luxury houses for sale Romania (page 6)

The Cantacuzino-Ghica Castle from Deleni is one of Moldova’s most notable castles. The first building of the present-day architectural ensemble was the church erected in 1669, near a boyar’s court, probably the oldest in the principality. After Maria Cantacuzino’s marriage with Constantin Ghica in 1778, the estate entered the possession of the Ghica-Deleni family. The Refurbishment works the new owners commissioned gave the ensemble its current configuration. The inner stone wall and restoration and expansion works were carried out until 1802, and, afterwards, at the beginning of the 20th century, the castle was redesigned by architect Nicolae Ghika-Budesti. The castle has large and bright spaces – rooms, lounges, lobbies – spread across the ground floor, first floor and basement. During the Second World War, for two years, the castle served as a garrison for Soviet troops. Following the nationalization process, the building hosted the cultural house of Deleni. It then became a preventive medical unit, which has not changed to this day.

An intimate guesthouse, meticulously designed and managed, with only 10 accommodation places accessible exclusively to those who book it in full; its positioning between the forest and the river allowed the paving of a private road. Moreover, the surface of the land (4.81 ha of which the pasture has 33230 m2 with 10000 beech forests) guarantees quiet and fragrant use – there’s hayfield has 13226 m2 and 20 ares are covered with blackberry crops. The contemporary rustic design has elements that seem brought from nearby, lowered by raft on the river; in reality, the construction combines local tradition with modern technology - the logs are processed by hand, uncalibrated, sanded and cleaned according to Canadian technology, with a diameter between 35-50 cm, the insulation inside being made with natural sheep's wool processed in Austria. In the basement, there is a relaxation area with showers (infrared sauna and table tennis) and a dining room for 16 people, as well as space for a washing machine, a fully equipped kitchen and a food storage area. On the ground floor there are the reception with the living room and two of the bedrooms, on the first floor are the other two bedrooms and the host's room which can be used as a bedroom for children. Each room has its own dressing room and bathroom, decorated in neutral, calming colors, some of them being equipped with bathtubs. The interior is bright, the white of the walls and textiles reflects the light and enhances the wood of the walls and the beams on the ceilings. The living room and two of the four double bedrooms have a fully glazed wall so that the eye can enjoy the view. The rooms are large, having about 30 square meters each; the atmosphere given by the fireplace and solid wood furniture being discretely completed by a few pieces that outline clean, open, light spaces. A terrace equipped with a gas cylinder grill, cauldron, disc for frying with wood and a 60 sqm wooden gazebo that can be organized as a summer kitchen completes the offer.The heating of the rooms is done with radiators connected to the wood fuel boiler and with an individual fireplace (there is also an electric generator for the production of electricity on diesel and a mixed electric boiler; heating from the boiler of 500 l). The property has video surveillance installations, burglary installation, smoke detection installation and central, lightning protection and installation of 2 photovoltaic panels. The water supply is done by capturing a source of drinking water, and the waste water is discharged into a drainable basin.Gersa Valley, quiet and picturesque, isolated between Telcișor Valley and Parva Valley, has a good view of the mountains with an opening towards the peak of Tibleș. Fir and beech forests predominate in the area, the altitude being 1000m, near the protected area of the Rodna Mountains. Karsts, conifer forests and deciduous forests, swamps, peatlands, meadows and pastures in the Tăușoare-Zalion karst complex create the perfect environment for relaxation, nature walks and hunting - brown bear, deer, roe deer, fox, fox and rabbit. Those who are passionate about bird watching enjoy the meeting with grouse, black grouse, red wagtail, black woodpecker, granger's tit, pheasant, great spotted woodpecker, nightingale, jay, blackbird and water blackbird, cuckoo and finch. The Rodnei Mountains National Park is also nearby with forests ofspruce, beech, hornbeam, sky, linden, white poplar, wild cherry, blackberry and rose hip. The Izvorul Tăușoarelor cave is 3.5 kilometers away from the guesthouse.The distance from Cluj Napoca airport is 125 km, the distance from Bistrița is 45 km - 1 hour and 10 minutes by car or 12 minutes by helicopter.The guesthouse has a classification certificate of 5 daisies (the highest level for guesthouses) and holds all operating authorizations DSP, DSVA, Romanian Waters, including the environmental authorization.

The castle was built during the 17th century by Gyulay Ferencz, an Austrian general, the only child of Hungarian nobleman Gyulay Ignacz. Ferencz built the mansion on the site of a smaller building. The general’s family ruled the town called Mintia, that was renamed Marosnemeti, a term derived from the Hungarian word nemet, that translates to German. Several descendants of the Gyulay family lived at the castle. Historical documents from 1806 state that the Mintia mansion was owned at that time by Gyulay Istvan, followed by Albert and K.R Gyulay. Countess Gyulay of Mintia, who married Ladislau Kuun of Osdola, later inherited the domain together with her brother, Ludovic. In 1848, the Gyulay family took refuge at Cluj and, after the revolution, Ludovic, Ladislau Kuun, his wife Constance, and their children, Irene and Geza, returned to Mintia. Ludovic was the last heir of the Gyulay family. He wrote over 100 journals about the mansion and about Mintia. All of them are preserved at the Cluj-Napoca history museum. Ludovic Gyulay modified the building in 1834, giving it the shape it has today. Ludovic Gyulay never got married and, therefore, never had any heirs. His fortune was inherited by his brother-in-law, Ladislau Kuun, followed by his son, Geza Kuun. Geza studied Hungarian and German literature at the Universities of Budapest and Gottingen, and was a member and vice president of the Budapest Academy of Sciences. He was part of Vienna’s elite social circles, and became friends with the famous composer Franz Liszt – one of the most prominent pianists of all time. It was then that he also met writer Elena Ghica – daughter of Mihai Ghica, niece of Grigore Ghica the 4th, and the first woman to have climbed the Mont Blanc peak, on June 1st 1860. After 1870, Geza Kunn settled at Mintia and married Vilma Kemeny, the daughter of baron Kemeny of Magyar-Gyeno Monosto. His presence here transformed the town into a gathering place for eminent representatives of the cultural and scientific scenes, which included V. Zakrzewski – professor at the Cracovia University, Al. Szilagyi – secretary of the Historical Society, baron Balazs Orban, A. Szecsen –Imperial Court marchal. The beauty of the mansion located on the bank of Mureș River was also admired by the president of the Archeological Society – Solyon Fekete, the director of the Deva History Museum – Teglas Gabor, and by scientist Samuel Brassay – regarded as Transylvania’s last polymath. The immense library of the Mintia Castle and the salon, decorated with family portraits and precious objects, were visited by prefect George Pogany, subprefect Coloman Barcsay, count Coloman Esterhazy – director of the Transylvania Museum, by Otto von Keller – professor at the University of Prague, Zsolt Beothy – professor at the Budapest University, and by Norwegian scientist Conrad Nielsen. Baron Miklos Josika also traveled from Brănişca to Mintia, either on foot, by car, or on horseback. He also traveled by boat on Mureş River in order to admire the park that surrounded the castle. The rare species of plants and trees that embellished the park were mesmerizing. Count Kuun named the trees after the most important Hungarian writers, many of whom had been his friends. One of the trees, for example, bore the name of Attila, in the memory of Attila Gerando. Amid the rose bushes, the visitor could also discover numerous honorary or mortuary shrines. Geza Kuun died in 1905, on April 10th, and was entombed at Cluj. Legend has it that, although the body of count Geza was inhumed at Cluj, his heart was buried in the cemetery of the Mintia Reformed Church, alongside other members of his family and former owners of the castle. The Mintia domain, that comprises the castle and the park, is classed as a historical monument of national and universal importance, class A.

A pension with restaurant built in 2007 in Olimp resort, right on the shore of Lake Tătlăgeac and near the Black Sea, protected from noise and crowding. It is located at the entrance in Olimp from DN 39B, in a quiet natural environment. The construction project was carried out by a German architect, who combined the modern design with traditional features, using predominantly natural materials. The reed roof is specific to the lake area - besides the pleasant appearance, this material also has excellent insulation properties. The guesthouse has 12 duplex rooms equipped with living room, separate bedroom with access through the interior stairs and bathroom. Seven of the rooms have view of the lake (N-E) and from their terrace you can admire the sunrise. The restaurant with indoor lounge has a capacity of 60 seats and is equipped with bar, sound system, video projector and LCD TV, being also usable as conference room. The terrace has a capacity of 150 seats. The property has a parking lot of 460 sqm and a free land of 2200 sqm, suitable for new constructions, with an opening of 40 linear meters to the lake, thus offering the possibility of expanding the tourist complex. The Reed House benefits from its own 120 sqm outdoor pool, close to the terrace and the lake, plus a private 300 sqm beach set with natural sea sand on the lake shore and a recreation area for adults and children, with facilities for tennis, basketball, soccer, badminton, trampoline, pool for the little ones, billiards, darts, poker, chess. The construction of the Olimp resort started in 1971, in the north of Neptun resort, following a project carried out by a group of architects led by Arch. Aron Ghimberg-Solari, the same who built between 1964 and 1965 the Spring Pallace in Bucharest, the residence of Ceaușescu family. The resort entered the tourist circuit in 1972 and was reserved for important dignitaries and guests of honor invited by Nicolae Ceaușescu. During the communist period, Olimp was a very expensive resort. The Reed House offers the opportunity to take over a profitable business in the field of tourism and event hosting, with hundreds of positive reviews on profile websites. The main strengths of the property are the quiet and isolated location, in the middle of nature, the clean air offered by the Black Sea and lake, the land of 5964 sqm and its overall facilities.

The French Street connects Piata Unirii with Calea Victoriei; it appears in documents since 1649 when it was known as Curții Street; over time the name varies - one part of it was Podul cel Mare din Curtea Veche (1763), Podul Curtea Veche (1804) and Uliţa Curții Vechi (1854), the other - Uliţa cea Domnească in 1690 or Işlicarilor & Boiangiilor Street in 1804. Under Constantin Brâncoveanu the street becomes as long as we know it today. The French name comes from the time when the French consul resided on it. The street was also called Carol until 1947 and then 30th December. After the 1989 revolution, it became Iuliu Maniu and since 2007, when a boulevard was named after the politician, it has become French Street again. It is one of the first lit and paved streets in the city, but also the one that entered history as the place where the great fire of 1847 started, when over 2000 buildings disappeared; the fire broke out thanks to the son of a stolnic (local clerk) who played by shooting his father's gun into the thatched attic. On this historic street, at no. 58, in 1938, Schrems Broderie, a weaver, and Karmann I – Carol, a dentist, were operating (it seems that Lev Tolstoi lived at no. 12 in 1854 when accompanying the Russian troops to Wallachia). Today, at no. 58, there is an elegant building with tall glass sheets and wrought iron balustrades that rhythmically punctuate the facade; denticles, short half-columns and other vegetal and geometric elements complete it. The building has two commercial spaces on the ground floor and 14 apartments on the upper floors, with areas between 38-113 sqm. The attic (384 sqm) and the cellar (211 sqm) generously complement the surfaces. Access is allowed by four different stairs leading to the inner courtyard. Only one apartment is currently rented, the building being in need of repair and renovation works. The original corner stoves, paneling on the ceilings and double doors with glass windows are the only ones still fighting the fading today, stubbornly preserving the spirit of past eras. However, the potential is huge considering the positioning one minute away from the Manuc Inn; the building can become a boutique/apart-hotel or apartments for rent/resale, after consolidation. Photo: Tudor Prisecaru

Alexandrescu Manor from Guranda has a history of more than one century, being built at the order of the spouses Mihai and Mathilde Alexandrescu, Mihai being a Wallach boyar who settled down in Moldova at the end of the 19th century, around 1890. Situated at approximately 40 km from Botoșani, the property of the family Alexandrescu was about to become not only residence, but also a source of income, the domain being extended with hundreds of hectares. The main building was buttoned up in 1905, the project being signed by a Venetian architect. The estate borrows obviously from the typical architecture of those times, Neo-Romanian style, the Neo-Romanian style being the most dashing at the turn of the centuries. Notwithstanding, the estate is marked by different decorative effects that offer a special aspect, monumentally – the use of the brick in the decoration of the borders or of the wooden frames in the tracing of small balconies. The heiress of the manor was the only daughter of the Alexandrescu spouses, Yvonne (1890-1974), who had to enter in the big Cantacuzino family, getting married with Ion Cantacuzino (1888-1954), with whom she had a daughter, Claudina (born 1914). After the dispossessions from the year 1948, the manor enters in the property of the communist state, which, since 1949, has set up in the manor from Guranda a hospital unit. In the 2000s, the mansion is taken into family ownership, by his heirs.

Built in the middle of the nineteenth century by baron Urban Petru of Monyoro, the mansion is located on the 79th National highway, on the road between Arad and Oradea, 28 km from Arad. In 1994, the mansion was completely renovated, and all the original architectural elements were preserved. The mansion provides the modern comfort, as it is connected to the water network, it has its own sewage and three gas central heating systems. There is an annex to the main building, equipped with all the standard utilities. As the yard is quite big, another house is being built, which will be used for residential purposes. In front of the mansion, there is a 50 sqm pool. There are thermal water springs at a depth of 700 m, which can be used to fill up the pool. Urban of Monyoro family was one of the important noble families of the Hungarian aristocracy. As mentioned in official records (1828), the first family member was Joseph Urban, and the family’s home was in Monyorod (today Manerau, Arad). The neoclassical mansion in Simand (only a few kilometers from Monyorod) was built in the second half of the 19th century. The mansion most likely belonged to Gyula Urban, the father of the most important member of the family, Peter Urban (1870-1935). Starting with the Eneolithic period up to the year 953 – when it is officially mentioned for the first time -, and on the modern times, Simand was one of the most important places in Transylvanian history. Moreover, in the 19th century, Simand was a strong economic hub, organizing fairs, having also present a strong Jewish community (in 1828 there were 400 Jewish people). For approximately 100 years, by the time when the mansion was built, the domain was owned by Urban of Monyoro family members. Most of them were high governors, politicians and even prefects in Arad county Photo: Cristina Budusan

Located in the Vrancea Mountains along the Putna River, on the road which connects Braşov to Focșani, Lepșa is a true hidden jewel, with the potential to be one of the most appreciated tourist destinations in Romania. Old settlement of woodsmen and livestock breeders, Lepșa resort has fructified the benefits of the mountain area in which it is located, extremely rich in tourist attractions, with numerous trails for hiking, monasteries, waterfalls and the Tişiţei Gorges Nature Reserve. In this natural setting, in Tulnici, we encounter a perfect holiday home which meets all the criteria of such a property. Located on a 3.000 sqm plot, it is a real fairytale cottage built on two levels, with a built area of 504 sqm and with many necessary and useful facilities: large bedrooms, a large living room, a beautiful garden, a wooden gazebo for the summer days along with friends, large terraces and balconies. The proximity of the mountains and the forest gives this holiday home a special charm and round out the atmosphere of the ideal mountain home. The vacation house is turn key, fully finished and furbished, waiting for its future owners. Among the attractions of the surroundings, we highlight the Putna Waterfall Geological and Landscape Reservation. After the confluence with the Tişiţa brook, the Putna River flows through a narrow valley, dug in hard sandstones. The tumultuous waters of Putna have dug differently, depending on the hardness of the rocks, forming a fall of more than 12 m, thus, the area is known as the Putna Waterfall. To safeguard the natural setting, the area of 10 ha was declared protected. Also, the forestry, geological, zoological and floristic reservation Tişiţa is a protected wild area that measures not less than 5400 hectares. It includes secular forests on the Tisaru Massif and the Tişiţa Gorges. The flora and fauna are spectacular comprising many endemic and rare species: black goats, bears, deer and stag. Other tourist attractions in the area are the Lepșa Monastery, founded in 1774, Putna Natural Park, Lepşa-Zboina Natural Reserve, Mount Goru Natural Reserve, Lepşa Trout Farm, Moș Ion Roată Memorial House. Located in the heart of the mountains and the hills of Vrancea county, Lepșa is an oasis of quiet and beauty, a place where the tourist always returns to meet the wild nature but also to find himself or herself. Hiking in the wilderness of the gorges, resting on the banks of Putna river, in a wonderful landscape, or experiencing the peaceful rebounding at the Lepșa monastery are some of the pleasures of a wonderful holiday you can spend in Tulnici.

Residence is an understatement. Rather, it is about a large-scale residential concept, surrounded by positive energy, built in the heart of Codril Vlăsiei, a short distance from the future A0 - ring highway, Henri Coandă International Airport and Băneasa Shopping City. Hidden from the hectic life and pollution of the city, in an area where you can hear the chirping of wild birds from the window, this unique property has a plot of 14,000 square meters, a privilege that few residential properties enjoy in the immediate vicinity of the Capital. Generous rooms, solid wood floors, stained glass windows, woodwork and classic, timeless finishes are just a few of the attributes of the home that looks like something out of a modern fairy tale. The indoor pool and fireplace welcome frosty days, and the seemingly endless garden, which together with the tree-lined lake and relaxing walks through the private forest, emphasize the true definition of luxury. The property has photovoltaic panels with a power of 17 kw and a prosumer function, an internal elevator and a covered garage for 3 cars. It is a rare purchase opportunity with a beautiful story behind it, where the owner over time joined several parcels of land, including a piece of oak forest, which is now an integral part of the property. In addition to practical compartmentalization and tasteful finishes, the house can be lived in by two families by separating the areas. Being at the first sale since the construction, the owner confesses that it is hard to part with it, sharing the following story: Many times when I was preparing for the launch of the project I asked myself, what should my house look like? I browsed dozens of sites with famous projects, photos of famous houses, medieval villas and historical monuments. Neither seemed to be the expression of my expectation. I always told myself that I wanted it to reflect the situation of my childhood home, where no one could look in unless invited but, on the other hand, it had its back to the garden and the forest. And at the same time, to have a wide opening to the forest, to be separate but also connected to a service area. Well, if they could let the forest penetrate inside, that would be even better. And if I can get the vegetation to spread, symbolically, into the house, it would be wonderful to be able to light a fire that doesn't screen my view of the garden and the oak trees. From the beginning, I imagined a house with large windows, the size of a football goal, with wide doors, with openings through which nature and the forest could pass and embrace it from all sides. When I first stepped into the clearing with waist-deep grass, surrounded by tall oaks, I said to myself: This is the place for my house! Photo: Dan Călin

Only 45 km from Cluj, at the crossroads of Valea Ierii and Valea Negrii, a road through the forest suddenly opens up, reminiscent of a wonderful grove, a clearing flooded with greenery around an pond. A guesthouse all set in stone, wood and red flowers welcomes its guests with modern rooms and bohemian terraces. The mountain air feels cold and strong when it enters the nostrils, reaches the veins and ozonates. Here everything is under the sign of green - the rich and seemingly wild vegetation is left to dominate, to overflow, to fill the gaze with green. The plaster and buttresses of the exposed stone evoke the durability, stability and stature of a medieval settlement. Everything is made of wood, inside and out. The architecture follows the local rustic style, but the interior, all wood-paneled. has the atmosphere of a contemporary cottage. The wood reflects light creating a quiet, gentle and warm cocoon. Lighting accessories and chromatically coordinated contemporary furniture make a modern gray-yellow-black combination. There are 10 rooms with balconies above the lake, another 7 rooms in the main building (two of them have their own terrace and private tub with air massage) and 4 apartments (one with an area of 48sqm, shower and whirlpool tub/ ciubăr; its terrace is above the waterfall; other two apartments have private tub/ ciubăr). The property is perfectly designed and equipped for corporate and private events. It has large areas with carefully manicured grass for garden parties and a restaurant with a capacity of 300 people. The salt room, the sauna, the fireplace, the grass sunbeds or the tub are opportunities for relaxation or socializing, as you wish. Then there are the barrel-built dining areas, sauna and the jacuzzi in the tub that can be practically assimilated to a half-barrel - all elements that create a fairytale atmosphere suitable for both team buildings, weddings and holidays in nature. Children have a wonderful park but also a playground inside, while for the teens/ adults there is airsoft, paintball, rummy, backgammon, chess, playing cards, wireless access). There is also a well-stocked bar and a generous terrace with 80 seats in the air free and 36 things covered) and 9 covered parking spaces. The project for equipping 210 sqm with photovoltaic panels (40 kw) is currently being completed. Activities in the area: • Scărișoara cave • Muntele Rece, Băișoara, Rimetea, Posaga monasteries, Plopi hermitage • Gelu's fortress • Accumulation lakes: Tarnița, Gilău, Beliș • Runcului Gorges • Băișoara ski slope (20 km) • Turda Salt Mine - nature reserve • Turzii Gorges • The tomb of Mihai Viteazu Photo Florin Pepene

Designed by the family architect, G. Gracoski, the villa of Commander Nicolae Gracoski is one of the beautiful historical houses of the Capital. Named after its first owner, commander of the Military House of the Royal Court with the rank of rear admiral, the villa was built between 1908-1910, in a neo-baroque style with neo-Romanesque influences, on a generous plot of over 1,000 square meters of land near the Park Ioanid and the Grădina Icoanei Park, framed by the houses of famous families such as Callimachi, Văcărescu or personalities such as Alexandru Xenopol, Alexandru Macedonski, Eugeniu Teoharie, Radu Arion. The area is famous, being considered even today as one of the most elegant residential areas in the center of Bucharest. The imposing building that we still see today went through an extensive stage of renovation and reconsolidation that was completed in 2009, on which occasion the exterior and interior carpentry was replaced with solid wood, the floor was raised, the exterior terraces have were covered with travertine with a sensor heating system, the bathrooms were covered with granite or marble, an electric elevator was installed, a basement pool and a garage for two cars were built. Following the consolidation and restoration works, the interior spaces were reconfigured and brought up to the standards of the current period, thus offering the possibility of developing various functions: residence, offices, representative office, public institution, restaurant, etc. The property covers 1,609 sqm, has a height regime of Bs+Gf+1F+A and is composed of 10 rooms, 7 bathrooms, a 64 sqm ground floor terrace, a 43 sqm terrace on the top level and a double garage in the basement. It has 7 parking spaces, two in the garage and five in the yard. Beyond the distinctive architecture and interior decorations, the main attraction of the property remains the location. The villa benefits from an ultra-central position, in the heart of Bucharest, and a beautiful garden, to which is added the discretion and tranquility offered by the two historical parks: Grădina Icoanei Park and Ioanid Park. So, whenever there is the possibility of a relaxing walk on the romantic alleys of the two famous parks, feeling the sensation of returning to the Belle Epoque period of the old Bucharest.

The villa, built in 2014 on 2,600mp of land, is a testament to the contemporary style - modern architecture based on asymmetric volumes, wide openings and straight, clean lines, stripped of superfluous decorations. The fence and walkways are flanked by carefully selected mature vegetation; a long pedestrian walkway runs parallel to a 6x12m ornamental pond and driveway, one leading to the entrance to the house, the other to the double garage. The villa has 400 useful square meters on the ground floor (living room, kitchen, technical space, spa area, bathroom, garage) and the first floor with 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, dressing room and laundry room. The whole life of the house is oriented towards the back area - the living room on the ground floor and the elegant terraces on the first floor lead to the 5x10m pool heated with panels and guarded by shrubs and plants that lend it a vague Tuscan air. This location provides peace and privacy. The interior has a soothing color that oscillates between shades of tobacco, ivory and chocolate; the atmosphere is calm, quiet, refined; a modern fireplace that preserves the clean and straight lines of the house also contributes to this. Large glazed surfaces, curtains and blinds carefully negotiate the dosage of natural light inside, and the opening of the living room to the terrace and pool is done fluidly, as a natural extension when the season allows it. The hand of an interior designer can be discreetly felt everywhere. The master bedroom surprises with soft textures and a fireplace; bathrooms are stylish with monochrome trends and premium sanitary ware. The entire villa shows great care for the quality and refinement of the finishes and furnishings - it has a French oak staircase, underfloor heating, corian boards, fiber optics. The relaxation area is not neglected either, the villa having a sauna, spa and jacuzzi. The property enjoys the advantages of being located in Păulești, the select residential area of the city of Satu Mare. photo Florin Pepene

In a long and broad valley cut through thick woods stand few houses, clustered here and there, rather spread among large tracts of green land—on such land, with forest on three sides, a lover of green has built in 2007 a solid stone foundation on which he then aligned, horizontally, round, neat and straight logs in the shape of a house. A wide terrace, house to red geraniums, allows one to take possession of the property with a glance - everything is green, welcoming and alive; the vocabulary of the house does not include concrete, asphalt and plasterboard. Soft and warm logs are used inside as walls; mbroidered curtains, local pottery and a door painted with folk designs join the carved entrance gate and anchor the house in tradition; the computer and photovoltaic panels stand as symbols of the present. On the surrounding land, long branches hang heavy to the ground; somewhere in between them there is a bear watch shelter. Here at dusk there’s that ineffable feeling when the body feels the day slowing down and the soul vibrates in communion with nature. The ground floor means common spaces - living room, kitchen, dining area and bathroom. The corner stove promises to burn hot in the winter; in summer, the wood does its duty and keeps cool. The sleeping area consists of three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. For summer days, the gazebo with grill/oven solves the eternal dilemma what are we eating today, and the table tennis room breaks the tranquility with a little competitive spirit. When too much forest threatens the balance, the Sovata resort is 15 km away, ready to offer its attractions: lakes with chlorinated and sodium waters, restaurants or hiking on the Salt Mountain and Gurghiu Mountains, towards Vârful Cireșelu or Saca Hill; Praid, Corund, Odorheiu Secuiesc, Călimănesti, and Rimetea are not far away either. photo Florin Pepene

One of the truly authentic and spectacular areas of Romania is the Danube Delta, always an important touristic attraction of Europe. In Periprava, very close to the Ukrainian border, where Chilia branch and Letea Forest decided to join and create one of the most beautiful places of the Delta, we find a place where nature gave way to a small resort that blends in just perfectly. The resort covers 3025 sqm and hosts 18 rooms, a terrace, 2 dining rooms with a total capacity of 60 pax, a fully functional kitchen, a gazebo, docks and a pier. Everything that is needed for a complete experience of the Danube Delta. The entire resort was fully renovated in 2019 and is as good as new given that it was mostly used for personal pleasure by the actual owners. The property is sold turnkey, with fully furnished rooms that are ready to use and a functional kitchen that can provide for up to 60 customers. If you crave for a piece of the Danube's Delta magic, you will find it here, where the wild nature blends perfectly with today's comfort that the humans brought

The birth certificate of the monumental place that would definitively enter into the city life of Craiova and the country through the name, utility and brilliance of “Minerva Casino”, was signed more than a century ago, when the architect Toma Dobrescu handed over the plans for the new construction to a society in which entrepreneurs and workers were predominantly Italian. The Moorish-style building, completed in 1902, had a restaurant and hotel at its inauguration, later adding, through clever arrangements, the wine cellar and the summer garden. Later, under the care of extraordinary restorers (Vasilescu, Bazavan, Andronescu, Mândreanu, Istrățoiu, Barbu), the famous Moorish hall and beerhouse became the city’s main attraction, Minerva competing and surpassing all other party venues. The motto of that time - All the fine people gathers at Minerva’s made the regular attendance of the place to be an event for the citizens of Craiova. From the very beginning, Minerva brought together on the concert stage the most appreciated fiddlers of the times, such as Cristache Ciolacu or the Buică troupe, Dinicii, Tandinii, the instrumentalists from the Piculeata and Julea family. It must be remembered that artists that created a name for themselves in the country's artistic life made their debut on the Minerva stage. This is where Madelaine and Manu Nedeianu, Iodănescu-Bruno, Ion Vasilescu, Mia Braia, Ioana Radu, Dorina Drăghici, Petre Alexandru and many, many others started. When Giani Spinelli sang, the tables also occupied the entrance hall, many waiting outside, because there was no more room in the hall. It should also be remembered that Minerva was a real citadel of culture, here the artists spending their free time, over a drink, discussing art issues and making plans, giving birth to ideas. Here could be seen Amza Pellea, Gheorghe Cozorici, Constantin Rauțchi, Silvia Popovici, Sanda Toma, Ioana Bulca, Andreea Năstăsescu, Rodica Tapalagă, Ioana Măgură, Vasile Constantinescu, Vasile Nițulescu, Remus Comăneanu, Geo Barton, George Marutza or Costel Rădulescu, Mircea Bohoreanu, Benedict Gănescu, George Apostu, Victor Roman, Ilie Purcaru, Paul Anghel, Ion Caraion, Haralambie Grămescu, Mihai Ungheanu, Adrian Petringereanu, Horia Pătrașcu or Petre Dragu. Ion Voicu or Constantin Piliuță whenever they came to Craiova, Minerva was their host. Minerva hosted important people of the world: General Charles De Gaule, Ciu-En-Lai, Emperor Pahlavi of Iran, President Gomulka of Poland and so many others. The Minerva Garden hosted the first boxing galas in which many champions of the country competed: Anton Osca, Marin Gaspar or Gheorghe Lungu. Minerva remains an exceptional achievement in Craiova's urban planning, impressing in size and architectural exuberance. A monumental construction made in Moorish style, with a rich exterior decoration, with an entrance that stands out for its monumentality. The Maur salon has a huge skylight, with Viennese mirrors on the side that highlight the splendor and grandeur designed by the architect. Today Minerva is in a project state and is patiently and nostalgically waiting for the time to shine again. Consolidated and partially renovated, the building needs a renovation project in order to be used again as a hotel with restaurant, beerhouse and summer garden facilities and to become again the main attraction of a city that has been missing for too long.

We invite you to a green field, forgotten by the world, apparently outside of civilization and where the sun rises and sets unhindered by concrete or asphalt. The expanse of almost five hectares of land in this area means calm and solitude - the silent flat immovable plain and the forest that borders it are the guarantor. Entering the house, the green leaves the stage and wood enters - the entire lodge of over a thousand square meters is made of wood and is divided into truly generous day and night spaces. The ground floor means a high living room, a spacious kitchen and bedrooms, each with its own dressing room and bathroom. The upper floor has been reserved for a large gym and lounge area. Wood up, wood down, wood upright, horizontal, trunk, log, bar, plank - in any representation, whole or sliced, straight or gnarled, the wood is warm, silent, patient and lively and acts as a building material, decoration, binder between the outside and inside. A stylized hut exploits a hoof making it a native hobbit house, with gnarled trunks guarding the entrance (the windows are the bottoms of barrels ingeniously rotated on an axis). With a bedroom and a bathroom (approx. 40 sqm), the small building assumes the role of a guest room. A playground with a climbing wall, birds and swings provide activities for the little ones, along with the pond and the cattle on the property. The house and the outbuildings (garage, photovoltaic panels), the greenhouses and the vegetable garden, the fruit trees, the glistening water that made its way through the willows, the grass, the sheep stable and the bird area are guarantees of the self-sufficiency of the property. As additional security measures are the protective trench fence and thorny vegetation, the observation posts, the bunker as a shelter in case of calamity and the escape route. The location of the property 30 minutes from Bucharest, in Grădiștea (northeast of Ilfov County) makes it extremely attractive as a weekend refuge, a place of return to nature and peace.

Between the Bistrița and the Giurgeului Mountains, on the Bistricioara river valley near Borsec, there is the Corbu village, a small corner of heaven surrounded by secular forests. Here is our traditional domain, perfect for nature lovers, where they can move immediately. Everything was built and arranged in the smallest details: from the main residence villa, to the guest houses and the breeding grounds, from the terrace from which you can admire a spectacular panorama, to the wooden pavilion that invites you to relax, to the bridge over the creek that runs through the property tot the sauna and other modern equipment... all this can transpose you into a fairytale world, away from the urban tumult. Our domain, close to the Borsec mineral waters, in the middle of the nature, seems to be the perfect place for a better, healthier life.

This interwar building, design in Neo-Romanian style, is located in Sibiu, in the immediate vicinity of the 15th century medieval fortified enclosure. The ensemble is classified in the List of Historical Monuments in Romania by order no. 2030/2014 with code SB-II-a-B-21084, and includes: the main residence (SB-II-m-B-21084.01), the first annex (SB-II-m-B-21084.02) and the second annex (SB-II-m-B-21084.03). According to cartographic sources, around 1875 there was another building on the place of the current one. In 1909, the plot was owned by Henrik Baumann, in 1929 the ownership right was registered for Luiza and Friedrich Baumann. The inscription on the portico’s floor and on the façade indicates its year of construction as 1929, the project being signed by architect Alfred Cernea, as the concrete slab on the façade indicates. Most likely, the project was commissioned by Dr. Liviu Turcu. The present building is emblematic for its Neo-Romanian style. The characteristic features are: massive volumetry, highlighting the central body, loggia with short and thick columns, carved wooden structures inspired by the vernacular architecture, trilobed arches, openings with semi-circular closure and rich decorations with Oriental motifs. The central side of the façade is taller than the other parts, which is also highlighted at the roof. The central area of the ground floor contains a window with semi-circular closure, framed by two embedded Corinthian columns. The floor of the central part is the richest ornamented part of the façade, elevated by the balcony, supported on four massive consoles, decorated with arabesque panels. The loggia opens through three tall trilobate arcades. The façade surfaces around the arches are decorated in an exuberant style with spindles, flowers and arabesques. The main façade of the building offers a panoramic view of the entire garden, at the center of which is an ornamental pool. The access to the yard is made through an alley flanked by tall trees. Designed as an urban villa-style residence with a park around the central building, it initially hosted the Dr. Bolintineanu Sanatorium, and in November 1936 it became Dr. Antal's For Births and Female Diseases Clinic. The building was nationalized in 1948 with this function, soon becoming the headquarters of Sibiu General Sanitary Inspectorate, then a kindergarten, a function preserved until the 1990s. In 2000 the villa and the parcel were returned to the heir family. Today, the imposing building keeps almost intact its original design, projected by architect Cernea, with the valuable decorative elements of the façades. The two annexes were also preserved, realized in a unitary architectural design, the fence near the street along with the main gate, the alley lined by trees, the rampant, the staircase and the basin in front of the main building. Inside, valuable items have been preserved, such as decorative paintings of the ceiling and the original carpentry. Other main attractions add up to the exquisite architectural details, such as: the generous yard of over 5000 sqm and the proximity to The Big Square in Sibiu, located at only 200 m. An outstanding witness of the only national architecture program in Romania, located in a central area of Sibiu, this splendid interwar villa is silently and hopefully waiting for its new owner.

The imposing villa, category B historical monument, was built at the beginning of the 20th century, according to the plans of the architect Dimitrie Maimarolu (1869-1926). The residence, designed in the eclectic style characteristic of the era, still preserves impactful architectural elements today: entrance canopy, stained glass windows, monumental interior staircase made of oak wood. The vacant land was bought in 1897 by Vladimir G. Athanasovici – lawyer and liberal senator (1864 – 1928). The construction was completed in 1911 and has gone through various renovations, modifications and consolidations in the more than one hundred years. The Athanasovici family was part of the great bourgeoisie of the era. Doctor George Athanasovici (1822-1892) was the capital's first medical examiner and founded in 1857 together with the French Carol Davila the National School of Medicine in Bucharest. His son, Vladimir, a lawyer by profession, studied law in Paris and in 1888 joined the Bucharest Bar, later becoming a state lawyer and government commissioner at the Rural House. The architect Dimitrie Maimarolu (1859-1926) was trained in France and signed emblematic constructions in Bucharest: the Palace of the Chamber of Deputies (today the Palace of the Patriarchate), the Palace of the National Military Circle, the Church of Saint Sylvester, the Armenian Cathedral (Armenian Church), the Concordia Hotel. He was a founding member of the Society of Romanian Architects, a member of the Polytechnic Society and an architect in the Historical Monuments Commission. The ensemble from Batiștei street is composed of two buildings: the main body with four levels (basement, ground floor, mezzanine floor and attic), with a footprint of 539.71 square meters; secondary body with two levels (ground floor and first floor), with a footprint of 132.6 sqm. The main building has an auditorium and a secure valuables room located in the basement of the building. After the 2000s, the building housed the Cultural Center of the Republic of Hungary. Today, the villa is in a good state of conservation, with extremely valuable elements being fully preserved: the monumental interior staircase, the stained glass elements of the windows and the skylight, the stuccoes and frames of the doors and windows, the stuccoes and decorative elements of the ceilings, the iron canopy wrought iron of the main access door, the ornaments on the facade. The electrical, sanitary, heating and cladding elements of the roof covering were completely replaced. The generous courtyard is divided into green space arranged as a garden and car park clad with cubic stone. The land of 1,264 square meters has a double opening, 32 ml on Batiștei street and 36 ml on Aron Florian street. By positioning, age, history and architectural details, the villa Athanasovici from Batiștei street represents a building of great value, a significant part of the immovable cultural heritage in Romania and an expression of a western way of life. Sources: e-architecture.ro arhivadearhitectura.ro

In a Bucharest of high hopes, fueled by the end of the First World War, Dr. Ion Moscu was constructing his house, on a land bought from the Catargi family. Doctor Ion Moscu was a leading personality of the time, being the first Romanian doctor trained in Paris, doctor of the Patriarch of Romania and of the Royal House. The architectural plans of his house were made by the famous architect Gh. Simotta, who sketched a splendid Neo-Romanian style building. Gheorghe Simotta (1891-1979) was born into a family of Aromanians from the mountains of Macedonia and took refuge with his family in Romania after graduating high school. He attended the Superior School of Architecture under the guidance of masters Petre Antonescu and Ermil Pangratti. His more than 120 projects are from the inter-war period and are mostly found in Bucharest: the Patriarchal Residence, Darvari Hermitage, Gomoiu Hospital and numerous private villas, collective dwellings and funerary monuments in Bellu cemetery. His early style is based on Neo-Romanian elements, to which are gradually added modernist, Art Deco, Balkan resonances or influences of Byzantine decorative art. The restrictions imposed by the communist regime made him abandon his design activity and serve for 30 years as a professor at the Faculty of Architecture in Bucharest. After a meticulous rehabilitation, modernization and restoration project that lasted about three years, Moscu's building in the heart of the Capital became a veritable boutique hotel. The downtown location and architectural value imposed the concept of boutique hotel. Currently, it has ten rooms with generous surfaces (25-40 sqm) and a 90 sqm apartment, some of them equipped with balcony or loggia. Each room is furnished differently, according to the history and architecture of the building. The furniture in classic style is complemented by pieces with styles from different eras: Ludovic XV, Art Nouveau, Biedermeier or Empire. For the finishing of the precious interiors, solid wood, Versailles parquet and marble were used. Moscu's building represents the opportunity to own an architectural jewel in the center of Little Paris, signed by a famous architect, who already functions successfully as a luxury hotel, with loyal guests and a specialized team, well trained to offer an impeccable service for notable clients. Source: Cornel Samara, „Gheorghe Simotta – între nobleţe şi arhitectură”, Sfântul Ierarh Nicolae Publishing, Brăila, 2014 Photo: Andrei Mărgulescu