luxury property for sale Podenii Vechi, Romania

Sinaia is the Romanian city with the largest number of buildings classified as historical monuments per inhabitant. Not incidentally, the way the city looks today is the result of the work and signature of some of the most important Romanian architects: Ion Mincu, Toma Socolescu, Paul Smărăndescu, Duiliu Marcu or Grigore Cerchez, to name just a few of them. The Anastasie Simu House, or the Retezat Villa, as it is now known, is designed and built in the German Renaissance style of the early twentieth century by Czech architect Karel Liman. He was a good friend of King Carol I, for whom he designed the Pelișor Castle and the Honor Lobby of the Peleș Castle, all of them having in common elements specific for this artistic style. Chief Architect of the Royal House of Romania between 1894-1929, Karel Liman was born in the Czech Republic in 1855, in a family of carpenters. Inheriting the passion for woodworking from his father and grandfather, Liman follows the courses of the Fine Arts Faculty in Prague and then the Bauakademie in Munich. Established in Vienna around 1880, Liman gains experience through the collaboration with the Fellner&Hellmer Architecture Workshop in the capital of Habsburgs. He contributed to the projection plans of the Albert Rothschild Palace in Vienna, conducted under the guidance of architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur and of the Hunting House of Prince Christian de Hohenlohe-Ohringen in Javorina, Slovakia. Recommended by Destailleur to André Lecomte du Noüy, a French architect also established in Romania, Liman is employed by the Architecture Service of the Ministry of Cults and Public Instruction at the Commission for Historical Monuments in Romania, where he participated at the restoration of churches „Saint Nicholas” and „The Three Hierarchs” in Iași and the Episcopal Church in Curtea de Argeș. In the service of the Royal House, besides Pelişor Castle and the complex project for the rearrangement of Peleş, Liman also signs other projects such as the „Princess's Nest” (1894), the extension of the Cotroceni Palace, the house of Prince Carol in Bucharest, King Ferdinand’s cottage in Lăpuşna, the rearrangement of the Bran Castle and several other buildings in Sinaia: The Economat Villa, The Guard House, The Royal Stables or The Retezat Villa. After the architect's death, the house was bought by academician Anastasie Simu (1854-1935), a P.h.D in Political and Administrative Sciences, a great art lover and passionate collector, the first Romanian to build a private museum in Bucharest in 1910. In 1927, Simu donated to the Romanian state over 1.200 works: paintings, graphics, sculptures and decorative arts gathered over the years. A part of the collection is exhibited today at the National Art Museum of Romania, and another at The Simu Collection at Bucharest Pinacoteca. The architecture of the house, typical for the German Renaissance, impresses both on the outside and on the inside. The façade is predominantly of stone, dotted with corner bossages and vividly colored ceramic decorations. The interior is exuberant, highlighting the richness of wooden decorations, the coffered painted ceilings, and especially the beautiful stained glass, perfectly preserved to this day. The location in Sinaia is an ideal one, being close enough to the city centre so that it can be reached by a few minutes’ walk, but at the same time, isolated enough to offer privacy and detachment for a mountain holiday. The villa is renovated and functional, currently offering accommodation in 8 rooms, 2 apartments and 1 studio, rated with 8.8/10 on one of the most important online booking platforms. The future destination remains commercial, a hotel/boarding house or it can become a permanent personal residence or a holiday one with a lot of charm and full of history.

The development of the Viforâta village is closely linked to the construction of the Viforâta Monastery, 5 km North of Târgoviște City. According to official records, Voda Vlad V founded the monastery about 500 years ago (1530), and the process was repeated a century later by Matei Basarab. Over time, the small village established at the foot of the monastery, towards Târgoviște, developed the textile craft tradition, and started attracting a large number of high-profile members of the Romanian cultural scene with its undeniably picturesque qualities. The Dărăscu-Enigărescu Castle was built on top of a hill northwest of Târgoviște, and the access road to the Viforâta monastery was completed on the command of the Dărăscu family in 1910, 20 years after the construction began. With a blurred history, the property would escape nationalization, even though, at some point, it did serve as the headquarters of the local Agricultural Production Cooperative. Afterwards, between 1975 and 1977, it was owned by Octav Enigărescu. A man of vast culture, baritone, radio man, actor, music professor and director of the Bucharest Opera (1969-1971), Octav Enigărescu immediately appreciated the architectural qualities of the small castle. Based on a terraced structure, the construction has two levels, and a high basement that covers the entire footprint of the building. The focus of the residence is indisputably the shape of its central tower, reminiscent of the medieval keep typology, the circular shape of which also influences the structure of the rooms. The building was strengthened by the Enigărescu family, who took care of the maintenance of the castle and reinforced the structure with steel beams in 1988.

The house at 9 Verde Street (today Gheorghe Manu street) was built between 1911 and 1923, initiated by Tațiana Niculescu-Dorobanțu. One of the four daughters of Ion C. Brătianu, Tațiana (1870-1940) married in 1900 Ilie I. Niculescu-Dorobanțu (1873-1943), liberal political figure and prefect of Ilfov. Through their properties will also feature the Darvari manor, close to Bucharest. The plans designed by architect Grigore Cerchez (Cerkez) specified „a building with 2, 3 and 4 levels, massive walls, covered with tiles”, occupying 668,29 square meters. In a letter from 9th of May 1910 addressed to her sister Măriuţa Pillat, then in Paris, Tațiana confessed: „I believe we will have a truly beautiful mansion, Louis XII style, with carved stone and exposed brique”. On 25 September 1913, Taţiana was in France, writing to Sabina Cantacuzino: „The castles on Loire I am not even mentioning, I am amazed by so much beauty and very proud to realize that, without possible comparation to these, my house is very beautiful. Unfortunately, the narrow street makes the palace look crammed.” To furnish the interior, Tațiana chose Romanian traditional art objects and pieces from Antique shops in Paris and Munich. From Spain she brought furniture and tapestries. She wanted everything to be perfect and told her close friends: „I will show you this room only when it is completely furnished.” The imposing building bears the allure of a Gothic cathedral, with exquisite constructive and decorative elements: the exposed brick façade, in several shades of red, the towers’ silhouettes, the entrance portal, the imposing windows, with carved stone elements in Neo-gothic fashion, the cornices, gargoyles, stained glass windows and pointed arches that mark the exterior and interior. In his will, Ilie I. Niculescu-Dorobanțu donated the building to the Ion C. Brătianu Establishment, provided that it became the museum „Ilie, Tațiana and Ion Niculescu-Dorobanțu”. Between 1948-1957, the house hosted the canteen of the employees of the Minister of Industry. In 1956, following the pressures of the Direction of Historic Monuments, that considered the building „one of the most valuable in the Capital from an architectural point of view”, it was classified as part of the heritage of the Ministry of Culture and Education, undergoing consolidation works. Starting 1958, it hosted the Technical school of choreography, with 300 students. Today, more than one century after its construction, the impressive Gothic Revival residence maintains its mysterious allure, fascinating the passers-by with its imposing dimensions and unique construction details, crafted by one of the most important Romanian architects. Sources: Simina Stan, „Reședința Ilie I. Niculescu-Dorobanțu, monument istoric”, în Revista Arhitectura, iulie 2015 Narcis Dorin Ion, ”Memoria unui oraș – București”, ed. Institutul Cultural Român, București, 2012

In Bățanii Mici, a village located between Bățanii Mari and Herculian, in the Baraolt depression, there is this intimate mansion - an elegant and solid building, well maintained, with a high ground floor and a fence matching the stone of the property. Set back from the street, surrounded by a lawned courtyard and a generous paved area, the building impresses with its entrance under a portico with majestic, classicizing columns. The facade is exquisitely decorated with elegant boxes showing plant elements and fine window frames. The annex also has a special charm with its exposed brick façade and discreetly carved reddish wood pillars. Inside, the rooms are spacious and bright, what impresses is the huge library - the mansion belongs to the daughter of Elek Benedek, publicist, writer, educator, creator of Hungarian children's literature and collector of Szekler folklore.

Breaza was always a preferred weekend and vacation destination for people in Bucharest especially. The main advantages being the well known fresh air, beautiful nature with plenty of hiking options, so many attractions in the vicinity and also the easy access even during the weekends when the rest of Prahova Valley are a lot harder to reach. If Breaza is usually a place where one can find newer vacation homes, on one of the streets that meandres up the hill, we have the surprise to find a real architectural old gem , hidden behind the tall trees in front. The mansion clearly shows the signs of age, but this did not erase its beautiful features: the special structure with a small side on the front corner, the three-way arches across the entire terrace, the beautiful pillars and also the corner tower catch the eye even today. Built to offer all the luxury and confort of life in Breaza of its time, the mansion can be renovated and turned inti s very special second home. With a land plot of 1,880 sqm, the mansion has a total built area of 488 sqm, on two levels. From a structure point of view, the building looks good, the rooms are generally also in a good shape with the exception of the back area where a hole in the roof, now repaired, created some damage in that specific part of the house. Although generally in a good shape, the building will of course need a general renovation to really shed light on its beautiful architectural features. Separately from the main building, we can find a nice stone cellar that can be turned into a small wine cellar , and also a 40 sqm annex building that can be turned into usable space at will of the new owner. Easily accessible and very well located, the mansion can be turned into a really charming vacation residence.

Live amidst the architectural splendour of this meticulously preserved manor, embracing a lifestyle that seamlessly merges past and present.In the heart of the picturesque Transylvanian landscape, where tales of folklore intertwine with the echoes of history, Luxury Heritage in the Land of Legends stands as a testament to the enchanting allure of the region. Nestled at the very base of the iconic Rosenau Citadel, our haven beckons you to explore the rich tapestry of attractions that surround it. This exclusive property unfolds as a captivating ensemble of three meticulously restored Saxon houses, each transformed into a sanctuary of luxury accommodation. Tailored to accommodate a large family and/or group of friends, the property includes generous spaces for group gatherings and serene relaxation areas. It weaves together the rich tapestry of traditions and the graceful patina of time with contemporary elements, offering a haven of refined comfort. The kitchen is designed and equipped to support all sorts of events, from more intimate and private to larger and formal ones. The trio of houses, dating back to the 18th century, stands as architectural treasures, each with its unique character and charm. The Barn House is a space of charm and sophistication. The welcoming area is enveloped in an warmth of cozy atmosphere and hospitality, where every detail is designed to make the stay memorable. The lounge area serves as a retreat for relaxation and contemplation, inviting to savour the ambiance and leave the cares of the world behind. The breakfast salon where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee is blending with the scent of the gourmet delicacies is adjoined by the kitchen where culinary artistry meets functionality. Upstairs, the Barn House includes four two-stories suites, each being a sanctuary of comfort and style. The private retreat exudes elegance and every detail is curated to enhance the senses of well-being. In the Artisan's House, the space that is inspiring and inviting to creativity includes a ground floor apartment, a double room at the attic, as well as a generously space dedicated to a larger apartment that consists in a living room, kitchen, cellar, four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Also, the building includes a sauna and a relaxing area. The Painter’s House is a wonderful blend of historic traces and luxury comfort. The ground floor is dedicated to an elegant and spacious dining area adjoined by a sophisticated bar area. Upstairs the space includes three spectacular luxury duplex suites with a distinguished level of comfort and style. Adding another layer to this historical character and dating back to 1780, the original ceilings stand as venerable guardians of bygone eras. The walls are adorned with paintings that bear witness to the artistry of the late 18th century. These carefully preserved artworks serve as visual echoes of the past, offering glimpses into the cultural and artistic currents that prevailed during the era of their creation. As residents traverse the elegant spaces, they are enveloped by an immersive experience, surrounded by the tangible history of original ceilings and paintings that have withstood the test of time, inviting to admiration and contemplation. Within the curated spaces of the estate, the Donghia Chair - Anziano by the renowned American designer John Hutton takes center stage, marrying contemporary elegance with a touch of timeless allure. Elevating the comfort quotient to the pinnacle of timeless sophistication, the estate invites residents to luxuriate in the embrace of Chesterfield sofas or to indulge in William Holland bathtubs. The Porch is a newly built modern structure which provides a contemporary relaxation area. The architectural finesse of The Porch allows a seamlessly integration of the new element into the historical ensemble.The space extends its luxury experience beyond its cover into the tranquil atmosphere of the meticulously landscaped outdoor area.

Created in eclectic fashion with strong neoclassical features, this house was built during the late 19th century, with a commercial destination, according to the nature of the area. The particular style of buildings with dual use – commercial premises on the ground floor and residence upstairs – was brought by Jews, once they settled in Lipscani, the commercial neighbourhood of Bucharest. The building is distinguished by its neoclassical elements: cornice, pillars, triangular frontons and window frames. Before its nationalisation in the communist regime, the property belonged to Nicolae Dinischiotu, vice-minister of National Economy during the reign of King Michael I, the last King of Romania. The building has 3 sides with commercial premises on the ground floor: one on I.C. Brătianu boulevard, the other on Sfânta Vineri street and the third one on Elias Jacques street. The latter bears the name of one of the richest Romanians: the industrialist, banker and landlord Jacques Manachem Elias was born in 1844 in Bucharest, in a Jewish family. A great philanthropist, he bequeathed his whole fortune to the Romanian Academy. He was adviser to King Carol I of Romania. The building has 60 rooms, a courtyard of 60 sqm and a 175 sqm land on the side of I.C. Brătianu boulevard. The property belongs to the architectural assembly „Elias Jacques Street”, listed in the National Register of Historic Monuments 2010, Bucharest. Between 1990-1992, the house was consolidated and renovated, preserving the original architecture. The generous surface and the downtown location create a real potential for any commercial or touristic business. Sources: adevarul.ro Merg in Cartierul Evreiesc, Florin Leonard Slovineanu Photo: Gabriel Ghizdavu

Built by Italian stonemasons following the plans of three architects (George Sterian, H. Rick and Nicolae Ghica-Budești), the casino was erected in 1892-1894, thus being the first casino in Romania. It was quickly followed by casinos in Vatra Dornei (1898), Constanța (1910) and Sinaia (1912), all part of King Carol I's strategy to develop Romanian resorts after the model of more famous ones abroad (Slănic-Moldova was compared at the time to Karlovy Vary and Vichy, its mineral springs being awarded at international exhibitions in Paris, Frankfurt, Vienna). Although it is not an example of pure Art Nouveau, the casino in Slănic-Moldova manages to combine this dynamic and functional style with principles from other currents with surprising results. The decorative stone elements and the door and window frames come from the secular Neo-Romanian, but the towers are of Eastern religious architecture. Other elements are reminiscent of Neo-Renaissance correspondences - for example the symmetry of the composition and the painted decorative panels. The construction is arranged horizontally on UG + GF + 1F following the rules of perfect symmetry - a main building guarded by two towers connected to two other lower-rise buildings with covered corridors that function as terraces; the long row finishes with two pavilions that resume through the round roofs the idea of the main towers. Seen from a distance, the casino resembles a castle perched on a hillside, a slightly romantic, peaceful profile, with a discreet poetry enveloping it at dusk. In autumn, the forest in the distance lends it a bit of its leave’s auburne, winter dresses it all in white. However, from the front, it is obviously a building dedicated to community life - the platform with arched columns and a monumental stone staircase leaves no room for doubt, just as its location with the beautiful central park at the foot does not deny this either. After decades of listening to the sound of dice, spinning roulette and French Les jeux sont faits, rien ne va plus, witnessing the making of fortunes and the dissolution of marriages, the casino became a good citizen in 1948, functioning as a House of Culture, then performance hall, city library, art gallery and other public functions. The cinema functioned in the original hall with 350 seats, which today amazes us with its two colors - the white of the walls decorated with ton sur ton woodwork and the amber of the velvety chairs and curtains. The hall is still a jewel with its shell-based lodges, lacy arches and a chandelier, unfortunately not the original one, mounted on a rich ceiling decorated with a glass skylight captive in metal embroidery. Over time, the building has received two more terraces, a brasserie and a boarding house since 1960, and has undergone renovation and restoration work in the 1980s and 1994s and 1994s. Outside, street lamps guard the building in the typical Art Nouveau language - black wrought iron with gold accents and white glass bulbs like flower buds. Thanks to the spectacular architectural project and restoration works, the casino appears today vibrant, lively, dynamic, bold and not old or lethargic like, unfortunately, many other historical monuments of the time. Today, the casino is looking for its visionary owner who will exploit its tourist potential and give it back that joie de vivre that positioned it at the beginning of the 19th century as a symbol of Slănic-Moldova and beyond. Area attractions: - Nemira ski slope - mountain trails and hikes - Three hundred steps, Uzului Valley, Nemira Mare, etc. - salt mine from Târgu Ocna - Măgura Ocnei monastery - Valea Uzului dam Photo: Tudor Prisecaru

The historic streets in the center of the capital were also targeted in the modernization process of Bucharest in the interwar period, areas that, at that time, were opening up to the new economic and commercial domains. The urban block-villas would meet the required functionality needs- the building that can be found on 24-26 Polona Street, built in 1927-1928, is one of such type. The modern building, individually compartmentalized on each floor, has undergone a restoration, rehabilitation and reconversion process, becoming an ultramodern and multifunctional construction.

Lining the cobbled streets named after the furriers and lipscani of yesteryear, the inn first shows off its wide, tall, arched ground-floor windows colored by faux stained glass. However, the upper floor retains its former glory, carefully decorated with rich elements such as the arms that support the wrought iron balcony, the common border that functions as a frame for the tall and narrow windows and the denticles that keep the rhythm under the roof. Today, the interior of the inn is dedicated to corporate and private events, which it hosts in three large areas – the conference center, the reception-foyer and the event hall. The space for business or cultural events is modern, bright and impeccably arranged for today's requirements (it has a capacity of 50-300+ people and is equipped with high-speed wi-fi internet, Video Wall Display, flip charts and systems professional sound system); instead, the event hall preserves accents of the past through sumptuous chandeliers, reinterpreted capitals and boiserie pieces that encapsulate old school sophistication. Spectacular by the contrast between ultramarine chairs, glass tables and boxed mirrors, this room discreetly resumes the English motif much more present in the reception area. The hall is served by its own kitchen equipped with modern equipment. The one that preserves the charm of the old inn is the inner courtyard, through the doors that the small traders hold open like welcoming arms, eager to show their treasures. Once upon a time there were majestic linden trees that shaded the yard, the name of the property coming from them. Atanasie Hagi, Gheorghe Polizu and Ștefan Popovici are the ones who built this inn in 1833, already having shops on the land which they expanded by buying from the neighbors. They built in their place, from the ground up, and in perfect companionship the Linden Inn, or as they called the Bezesten, from the main street of Marchitani (Strada Lipscani) which can be seen marked with our brands (initials) above both gates, with all the expenses of companionship are not out of two, brothers, a penny and a penny, from the warp (beginning) to the end of the key writes Constantin Bacalbaşa in București de altadată. The good camaraderie, the initials of which can still be seen today, did not last long because in 1835 the inn was shared, each owner receiving 14 shops and two warehouses; they kept in common only the toilet and the room where the innkeeper lives. Over time, the shops will continue to change their owners and close their doors well at night to protect travelers and merchants, as the Bacalbaşa writes: the shops were on one side and the other, and between them a street, which until 1916 it was paved with river stone. (…) All the shops were placed on deep cellars with large vaults that can still be seen today, the ceilings of the shops were also made in vaults. As in other inns, the windows and doors of the shops had iron shutters which were closed at night, and on top of them were placed crossbeams bent at the ends. At the entrances of the inn, on one side and on the other, next to the building, there were some stone pillars, about a meter high and quite thick, intended to protect the walls from damage by carts with goods that entered and left the inn.

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

Located on Dinicu Golescu Boulevard, The Villa with Gorgons is one of the few buildings from the beginning of the 20th century that has been preserved on this important artery of Bucharest. The building was built in 1913 and bears the signature of Ion D. Berindey, one of the most famous and prolific Romanian architects of the first three decades of the 20th century. Among the 29 works classified as historical monuments of Ion D. Berindey are the Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino Palace (today the headquarters of the George Enescu National Museum and the Romanian Composers Union), the George G. Assan House (today the House of Scientists), Palace of the Journalists' Union (today the Very Small Theatre). The Villa with Gorgons was built as Colonel Andreescu's private residence as explained by Revista Poporului, a newspaper of the time, which emphasizes how a good architect can with a modest amount easily obtain a completely satisfactory construction from the aesthetic and comfortable point of view. From an aesthetic point of view, the building is tributary to the romantic style and has as a distinctive sign the gorgonles, sculptures that decorate the facade. Gorgons are taken from Greek culture where symbols on doors, walls, windows, floors and shields were intended to protect the ancient Greeks from evil. In terms of use, the villa is truly versatile and can be set up as a home, office space or a bohemian restaurant. Located on a land area of ​​309 square meters, with a footprint of 101 square meters, Vila cu Gorgone is a slim building, with a D+D+1E+M height regime. The spaces are generous and balanced on levels. The ground floor and first floor have three rooms each and spacious entrance halls. The rooms have wide windows and are bright. The same generous space also exists in the mezzanine, and the attic is open space and perfect for a bohemian design. The villa has two access ways: one pedestrian and another for car access. The building is strengthened and the facade is completely restored. Photo: Tudor Prisecaru, Alex Canjea.

When you hear ”Saxon house” the first thing that comes to your mind might be Prince Charles and his property in Viscri. An important unit of the local heritage, the Saxon houses are much more than that. More than 200 villages and many cities in Transylvania bear the mark of the Germanic civilization. And the Saxon house in Codlea, built between 1905-1907, makes no exception. The high gates, which shield the property from any indiscretion, allow for an impressive house to meet the curious eyes with its large windows, wooden beams and poles in sight, with the air of a miniature fortress. With a usable area of 450 sqm, the property is completely restored and the current owner paid a special attention to the preservation of the original architectural details. The oak carpentry has been refurbished, but for a better thermal comfort, another row of laminated wood windows has been added. The wooden doors and door frames are also modern additions, high quality replicas of the original elements. Two rows of parallel beams pass, at a height of 3.5 meters, the ceiling of the house. The attic, an open space of 130 sqm, has its own bathroom and is protected by a recently rebuilt roof with double-glazed tiles. The garage with automated access and separate central heating on each level are just some discreet elements of modernity in a context that preserves the charm of a traditional Saxon dwelling. And the property benefits from a real bonus: in the same yard there is a completely separate house with an area of more than 200 sqm, disposed on two levels. Built in 1973, this home is fully modernized and equipped. The land on which the property is located is also impressive. Spread over an area of 1826 square meters, it is composed of two distinct parts: a pretty cobbled courtyard, confined by ornamental plants, and a terraced garden with fruit trees. The areas are separated by massive walls that enhance the appearance of the typical fortified Saxon properties. In addition, the location, a keyword on the real estate market, is a special one. The property is in the downtown of Codlea, 15 kilometers away from Brasov and only 5 kilometers from the future Ghimbav airport. From the yard of the Saxon House you can admire the Postăvaru massif, and the proximity of the DN1 national road makes it an excellent choice for those who appreciate mobility.

Captured in a photograph with the sun behind it, illuminating and hiding it from view at the same time, the Nagy mansion seems to have the power to transport its guest back to the 19th century, just as Gil, played by Owen Wilson, returned to the 1920s in the film Midnight in Paris, directed by Woody Allen in 2011. The idea of traveling back in time is often used in the description of properties and therefore subject to demonetization; in the case of the Nagy mansion, it stands in certain rooms where the past comes to life through a special stove, through pieces of solid wood furniture carefully crafted and polished by time such as the two sumptuous original Saxon beds. The mansion, built in 1802 by the Hungarian noble family Nagy, today completely renovated and brought up to modern living standards, preserves original architectural details, despite its troubled history - in 1992, when the property was reacquired, it no longer had doors or windows; after the nationalization in 1949 it was used by the local IAS including to house day laborers. The story goes that Szotyori Nagy Tamásné, mistress of the manor in the middle of the 19th century, was a fearless woman who not only went to the front to look for her hero son, but offered shelter to the persecuted and, after the revolution was crushed, sent parcels to those incarcerated. In 1884, during the election campaign, in the building that later became a granary, the owner of the place hosted the well-known writer Jókai Mór. Today, the entrance through the wide gate shows a circle of flowers whose role, in addition to the decorative one, is to guide today's horse-drawn carriages to the entrance of the building. With a decent exterior and a small portico the mansion consists of a spacious ground floor and a generous attic dominated by the protective red roof over them; the two windows placed above the entrance, on the left and right are known as the queen's eyes, belonging to the most desirable room in the building. The mansion functions today as a guesthouse and has 3 rooms with matrimonial beds and 4 double rooms, all with their own bathroom. The dining room can accommodate 70 people and the old cellar is now a wine cellar, keeping visible both parts of the original foundation wall and the old roof tiles reused as flooring. The sauna, the salt room and other ways to spend quality time complete the generous offer of the outside – walks through the silence of wheat fields and potato crops or visiting the Balvanyos baths, the Cheile Varghisului nature reserve, the birch forest in Reci, the Kalnoky castle and the Zabola domain (Covasna being also known as the Land of Manors). The town of Coșeni is 13km from Prejmer, 19km from Harman and 28km from the center of Brașov. photo Florin Pepene

Somewhere in Muntenia, on the Doamnei river valley, about halfway between Curtea de Arges and Campulung, in the Domnesti commune, there is a discreet property that, with its exposed brick pillars, brown wooden shutters and large flagstone paving, reminds a little of Tuscan houses. Those that, like this one, grow young trees in oversized pots, have terrace furniture of an essentialized rustic and trellises with red flowers, in our case geraniums. The river stone fence ensures the property has privacy. The house belonged to Dr. Teja Papahagi, an exceptional doctor and outstanding personality of the time, a man with a vast culture, full of initiative and organizational spirit. He gave his heart to the commune he loved and served throughout his life. Teja Papahagi was the son of Pericle Papahagi, born from the Aromanian nobility, but also from the princely lineage of the Bessarabians, being the one who founded, in Domneşti, a modern hospital with city utilities, a cultural society aimed at bringing the princely history back into focus. The street on which the house is located bears his name, and opposite is the hospital where he served his entire career. The house is on one level, having an almost imperceptibly raised foundation and a low roof supported by brick pillars. It is set back from the street and surrounded by ornamental trees and shrubs, contorted, wild, overgrown with ivy and an untamed vegetation that creates an atmosphere of vague solitude and interiorization. The house itself confirms the hypothesis - the libraries and the pieces of art that dominate the rooms determine the intensity of the natral light; there’s need for control because on the shelves there are old books of specialized literature in Aromanian, Romanian and French, plus writings and manuscripts of the owner’s father, the Aromanian linguist, philologist and folklorist Pericle Papahagi, the author of the first thorough studies on the Romanian Megleno group. In fact, the house, built of brick in 1959 to impeccable standards even today, has an office where the globe, carefully chosen decorative ceramics, lighting fixtures, the pipe resting on the leather map, the watercolors on the walls and the collection of rocks are elements that speak of the existence of an intellectual who sometimes slept here, surrounded by his passions. The living room still seems to carry the echo of the last conversations around the jewel-stove, made of tiles spectacularly decorated with lapis lazuli. The bedrooms have a sober air, softened by the carved wood of the furniture pieces such as the mirror or the wardrobe, or by the lively motifs of the fabrics - carpets, curtains, duvets and pillows. The kitchen keeps a wonderful old cooking machine with a hood between the walls paneled in the chocolate wood of the house. From the back terrace of the house one enters a small room full of books, a perfect place where one can retire to read in the summer. In the generous yard behind the house, there are outbuildings built in the same period. The attention to detail is overwhelming and visible right from the entrance - the door is made of wood, with a forged iron model like a broken embroidery, and the door knob is also a small artistic object, everything being perfectly integrated into the concept of the house. Heating is done with terracotta stoves; the property has running water from its own source, sewerage and electricity while street water and gas can be accessed from the street points.