Mogosoaia Palace

The first record about Mogosoaia dates as early as the 24th of April 1598.

From 1681 on, Constantin Brâncoveanu succesively buys pieces of land and manor houses in the village.
In 1702, Constantin Brâcoveanu had a large and beautiful building errected on the premises of a former manor house situated on the border of the lake; it was meant to be inhabitated by his son Stefan and it copied the style of another Wallachian palace built by him at Potlogi.

Mogoşoaia Palace is situated about 10 kilometres from Bucharest, Romania. It was built between 1698-1702 by Constantin Brâncoveanu in what is called the Romanian Renaissance style or Brâncovenesc style, a combination of Venetian and Ottoman elements. The palace bears the name of the widow of the Romanian boyar Mogoş, who owned the land it was built on. The Palace was to a large extent rebuilt in the 1920s by Marthe Bibesco.

The Palace had been given to Marthe by her husband, George Bibesco, who later also deeded the land to her. She spent all her wealth from the many books she wrote in its reconstruction and it became the meeting place for politicians and international high society, a quiet retreat during the growing turmoil of the 1930s.

The Palace is now a popular tourist destination, but although the grounds and gardens are beautiful, the interior of the palace itself is under reconstruction and presently houses a museum and art gallery. (Muzeul de Artă Brâncovenească)

During the second world war, Prince Antoine Bibesco (a cousin of George Bibesco) and his wife Elizabeth Bibesco, refused to flee the country despite their outspoken anti-fascist opinions. When Elizabeth died of pneumonia on April 7, 1945 she was buried in the Bibesco family vault on the grounds of Mogoşoaia. It may surprise visitors to see her grave here with its poignant epitaph in English - "My soul has gained the freedom of the night." Neither Elizabeth Bibesco's husband, Antoine, or George Bibesco's wife, Marthe, could be buried beside them, as they both died during the Communist regime.

In 1993 the ministry of Culture took the initiative in founding the National Cultural Centre at Mogosoaia: it is located on the site of Mogosoaia ensemble, former accomodation of the Prince Constantin Brancoveanu.
Every summer Sunday, starting with 13 hours, in the palace courtyard, the National Cultural Centre Mogosoaia together with the troupe "Dell'Arte" presents a Commedia dell'arte show and, starting with 15 hours a rock music concert.

It now belongs to two cultural international networks: "Pepinieres Europeenes pour jeunes artistes" and "Network pluridisciplinaires Cultural Centre", both financed by the European Council and European Economical Community.

The palace is today home to "Muzeul Brancovenesc" (Brancovenesc Museum). Exhibits include paintings, wood and stone sculptures, gold and silver embroideries, rare books, and precious miniatures.