luxury properties for sale Romania (page 2)

The history of the Predeal Resort is undeniably linked to the Romanian Principalities’ modernization process; the city became well-known when the railway line was drawn up by means of the Convention between Romania and Austria-Hungary, dated 31st of May 1874. The Predeal Station, located on the railway line connecting Ploiești and Brașov, was to become the turning point in the settlement’s development, and set off the first steps towards a prosperous period in terms of industry and tourism. The villa, built in the second half of the 1920s in Cioplea, the city’s area known for sports and tourism-related activities, was one of the first recreational buildings constructed in the area, and subsequently became the winter residence of Professor Teodor Vasilescu. It later on became the property of the Ploiești school committee (1937), which was the last owner before the communists came to power. Built in a traditional style, similar to that of front porch houses in the Wallachian region, the “Ceaușescu” villa got this nickname because it was used by Nicolae Ceaușescu between 1950 and 1958, when the residence was administered by the Ministry of Armed Forces. At that time, Nicolae Ceaușescu, an army major general, had the functions of Deputy Minister at the Ministry of National Defense, and Head of the Army’s Superior Political Department. This villa thus became Ceaușescu’s first protocol residence in Predeal before he took full control of the country. After 1965, the protocol villa’s supervision was transferred from the Ministry of Defence, and started being managed by the Recreation Department, in the same year when Ceaușescu became general secretary of the Communist Party.

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.

The buildings in the Old Center incite, attract, tempt; we stare at the facades trying to take in everything with our eyes and hope that a heavy door opens, a window with the curtain drawn to see, understand, discern the mystery of these merchant houses that make up the Old City. At number 27 is one of these, large and stylish enough to attract attention and give rise to curiosities. Its French-influenced facade features the typical first-floor wide wrought-iron balcony, floor-to-ceiling windows, and false balconies/balustrades on the second floor. The attic has elegant arched protective gables. The ground floor is a commercial space – traces of the bar can still be seen and echoes of recent laughters can be heard. It is a high space, about 92 square meters; an additional level was built on its side. On the upper floors there are rooms and bathrooms - on the 1st floor we find 6 rooms of 8-30 sqm and 5 bathrooms; the 2nd floor has 6 rooms with surfaces between 7 and 32 m plus 5 sanitary groups and passage spaces. The high and functional bridge measures 391 sq m. Each floor has its own individual cadastral number. The basement also adds ample space, the function of which remains to be explored through the lens of current regulations. There is also an inner courtyard. The apartments are accessed through a separate entrance from that of the commercial space. The building requires repair and renovation and can be converted into an apart-hotel, residential units or space for commercial and cultural activities. An old street of the city, Smârdan street appeared in the 17th century, being known a century later as Uliţa Târgului din Năuntru, then in the 19th century as The bridge that goes from the Old Court to the Şerban Vodă Inn, German or German Street It was called Smârdan after the war of independence. Not far from the property, at number 39, was the old Hotel Concordia in whose room 5 Alexandru Ioan's double election was decided on January 23, 1859. In the villa at number 27 we know that in 1927 Anette Horoviceanu was making haute couture creations parisiennes and in 1938 the Gla Company operated Trade ind. and the representative Electrical items, offices, Electro-Technical - Electrotechnical, enterprises; Romanian Technical Warehouse - Technical Offices, Company Flă. Ind. and Rep. Central heating. Sources: https://turistinbucurestiro.blogspot.com/2014/02/strada-smardan.html Photo: Tudor Prisecaru.

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.

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 1913 by merchant Ghiţă Popescu, the house on Speranţei street hides between its walls the charm of one of the central and chic streets of the capital. Located between Carol Boulevard and the Italian Street, it appears with this name in the city plans from the end of the nineteenth century. On this street there was the first home of Mihai Eminescu after his arrival in Bucharest in 1877. Ioan Slavici states that it was a spacious room with a wide anteroom in an old eighteenth-century house. From this street, the poet walked down to the editorial office of the conservative newspaper, Timpul, located on Calea Victoriei, writes Alexandru Ofrim in Old Streets of Nowadays Bucharest. And Mihai Eminescu is not the only important figure in the history of this area. The founder of the Romanian neurosurgery school, Dumitru Bagdasar, also lived on Speranţei Street. Unfortunately, the last decades have affected the elegance of the buildings in the area. However, the house of merchant Ghiţă Popescu is the exception. Nationalized after the 1960s, when owned by Dr. Elias Haim, the residence had over time landlords who have cherished it and who invested a lot in its conservation and restoration - a careful work that turned it into an architectural jewel today. The over 400 square meters of the property on Speranţei street, built on SB+GF+F+A, have recently undergone a meticulous renovation process. After a six-month work, under the coordination of the designer Irina Neacsu, the semi-basement has been transformed into what can be considered one of the most beautiful offices in Romania. Numerous pieces of personalized furniture, British accents in an eclectic setting, digitally drawn wallpapers and then printed on paper, the floor heating, are just a few of the elements that give uniqueness and charm to the property. In fact, it is a modern reinterpretation of a building dominated by classic architectural features specific to the beginning of the nineteenth century Bucharest. The modern terrace offers a wide panorama of the Armenian area of the capital, a landscape dominated by inter-war avant-garde, modernist buildings, along the Neo-Romanian and Eclectic style properties. The villa is available for rent as well.

The mansion known today by the name of its second owner, Timișoara-born businessman Koșca, was built in the 19th century by the Polish Hagianopol. He sold the property in 1930 but the time that has passed over it since then has not touched it; perfectly preserved and with a young spirit the domanin stands proud today, with new and attractive accessories such as the sky-reflecting pool. Protected by a belt of bushy trees strategically placed on the property boundary, the main building is white, bright and warm under its reddish new brick roof. The interior keeps the light and associates the white walls with a lot of wood - decorative beams on the ceiling, old furniture, carpentry. In one room high semi-columns are painted with flowers in autumn rust colors, outlining a chromatic leitmotif. The bedrooms are generous, gently dominated by the warmth of wood; brown terracotta stoves preserve the rustic character of the entire mansion. A gorgeous tile stove in blue and white is the piece de resistance of the living room. The area of over two hectares includes 4 buildings with their own central office and various annexes and facilities. First of all, the Mansion stands out with a built area of 306 square meters divided into 6 rooms, living room, 4 bathrooms, kitchen, cellar, porch, terrace with garden and swimming pool. The secondary house has a built-up area of 238 sqm - 4 rooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom, indoor garage, an outdoor terrace and an indoor one with a semi-round shape and large windows that offer a superb view of the valley above which the property sits. Separately we find another building - a former warehouse partially furnished as an apartment of approximately 60 useful square meters with 2 bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen. A large part of this building, however, is empty and waiting to be given a purpose. All three buildings have, in addition to the mentioned areas, high attics over the entire surface of the ground floor, attics that can be transformed by the future owner at will into useful spaces. A special building present on the land is the former nobleman's wine cellar; it has a footprint of 218 sqm and is built on three underground levels. In the past these premises had an industrial use being a mini factory of dairy products but it can be used again in its own right or as spaces for events. The orchard that surrounds the property has more than 300 fruit trees per fruit that delight guests and turn autumn celebrations in the courtyard of the mansion into real feasts. Conceived at one time as accommodation for tourists interested in the south of the country (Bucharest and Ploiești are 60 km away, Târgoviște 20 km and Pitești 40 km) the mansion receives its guests as a space for recreation and events but just as well it can support a reconversion with an emphasis on its agricultural or orchard potential. Or, why not, it can become a vacation property where the rich history and beauty of simple architecture intertwine with the amenities necessary for the comfort of modern life

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.

Between Ceptura and Fântânele, Prahova County, spread over 23 hectares of soil rich in siliceous clay, with a climatic condition similar to that of Bordeaux or Tuscany, The Rotenberg Wine Cellar offer the ideal conditions for obtaining the maximum potential of fruity, expressive and strong aromas of wines. The plantations are predominant in Merlot, but Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties are also present. What gives the grapes an exceptional quality is the separate harvesting depending on sunshine, soil and planting density, together with the vine age- over 50 years old. The rigorosity of grapes harvesting offers the highest quality aura to the drinks flavour. Here, the grapes are fermented on separate plots, the ‘’Single vineyard’’ wines being obtained by this technique. The red wine is fermented in semi-open pots, with a submerged ‘’hat’’, while the seeds are kept in the ‘’pigeage’’ hat, being eliminated most of the bad, bitter and herbaceous tannins, leaving behind the intense taste of a quality red wine. Although it is expensive and non-industrial, this process gives the wines a special and deep fineness, unattainable in ‘’stainless steels”. The Rotenberg Winery offers 2 overlapping cellars with 400 barrels that allow a gravitational techonogical flow in which the wine is not attacked by pumps. Its passage from the fermentation vessels into barrels, then into bottles is done under the influence of its own weight, avoiding mechanical filtration, giving it a special texture. The wood is strictly selected- it has no white, permeable fibers or decays. The wood is aged for at least 18 months in wind and rain, in order for the sap and some of the tannins to be washed. Some barrels are deep burned, giving the complex and deep taste, so characteristic of the Rotenberg wine. The burning process time and intensity represents the secret of the premium wine that can be found only at The Rotenberg Wine Cellar. The property also offers a manor for tastings and events (oenotourism), in an exceptional ambiance. The Rotenberg Winery was founded in 2007 and produces 1000HL of premium wine per year from the grapes cultivated on 23 Ha of land (18 Ha of Merlot, 3 Ha of Cab. Franc, 2 Ha of Cab. Sauvignon). Awarded at ‘’Mondial du Merlot’’- Switzerland, in 2010 and 2014, the wines can be found in most of the retail networks, which absorb about 75% of production. All these make The Rotenberg Wineries not only the place where the perfect combination of softness and stature of internationally awarded wines is born, but also a brand and a bussines ready to be exploited. Photo & video: Tudor Prisecaru

The last few years have brought to our attention areas, names and ancient histories that put in context and humanize the town we live in and the buildings we pass by in a hurry. The House of Guilds is one of those witness-houses, few and often in danger of extinction, which recover the history of the city and its largest minority, the Jews. Sephardic refugees from Spain and later, after the Principalities Union, Ashkenazi from Galitia, the Jews are doctors, potters, merchants, samsari, tailors, painters, craftsmen specialized in metalworking and are useful to the city because it contributes to its urbanization. They settled on the left bank of Dâmbovița, near the Royal Court and later in the area that became the Jewish Quarter. They built houses with shops on the ground floor, public baths, kosher butchers shops and dairies, teahouses where religious music was listened to, temples and synagogues. Today few remember this community; the legionary fires of 1941 and the massive demolition of the 1980s changed the appearance of the neighborhood considerably. At present, the toponym Jewish Quarter encapsulates more storrytelling than material evidence, which makes the property proposed for sale even more valuable. On Spătaru Street at number 10A we find today this neo-Gothic building, richly decorated, Casa Breslelor, the work of the architect Luigi Ludovic Lipizer, who arrived in Bucharest from the Austrian Empire in the middle of the 19th century. The building has not only a unique architecture but also a historical and architectural value that the restoration and extension project carried out by an architectural office specialized in the rehabilitation of historical monuments intends to preserve (the project is currently subject to approval). Lipizer embraces the neo-Gothic style, expressed in Europe in the18th and 19th centuries, and this option makes the building look like a commercial hall from the Middle Ages and is known today as the House of Guilds - it is believed that the statues placed on the columns with capitals and protected by meticulously decorated canopies represent various professions. The access is made through an arched door under a noble broken arch, but the neo-Gothic remains outside; inside, only the light entering the house brings with it the beauty of the windows. On the ground floor, besides the hall and stairwell, there will be, according to the restoration and extension project, an office, a living room with dinning area, a bathroom and a kitchen. Upstairs it is proposed to redistribute the space into a master bedroom, a bathroom, another bedroom plus a family room and the current loggia. The architects propose an additional floor with a bedroom and terrace; also here the restoration and extension project includes the transformation of a portion of the roof into a glass roof. In the basement generous areas have been designed for the technical room, laundry/ bathroom and cellar, plus living quarters for staff. An open cellar is provided with access from the courtyard, where the demolition of the adjoining bodies without residential and architectural-historical value is taken into account with the preservation of some brick walls as decorative elements of the green spaces that will form the interior garden. The present values the past, shakes it from the dust and sees its future. The House of Guilds, one of the few left standing despite its 160th anniversary, has the chance to shine again as a magnificent private home, unique in its history and architecture, comfortable and warm through its planned restoration works. Sources: bucurestiivechisinoi.ro turismistoric.ro arhivadearhitectura.ro 1001calatorii.ro

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.

When the passion for restoring and for harnessing the value of what is authentic and antique meets the the more than a century old legacy left over the years by the former Swabians, then everything can turn into an absolutely unique experience. The Swabian House or Schwabenhaus is a place you should not miss if you arrive in the west of the country. Either because you want to make a stop for resting your mind but also to indulge your soul, or because you want to taste some of the dishes for which the people of Timisoara come here regularly, or even just to see what an old Swabian building looks like. Moreover, when it comes to a house restored with great care and skill and happily enriched with collections of art and handcraft objects, which today turn it into a small museum with so many interesting things to see. The property is located in Șandra, in the middle of the Banat Plain, 34 km from Timișoara, 32 km from the border with Serbia and 36 km from the border with Hungary. Șandra has been first time documented in 1833 under the name of Alexandria after the bishop of Zagreb who owned large areas of land here. The bishop is the one who signed the agreement by which a number of 140 families, no less than 700 German settlers remained here and practically established the settlement that would bear his name. Today, Schwabenhaus practically refers to a land with an area of 4,316 square meters with completely renovated old buildings which received a new life becoming a tourist destination. New amenities, which offer all the comfort and facilities you can think of are waiting here. Thus, immediately upon entering the courtyard we find the main building, which offers 9 rooms and a large space in the attic where conferences or events can be organized. Also, here, in the salon that marks the main entrance, there is probably one of the largest collections of cuckoo clocks in Europe, with extremely valuable samples. Next to it, we find a restaurant on two levels, arranged in accordance with the spirit of the place, maintaining its charm, and enriched with valuable and charming collections of musical objects and handicrafts products. The beautifully arranged courtyard leads us to the third building, which has a mixed function. Most part of the ground floor comprises a bar that immediately invites you to enjoy a pint of house beer, either in the classic Bavarian interior or on the romantic terrace overlooking the inner courtyard. Apart from this, in the same building, there are 5 bedrooms, and an administrative area, with an office, a laundry room and a technical room. The last building is newly built, but it integrates perfectly into the landscape, being designed after the plans of the former Swabian huts. The building has a wine cellar on the ground floor and an open terrace upstairs with a beautiful view of the entire complex. The courtyard is landscaped with stone, plants and shrubs, and you can notice the great attention and the care to the smallest details and the passion for perfection. The ultimate place to relax will of course be the swimming pool, located in the sunny area of the courtyard and with easy access to the bar, but also to the accommodation areas. “Schwabenhaus” means a place where nothing has been left to chance, where the so-called German rigor can be seen in every detail of the property, starting from the quality of the renovation to the particulars of the decoration. It is a place where history seeks a new beginning.

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.

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

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.

The town of Şomcuta Mare is located in the south-western part of Maramureș County, connected to the European road E58, Baia Mare - Cluj Napoca, at a distance of 25 km from Baia Mare. The popular tradition says that the name of Șomcuta Mare springs from the cornel shrubs that were found in abundance in these places, that once gave the name of the forest near Văleni village – Corneasa. Regarding this forest, it is said that it stretched over the borders of Şomcuta Mare and that, in the middle of it, there used to be a fountain, around which the community developed. From the first history records, it is shown that Șomcuta Mare had a predominantly Romanian population. This is proven by all the evidence that has been preserved in this regard about the Chioar Domain – where Șomcuta Mare was a part of. One of the historical monuments in Șomcuta Mare, this imposing building was built by the Austro-Hungarian State, between 1880 and 1890, to function as the Chiorean Commercial Bank, the first bank in the area. Currently, the building is connected to all utilities and services: gas, electricity, water supply and drainage. A few years ago, more precisely in 2003, the building had its roof and windows replaced, thus carrying out an important renovation process. Arranged on the following floor system: lower ground + ground floor + first floor + attic, this building provides that investment that you have always been looking for: its positioning and layout represent potential for various developments. It can bring many further exciting opportunities, starting from the industrial production ones to commercial ones. The building can function efficiently as a hotel, restaurant, kindergarten, school or nursing home. It accommodates 37 rooms and 5 bathrooms, with a pragmatic planning. Photo: Florin Pepene

The year of construction isn’t precisely noted, most likely being somewhere between 1913-1914. Situated on a highland at 600 m altitude and integrated in the picturesque landscape, the Stirbey Palace was designed by architect Nicolae Ghika-Budești and built with Italian craftsmen. Architect Ghika-Budești was a promoter of old Romanian architecture, with a personal style, a synthesis between Wallachian and Moldavian architecture. Specific for his constructions are the use of face brick, enamelled ceramic, the insertion of neo-gothic frames at doors and windows, the tower of monasterial inspiration, the horseshoe bow, the saw teeth decoration and the geometric motifs. The Palace from Dărmănești, with a surface of 4500 sqm, is disposed on four levels – basement, ground floor and two other floors, with a semicircular terrace. The annexes occupy approximately 1500 sqm. Water basins were built near the palace, and the buildings had a water supply system that is still preserved, the oldest in Bacău County, where water is brought from the mountain from a distance of nearly 8 km. Following the early death of Prince George, who lost his life due to typhus during the First World War, Elisabeta will spend most of her time at Dărmănești with her two daughters, Sanda and Marina. „She used to arrive here in May, with her daughters, governesses, chauffeurs and maids; she had an entire team brought from abroad, which included butlers and chefs as well. Until September she received here visits from relatives and friends.” The Royal visitors at The Dărmănești Palace include Queen Elisabeth of Romania and Queen Marie of Romania, photographed in national costumes in the garden and inside the residence. Queen Marie invokes Elisabeta Știrbey in her notes: Elisabeta is a beautiful and mild woman, born Băleanu. She has good taste, she likes beautiful things and is a real country life loving woman. Queen Marie records some other details about the residence, with the occasion of her August 1926 visit: Dărmănești is everything I expected it to be. A house with a beautiful position and a splendid garden, designed with perfect taste and concept. It has something that I have never seen before which is fantastic, enormous flower beds, almost like fields of garden mistletoe, hundreds and hundreds of flowers in huge groups, absolutely gorgeous and also its home is full of flowers arranged in large vases, pots and cans. Nothing can be more spectacular [...] The house is also beautiful and well designed.” The rehabilitation and restoration started in 2014 and the process took three years and sought to restore and preserve as many original items as possible. The solid wood stairway was kept – every square inch was cleaned and restored. The original solid oak carpentry was saved as well. To meet the current comfort requirements, the glass was replaced with a double-glazed window, but the original oak wood frame was preserved. The total of over 1000 windows have been refurbished one by one. It was possible to preserve and restore the Italian-style steel shutters (unique elements in the country), which had the role of protection in case of a siege. These were cleaned and painted. The façade is the original one as well – the bricks were refurbished to preserve the particular style of architect Nicolae Ghika-Budești. The space was furnished with French and Florentine furniture, the paintings exhibited in the palace include valuable works of art from the 17th century, signed by Italian, Flemish and Romanian artists. Due to this great effort, we can today savour a unique piece of jewellery of the Romanian built heritage, ready to start a new journey as a 40 rooms hotel with events, cuisine and spa facilities or as a most exquisite private retreat.

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.