Știrbei Palace. Barbu Știrbei, voyevode of Wallachia between 1849 and 1853, respectively between 1854 and 1856, built Știrbei Palace in Bucharest in 1835 (107 Victoria Avenue) and inherited a wide piece of land in Buftea. He died in Nice and was buried in the park of Buftea. One of his 9 sons, Alexandru Știrbei, inherited the land in Buftea and built a palace there in 1864. On the western side of the façade there is a sculpture that bears Știrbei family blazon, as well as the year of the building. The palace was set in Gothic style and the interiors contain a rich decoration, with vast carved wood sections, everything being set around the interior staircase sculpted in oak and bearing the family blazon. The painted or sculpted wooden ceilings, the Neo-Gothic blazons above the doors, as well as the chimneys make the image complete about the interiors. As a consequence of his wife’s death, Alexandru Ştirbei built a monumental chapel in the park between 1885 and 1890. In 1895 however Alexandru died and his oldest son, Barbu Știrbei, inherited the domain in Buftea and became his brothers’ tutor.

A passionate agriculturist, he founded a huge farm near the palace and started to buy pieces of land in the neighborhood, becoming one of the richest men in the country. Because of all these, King Charles the 1st granted him with the title of Administrator of the Crown Domains; later on, in 1927, he was to also become a temporary Prime Minister of the Romanian Government. During WW1 the palace sheltered Queen Maria and then – for that very reason - it was bombed by German planes. Both Ştirbey family and Queen Maria retreated, together with the Charles the 1st and the government in Iaşi, and the palace was robbed by the German army, which also took it over, with the German Military Commandment settling in Buftea in January 1917. On March 5, 1918, the peace agreement with Austro – Hungary and Germany was signed in the palace. Time passed by, the German troops were defeated and Știrbei family could return to their palace, restoring it. Between 1930 and 1940 Barbu Știrbei had to leave Romania and leave in exile, in Switzerland, because of an older conflict with King Charles the 2nd. After returning, he was part of the delegation that signed on September 12, 1944 the Armistice of Moscow. Two years later he died, together with normal and decent Romania.

The palace and all other belongings in Buftea were confiscated by the Communist government and between 1949 and 1952 it was abandoned, all valuables being stolen. The palace was however restored in 1959, being meant as a diplomatic residence and it hosted – among other important guests – Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the U.S.S.R., when he attended the 3rd congress of the Romanian Workers’ Party in 1960. Once again restored after the earthquake in 1977, the palace was turned, after 1990, into a hotel, sometimes turning into a movie set, with the park being opened for public use. Nowadays the chapel hosts the graves belonging to Voyevode Barbu Știrbei and his wife Elisabeta, Alexandru Știrbei and his wife Maria, Prince Barbu Alexandru Știrbei and other family members.

The palace lies in Buftea, at 36 Știrbei Vodă and it is reachable by local train towards Ploiești Vest / Sud taken from Bucureşti Nord (the station lies at a 20 minute walk from the palace gate) or by subway to 1 Mai, followed by minibus: take the Northern subway station exit / the one at the train engine as coming from Gara de Nord, then take the exit on your right and look for minibuses / buses direction Buftea.

N.B. The palace was reopened as a restaurant and private event venue, after it was given back to the initial owners. It is a great option for a lazy summer lunch venue, especially as the extensive park is inviting for an afternoon walk, including the few pets around. Find here their website.

GPS -  N44 33.728 E25 56.440 (entrance on domain)