The beauty beyond Bucharest: Tips for day-trips outside the Capital

Newsroom 15/08/2014 | 00:07

If you don’t have time to strike out and tour the whole of Romania – don’t despair! Within easy reach of the capital are several special destinations where you can escape the city and wind down – from monasteries and palaces with fascinating histories, crystal-blue lakes and lush greenery to luxury resorts.

Oana Vasiliu

Stirbey Palace
20 km north of Bucharest, Buftea town, Ilfov county.

The Stirbey Palace complex comprises the palace itself, a wide lawn, church, chapel, summer pavilion, park, water tower and lake. Construction started in 1850 by order of Barbu Dimitrie Stirbei, then prince of Wallachia, but the structure was not completed until 1863, under Alexandru Barbu Stirbei. Gothic elements can be detected both inside and outside the building, but what really impresses is the princely sumptuousness and prestige of the palace. These charms attracted the great and the good: the building was often used to receive the noble guests of Alexandru Stirbei: public figures, cultural and political personalities, scientists and merchants.

Peles Castle
110 km north of Bucharest, Sinaia town, Prahova county.

Peles Castle was built at the behest of Romania’s King Carol I in 1914, to serve as a summer residence. Since 1953, it has been a national museum, open to the public, while the other estates in the Peles complex were turned into boarding houses for writers, artists and musicians approved of by the communist regime, which can now be visited by the public. Peles’s architectural style is a romantically inspired mixture of Neo-Renaissance and Gothic Revival similar to Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, after Carol I rejected three previous architectural
proposals.

Saxon influence can be observed in the interior courtyard facades, which have allegorical hand-painted murals and ornaments in the German style Fachwerk, similar to that seen in northern European alpine architecture. The interior decoration is mostly Baroque influenced, with heavy, carved wood and exquisite fabrics. Peles Castle has a 3,200 sqm floor plan and over 170 rooms, many with themes inspired by world cultures.

Snagov Monastery and Lake
40 km north of Bucharest, Snagov village, Ilfov county.

Snagov Monastery is located on an island on the far side of Snagov Lake and could only be accessed by boat until recently, when a bridge was built. One hundred years after the church was constructed (1364), Vlad Tepes (the inspiration for the figure of Dracula) added the fortress walls and a dungeon. A plaque on the floor of the church marks the grave that is said to contain the remains of the legendary count.

Mogosoaia Palace and Lake
14 km north-west of Bucharest, Mogosoaia town, Ilfov county.

Mogosoaia Palace, which stands on the shores of Mogosoaia Lake, embodies the Brancovenesc architectural style, featuring traditional Romanian staircases, balconies, arcades and columns.

Built by Constantin Brancoveanu, the Walachian prince, between 1698 and 1702 as a summer residence for his family, the palace features a beautiful Venetian-style loggia on the facade facing the lake and a balcony with intricate Brancovenesc-style carvings overlooking the main courtyard. Today, the palace houses the Brancovenesc Museum, whose exhibits include valuable paintings, wood and stone sculptures, gold and silver embroideries, rare books and precious manuscripts. Inside the complex is a church built in 1688 and decorated by Greek artists.

The original interior murals have been well preserved and one includes a depiction of Brancoveanu, his wife, Maria, and their four sons and seven daughters, all in royal dress.

Cantacuzino Castle
130 km north of Bucharest, Busteni town, Prahova county

Built between 1901 and 1911 at the behest of Prince Cantacuzino, and designed by architect Grigore Cerchez, the castle stands out for its large, imposing stone and brick building. With a built area of nearly 3,200 sqm, it is constructed in the neo-Romanian style.

Brancovenesc, Byzantine and Celtic influences can also be detected in the building. The castle is composed of a basement, ground floor and first floor with concrete foundations and walls of carved stone. Covered with tiles, it has only five bedrooms. Tourists can admire the castle’s original stained glass windows, made by Murano specialists, as well as the original parquet and floor, comprised of Florentine ceramics. The old-time ambience is kept alive by stucco marble, fireplaces fashioned from the stone of Arbesti, Mures county, festooned with polychrome mosaics, large wooden doors with panels into which the coat of arms of the Cantacuzino family is carved, a staircase whose steps are made of Carrara marble and banisters from wood, stone and wrought iron.

Only one original chandelier remains in the whole castle, hung in the lobby of honor, which hosts a heraldic collection that is unique in Romania.

Comana National Park
40 km south of Bucharest, Gradistea village, Giurgiu county

Comana National Park is known as Bucharest’s delta for its ecosystems and biodiversity, which are similar to those of the Danube Delta. This protected area is home to several endangered species of flowers and animals on the European red list, which ranks the conservation status of almost 6,000 European species. It offers almost 58 kilometers of bicycle routes, boat rides among the reeds and fishing potential. History buffs and Dracula enthusiasts won’t want to miss Comana’s Monastery, founded by Vlad Tepes. The location has also a beautiful resort, Casa Comana.

Cernica Lake
14 km south-east of Bucharest, Ilfov county

The 19th-century orthodox complex of Cernica, on a small island in the middle of Cernica Lake, is one of Romania’s most idyllic monasteries. Two churches, some chapels, a cemetery religious art and a typography museum are contained within the complex. The forest and lake are popular with families, offering clean air and a quiet place to spend a day in nature.

Greaca Domain
45 km south of Bucharest, Greaca village, Giurgiu county.

This holiday resort provides accommodation in a Neo-Romanian style mansion, and amenities include a restaurant serving Romanian and Mediterranean cuisine, wine cellar and two outdoor pools. Covering an area of 32 hectares, it is located close to the entrance to the village of Greaca. The mansion houses guests in 15 rooms and a suite, with prices starting at EUR 55.

BR Magazine | Latest Issue

Download PDF: Business Review Magazine March (II) 2024 Issue

The March (II) 2024 issue of Business Review Magazine is now available in digital format, featuring the main cover story titled “BAT DBS Romania Hub: A Vibrant New Office For An Employee-Centric
Newsroom | 27/03/2024 | 17:32
Advertisement Advertisement
Close ×

We use cookies for keeping our website reliable and secure, personalising content and ads, providing social media features and to analyse how our website is used.

Accept & continue