Palatul Brâncovenesc de la Potlogi

Potlogi was the first built by Constantin Brâncoveanu in the series of four intended for his sons. 'These houses are erected from their foundations by the enlightened lord Io Constantin Basarab Voivode to his son Constantin Brâncoveanul, beginning and finishing them in the year 7206 (1698) and in the tenth year of his reign, with Mihai vtori postelnic Corbeanul as steward,' states the inscription at the entrance.

The palace was put into use in 1699, the year Constantin Brâncoveanu became the first ruler appointed for life by the Turks. The palace was built in a strategic location, at the crossroads of the roads between Bucharest and the old capital Târgovişte.

After the killing of Constantin Brâncoveanu and his sons in Istanbul on the day of the Dormition of the Mother of God (August 15, 1714), the Turks devastated the palace, searching for the gold and treasures of ‘Altan bey’ – the prince of gold, as they called Constantin Brâncoveanu.

In 1791, the master of the entire estate and palace became Constantin Brâncoveanu’s grandson, Manolache Brâncoveanu. After their extinction, the estate came into the possession of the Bibescu family. However, the palace was devastated by locals and those who passed by. A restoration attempt was made by the Russian armies, who in 1848 established their headquarters at Potlogi and also carried out some repairs to the palace.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Brâncovenesc Palace had become a ruin, retaining only part of the surrounding walls of the enclosure. In 1954, renovation works started on the building but were halted in 1979 after an unexpected visit by Elena Ceauşescu.

After 1989, the Potlogi Palace, like that of Mogoşoaia, was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture, which did not pay much attention to the building.

The palace was not only rehabilitated but also furnished. Thus, authentic objects from the heritage of the Curtea Domnească National Museum Complex can be seen here, as well as new objects, such as the canopy in the ruler’s bedroom.