credentials

● History ●

The Cultural Centre "Palaces Brâncoveneşti" became one of the main

attractions for the arts integrated cultural life of the capital, located on the
border of the Colentina river, near Bucharest, in a superb park.

The Brâncovenești Palaces and Royal Court of Mogosoaia were

documented at the end of the seventeenth century, the construction ended
in the early eighteenth century. Current appearance is the result of several
phases of restoration, modernization and systematization.

The complex which blankets 300 years of history is a easily accessible

place with a valuable architectural heritage, one of the best examples of
the national Brâncovanesc style in architecture. The romantic and
picturesque natural environment turned Mogoșoaia into a centre of
cultural tourism.

The complex is unique being the only preserved example inclusing all the
buildings: the palace, cuhnia (the old kitchen), the guest house (Villa
Elchingen), the palace`s ice warehouse, the old church and the brick
walls.
 ● The Leading Figures ●

The complex was built by Constantin Brâncoveanu (1688-1714) one of the

leading figures of Romanian culture and politics of the XVII -XVIII century,
working as a summer resident for the prince after 1702.

In 1911 prince George Valentin Bibescu brought the domain from his cousin
Marie Nicole Darvari, and offered as a gift to his wife Princess Matha
Bibescu (1886 -1973). At that moment the palace was almost a ruin,
imediatly Matha stated a complex process of restauration, work coordonate by
the architect Domenico Rupolo (1861 -1945).

Using her connection with the high class mondenities of the period the
beautiful and sophisticated hostess sortly recalled the palace as an
exceptional centre for meetings of princes, writers, ambassadors, artists and
politicians.
● Architectural & Environmental Structure ●

The inner courtyard of the palace site surrounded by brick walls gives to the
complex the impression of an old legend. Within the palace is a courtyard of
honour:

The Palace was built in 1702 by Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu for Stephen, the
son of the martyred ruler, and is currently the museum of the Aulic Tradition. A
museum is based on an important donation by Liana and Dan Nasta, an important
collection which consists of more than 300 pieces.

Cuhnia - The old Kitchen, the former royal kitchen, is typical of the architecture
of the Romanian royal courts of the beginning of the eighteenth century showing
the importance of the complex in its time. Here the princess Martha Bibescu set
her own sallon decoareted with Mariano Fortuny textiles, spaces which have
been ilustrted in the journals of that time by the interviews that the princess gave.

The courtyard of honour includes “The Glacier”, the palace's former

ice warehouse, the Gate Tower dating from before 1702 and
Târgoviște Gate are all integrated in the new artistic discourse and
became a contemporary art centre.

The Villa Elchingen built in the mid nineteenth century by Prince

Nicholas Bibescu and named after his wife Hélène Louise
Ney d'Elchingen, today this villa is the conference centre with three
. halls and residence and has its own restaurant.
● Architectural & Environmental Structure ●

Outside the complex is completed by an English park with carefully maintained

gardens. The landscaping was completed between the years 1921 - 1922 under the
guidance of Princess Martha Bibescu and the British landscape specialist Hogg,
who studied at Kew Gardens, specialized in exotic fruits and orchids.
The center is a perfect place to spend time outdoors, both in the new park and
greenhouses area , ideal for picnics and sports. On the main promenade you can
find”Martha Bibescu” library and a gift shop .

The Royal chapel, a church dedicated to St. George was built by in 1688 by
Constantin Brancoveanu, within the church is a fresco representing Constantin and
his 4 sons and the Lady Maria with her 7 daughters. In the narthex George Bibescu,
the husband of Martha's Bibescu is buried, his funeral slab is decorated with the
family emblem, two lions and a crowned eagle.

The Gh. Bibescu chapel from the nineteenth century, a family necropolis which
hosts the graves of the last owners of a Mogosoaia and their relatives: Prince
Nicholas G. Bibescu and his wife Hélène Louise Ney d'Elchingen, Prince George
Bibescu and his wife, Valentine Caraman Chimay, Princess Elisabeth Bibesco and
Princes Michael Basarab Brancoveanu and George Basarab Brancoveanu.

The N. Bibescu Greenhouse is currently used for flowers as well as arts

education workshops for children.
 ● Contemporary Art Centre ●

Since 2001 when Mogoşoaia opened its doors to those who have a special
attachment to contemporary art, the centre has defined its own reputation
through quality exhibitions, events and demonstrations offered to the public,
today it is recognized as one of the biggest museum complexes dedicated to
contemporary art in Romania.

The synesthetic character of proposed events of Cultural Centre of

Brâncoveneşti palaces can be observed in the trend of combining art
exhibitions and high quality musical and theatrical events of very good
quality as well as educational programs and international artistic residencies.
● Exhibition spaces ●

The Cultural Centre of "Brâncoveneşti palaces " currently has five distinct
exhibition spaces in the court of honour and in the middle of this year inaugurates
one of the most modern exhibition spaces in Bucharest.

The main palace hosts on the first level the Museum of Aulic Tradition
The ground levels rooms and annexes have been converted into exhibition spaces
dedicated to contemporary artists. Annually they host over 10
temporary exhibitions of the most important contemporary Romanian
artists.

Cuhnia - the Old Kitchen has housed many exceptional curatorial experiments
for almost 15 years and has become an extremely creative place for artists and
curators who see the juxtaposition of contemporaneity and history as a
challenge.The spaces allows that sculptures and installations of large dimensions
be hosted here.

The Turret is a unique exhibition space because of its planimetric

structure, experimental space, creative and generous which
mainly houses exhibition graphics, photography and digital art.
● Exhibition spaces ●

Glacier the former ice warehouse of the palace, is dedicated to the fire arts: ceramics, glass
and metal, hosting over 10 annual exhibitions annually signed by Romanian and important
foreign artists.

Lapidarium, otherwise known as the (Royal cellar) is open to exhibitions of

painting, sculpture, installations, digital art and performance.

The Memorial located outside the court of honour, in a building with

modern architecture features a generous exhibition space, a multi-media
room with ultra-modern technical equipment. This space with the top
technical features allows the organizing of complex artistic events from performance to
music and theatre as well as international conferences combining in a creative way specific
to the post-modern discourse elements of contemporaneity set over a deep historical
background.

The Lapidary Hall is a visual sanctuary of frescoes (recovered) from the famous Văcăreşti
monastery, one of the most valuable monuments of Bucharest, demolished in 1986 by the
communist regime.

The Memorial is a space of contemporaneity dedicated to various

cultural events and able to connect the Romanian public with most
relevant and actual cultural tendencies of the international art world.
● Artistic residencies & the International approach ●

This year we celebrate the 10th edition of The Düsseldorf Artistic

Residenceies that The Cultural Centre "Palaces
Brâncoveneşti„ organizes together with Kulturamt Düsseldorf in order
to generate a platform for interaction between Romanian and German
artists and curators.

Starting this year, the centre has proposed a program to create such
a platform for various cultural intersections with international artists.

On top of the exhibitions we house annually we want to invite

foreign artists, important representatives of different cultures,
European, Oriental, North and South American, artists which will
be presented to the Romanian public for individual events or be . .
integrated into complex program that the centre is preparing
for the following year.
Program:

Tuesday - Sunday
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (May-September)
 9:00 to 5:00 p.m. (October to April)

The Cultural Centre "Palaces Brâncoveneşti"

is closed on Mondays on January 1 and the second day of
Orthodox Easter, 25 and 26 December.

Contact

Tel: (+40) 21 350 6616

Fax: (+40) 21 350 6618
Email: office@palatelebrancovenesti.ro

www.palatelebrancovenesti.ro
● Location and access ●

 https://goo.gl/maps/w3mKDn6nrEH2