Located just about 15 kilometers northwest from Bucharest, with easy access from the city, the palace of Mogoșoaia and its extensive domain sits on the shore of a splendid lake. We can thus discover a piece of the past by visiting this architectural jewel dating from the beginning of the 18th century and built by Constantin Brâncoveanu, ruler of Wallachia. Once a flourishing princely residence, the palace now houses a fascinating collection of art and is a wonderful leisure destination for those who visit Bucharest. The Mogoșoaia Palace was finished in 1702, being built by Constantin Brâncoveanu in a beautiful architectural style that now bears his name. After the death of Brâncoveanu, who was executed with his sons in Constantinople, the Ottomans transformed the palace into an inn. Through the following centuries, the domain of Mogoșoaia was in possession of various families, being devastated and renovated many times. 

The Bibescu family acquired it and Martha Bibescu saved it from destruction, until it was forcibly nationalized by the communist regime after the Second World War. Luckily, the complex was mostly preserved in its original shape and now represents one of the most important historical monuments of architecture in Romania. The palace houses an interesting museum that features Romanian Renaissance (Brâncovenesc style) works of art. Mogoșoaia Palace is surrounded by an extensive domain where we can admire the gate tower, the old kitchens, the St. George Church, the Bibescu Chapel, the greenhouse and the icehouse. As we enter the majestic tower gate, it features exterior staircases that allow access to the upper level for a gorgeous view of the courtyard. 

The Brâncovenesc style developed in Wallachia at the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century, during the reign of Constantin Brâncoveanu. Also called the Romanian Renaissance, it is considered a combination of Byzantine and late Renaissance styles, being represented mostly in architecture (palaces, monasteries) and less in art. the Brâncovenesc style stands out for its harmonious proportions, open porches, gazebos, external stairs, frames and columns decorated with floral motifs. In addition to the Mogoșoaia palace, the most important creations of this style include the Brâncoveanu Palace in Potlogi, the Brâncoveanu Castle in Sâmbăta de Sus, the Horezu Monastery, the Sinaia Monastery, the Brâncoveanu Monastery, the Govora Monastery, the Patriarchate Cathedral, the Stavropoleos Church and many others.

The former kitchen (cuhnia) of the palace is located to the right, while the left side is occupied by the former guesthouse, known as Elchingen Villa, dating from the second half of the 19th century and today transformed into a restaurant. There is also a monumental gate on the northern part of the courtyard that goes into the orchard, with a spectacular neo-classical statue group depicting the goddess Minerva. The palace is right on the shore of the lake, with a small English park in front and a superb Venetian style loggia on the lakeside facade. From the courtyard, a staircase allows access to the first floor, where the princely apartments used to be and where the Brâncovenesc museum is housed today. The other buildings of the complex are scattered around the palace and the courtyard, with large green leisure areas stretching along the lakeshore.