Bucharest

Cotroceni Museum

  B-dul Geniului 1 ,   Cotroceni & Eroilor          (+4) 021 317 31 07     more than a year ago
Constructed from 1888-93 at the behest of Romania's first king, Carol I, Cotroceni Palace has since 1991 been the official residence of the Romanian President. Built on the site of a former monastery (the foundations and cellars of which remain, and form part of the tour of the palace), the palace was designed by a French team of architects, led by Paul Gottereau. The design would form something of a blueprint for Romanian domestic architecture for years to come. It served as the Bucharest residence of the Romanian royal family until 1939.

During the communist period it was used as a guest house for visiting heads of state.

The part that serves today as the president's office, and official home, however, was added after the great Bucharest earthquake of 1977, and bears the stamp of local architect Nicolae Vladescu.

Part of the palace is open to the public, and can be visited on a tour. You will see a number of function rooms, many of which were decorated to the whims of Marie, the English wife of Carol's heir, his nephew Crown Prince Ferdinand. You will also be able to view her astonishing art collection.

During the construction of the new wing in the 1980s, ruins of the original monastery church were discovered, including part of the original interior frescoes. The church has been partially rebuilt and can be visited without joining the full palace tour.

Metro

Politehnica

Open

Open 09:30 - 17:30. Closed Mon.

Price/Additional Info

Admission 50 lei, students and children 25 lei (Romanians pay less). Admission includes entrance and the compulsory guided tour, which must be booked at least two days in advance. Tours are available in Romanian, French, English, Spanish and Italian. Last tour begins at 16:00.

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16.12.2014
Alley

I never visited the Cotroceni Museum in my life but I am happy to have this blog because next month I am going to Romania after the https://twitter.com/goldenbustours and then I must see it. I am a huge fan of historical places and they always attract me. This blog is very helpful not only for me but also for the all other history lovers because it has the all detail about teat museum. Miere! Your post is also very useful I will keep it in my mind.
08.07.2012
Miere

Be careful when visiting this museum. First of all you must show ID (buletin for Romanians; driver's license or passport for Americans) - - which they will hold you take your tour. When I went to claim my license after the tour it was displayed with all the other IDs on a table - - and the guard who was supposedly watching it was busy in conversation with a couple of other guards so anyone on the tour could have picked it up either in error or intentionally. I took the Romanian-language tour (with friends) and it cost 12 lei. I took 17 lei out of my wallet and was holding it for a few seconds while discussing with my friends whether we were going to take the extended tour (it cost an additional 5 lei) and while we were talking the idiot at the ticket desk reached over and grabbed the money right out of my hand like a Gypsy pickpocket and handed me a ticket I wanted and another that I had decided not to buy. I didn't want to make a fuss (after all they had my driver's license) so my Romanian friend demanded the return of my 5 lei. (After a lot of drama it was returned.) When I was told how much the photo-taking fee was I decided against taking photos but was told that either I leave my camera or pay the fee. Interestingly they did not insist that everyone carrying a camera cell phone (I wasn't) pay the fee - - but then they were all Romanians. Looks like the two-tier fees for Romanians versus Americans have returned. Also as this is a military installation outdoor photos are prohibited - - again not enforced for Romanians. The exhibit is interesting but not worth the cost or the hassle. Visit the Gradina Botanica across the street - - it's much more pleasant!
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