Mogoșoaia Palace was raised by Constantin Brâncoveanu, one of the most active monument builder in Wallachia. From the monuments he built, we can list here two: the one in Potlogi and the one in Mogoșoaia. The Palace in Mogoşoaia is the best restored of the two and it lies in the village with same name to the North-West of Bucharest, being located on a lake shore. The first building to be raised here was the St. George Church (1688) which still preserves original frescoes, of which the one representing Brâncoveanu and his four sons (to the right of the door) and Lady Maria with her seven daughters (to the left). The palace itself was accomplished in 1702 and then given as a present to the ruler’s son, Stephen. The prince lived here together with his family until 1714, when the voyevode, his wife and the four sons left for Constantinople, where his and his sons’ heads were cut off by the Turks. Remaining empty, the palace was robbed, then it was turned into an inn and eventually deserted again. It suffered further damage during the Russian – Turkish War (1769-1774).

When the last of the Brâncoveanu descendant died, the palace was taken over by Bibescu family, which restored it around 1850. The north façade was redone with pillars brought from Potlogi Palace, the window frames were changed, the plaster covering the walls was removed and the brick structure was revealed. After the 1977 earthquake that damaged it, the chimneys collapsed and were replaced with the actual ugly factory-like chimneys. After the 1989 changes, it was deserted for a while and nowadays it is a museum and the interiors can be visited – as they host art exhibitions. The palace – as it can be seen today – is made of a loggia, the cuhnia (kitchen), the gate tower, the palace proper and a secondary left wing. Behind the walls to the right there are a few pieces that have been saved from Văcărești Monastery, when it was demolished in 1984-1986. The palace is – as all the monuments raised by Brâncoveanu – a fine and harmonious blend of Renaissance elements with traces of Baroque and features taken from the traditional households in Romania. More info can be found on their website.  The palace grounds also host a restaurant and a small hotel.

The grounds, as well as the extensive park plying the lake shore to the South and North have been exquisitely restored and are open daily (the park is open from 7 AM until midnight), while the palace proper can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 and 06:00 PM; there usually is an exhibition inside (paintings, textiles, old rugs, paintings, sculpture). It is accessible by minibus or bus from 1 Mai Metro Station: take the Northern station exit / the one at the train engine as coming from Gara de Nord, then take the exit on your right and look for minibuses / buses on route # 508 or any van / minibus direction Mogoșoaia or Buftea. They will drop you on the main road at the junction with the street leading to the palace grounds (a 5 minute walk away) or, if you feel like a 10-15 minute walk, at the Southern gate (for that, ask to be dropped at the Lukoil gas station, the gate lies just behind the gas station and is followed by a long, straight and pleasant alley). If arriving by car, the best option is to use the gate closer to the palace grounds: just follow the road some 1 km. past the Lukoil gas station and look for a ‘Palatul brâncovenesc’ brown sign pointing to your left; the parking lot lies past the gate and to your right; pay for the parking to the guard upon entering the gate, you will be handed a ticket (RON 4 as of 2015). The ticket is only valid for parking access, not for visiting the palace which is paid separately, upon entering the palace. There is another, much smaller parking lot between the Lukoil and the Southern gate; parking is free there but it is often full.

GPS - N44 31.702 E25 59.839 (the main entrance on the domain)