii Vechiului Regat (“Bucharest of the Old Kingdom”), described the Manu House as one of the most authentic surviving boyar residences, surrounded by a park with old trees, a tangible testimony to a bygone era. Inside, General Manu gathered valuable paintings, elegant furniture, and numerous art objects, partly inherited from his father and partly acquired abroad.

A remarkable destiny: the life and career of General Gheorghe Manu

Gheorghe Manu was born on July 26, 1833, the son of Ioan Manu, Caimacam (governor) of Wallachia, and Ana Ghica, a descendant of one of Romania’s oldest noble families. Some genealogies suggest Italian origins for the Manu family, as the name appears linked to the ancient “Lords of Coddia.” 

From an early age, Gheorghe Manu pursued a military career, enrolling at just 14 years old in the Cadet School of Potsdam. He continued his studies at the Military Academy of Berlin and the Artillery School, an education that would later make him one of the most skilled officers in the Romanian army.

After returning to the country, in 1858 he became a captain of artillery, and between 1866 and 1869 he commanded Romania’s first artillery regiment, contributing to the development and modernization of the branch. 

In October 1874 he was elected mayor of Bucharest, but upon the outbreak of the War of Independence (1877–1878) he chose to leave for the front, where he played a decisive role in coordinating military operations.

As commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Gheorghe Manu successfully defended the Romanian towns along the Danube, Islaz, Turnu Măgurele, Bechet, Corabia, and Oltenița, and, after crossing the river, he was appointed commander of the artillery of the Army of Operations.

He took part in the decisive battles for the conquest of Plevna and Vidin, contributing significantly to the success of the Romanian-Russian forces. For his exceptional merits, he became the first Romanian to receive the “Military Virtue” Order, a distinction instituted by King Carol I himself.

After the war, Gheorghe Manu was elected senator and held several key positions within the state. He served as Inspector General of Artillery between 1881 and 1883, and from 1889 to 1891 he led the Romanian government as Prime Minister. 

He also served as President of the Chamber of Deputies between 1892 and 1895, promoting laws that had a major impact on the country’s development: the Agricultural Credit Law, the Primary Education Law, the Mining Law, and the Telephone Operation Law. In 1906, Gheorghe Manu was promoted to the rank of divisional general.

Married to Alexandrina Cantacuzino, daughter of Prince Constantin Cantacuzino, the general enjoyed a stable family life and an impeccable reputation. 

He died on May 16, 1911, at the age of 78. King Carol I personally attended his funeral and laid a wreath inscribed with the words: “To the brave soldier and loyal advisor, with grateful remembrance.” 

Historian Nicolae Iorga later described him as a man of great integrity and principle, who never compromised his values for personal or political gain.

A residence with a vibrant social life

The house of General Gheorghe Manu was not only a home but also a lively center of Bucharest’s social scene. His wife, Alexandrina Manu, was a refined hostess who organized soirées and balls attended by the most prominent figures of the time. 

A memorable event was the grand ball of 1895, attended by King Carol I, Queen Elisabeth, Prince Ferdinand, and Princess Marie — one of the couple’s first public appearances together.

After the general’s death, the house was inherited by his son, Constantin G. Manu, a diplomat and plenipotentiary minister in London and Constantinople. He lived in the residence on Calea Victoriei until 1948, when, following the communist regime’s nationalization policy, the property was seized by the state.

For several decades, the house served various purposes: it housed a research institute and later a kindergarten under the Ministry of Machine Building Industry. In the 1960s, plans were made to convert the building into a porcelain museum, but the project never materialized.

Rediscovery and preservation of the Manu legacy

After the fall of the communist regime, engineer Alexandru Șerban Manu, the general’s great-grandson living in France, filed a legal claim to recover the house and its original contents. 

In 2002, the court declared the forced donation act to the state null and void, restoring the property to the Manu family. Later, the owner sought the restitution of valuable items that had been removed from the residence and distributed among several museums.

In 2016, a major auction house sold paintings and collectible items that once belonged to General Gheorghe Manu’s collection, featuring works by renowned artists such as Theodor Aman, Anton Chladek, C. D. Rosenthal, and Mihail Töpler. These pieces confirmed the general’s refined artistic taste and his passion for art and culture.

A house as a symbol of national memory

The house of General Gheorghe Manu remains a landmark of Calea Victoriei and a symbol of historical continuity. It speaks of an era of transformation, when Bucharest aspired to match Europe’s great capitals, and of a man who devoted his life to serving Romania. 

The neoclassical architecture, the sobriety of its proportions, and the discreet elegance of the building reflect a world where refinement met a deep sense of duty.

Today, the house at number 192 continues to remind passersby of General Gheorghe Manu, the creator of Romania’s modern artillery, the hero of Plevna, the Prime Minister, and the statesman respected for his integrity and dedication. 

A walk along Calea Victoriei thus becomes a journey into Romania’s living history, with the Manu House standing as a silent witness to the golden age of old Bucharest.

We also recommend: Bucharest’s Calea Victoriei “breathes” history: the old Mogoșoaia Bridge was paved by Constantin Brâncoveanu with tree trunks