Short description: Cantacuzino Castle is one of the most important tourist attractions both in the mountain resort of Bușteni and in the whole area of Valea Prahova. Its beauty takes you back to ancient times, when there were princes and princesses, making you step into another world.
County: Prahova
Website: Castelul Cantacuzino
Images: red_frog
More details – HistoryArchitecture Present
The architecture of the castle is special and the surroundings are spectacular, offering a great opportunity to stroll in peace, among culture and history. The positioning of this castle is excellent, the entrance to the domain is a luxurious one, with a wrought iron gate that takes you down an alley with tall fir trees, giving you the feeling that you are on a manorial estate. The view around the castle is simply wonderful. Artesian fountains, the artificial grotto and the Caraiman Peak in the Bucegi Mountains with the Heroes’ Cross visible in the sky will surely convince you that you are in a chosen, ideal place.
Cantacuzino Castle belonged to the Cantacuzino family until the nationalization in 1948, then becoming a sanatorium of the Ministry of the Interior. The building is located at the foot of the Zamora mountain, on the street with the same name, right at the entrance to the Bușteni mountain resort. In the central pavilion there is a collection of heraldry representing the coats of arms of families related through the alliance with the Cantacuzino family, as well as portraits of the family from the mountain branch. The castle was decorated with stained glass windows, painted beamed ceilings, wooden, stone or wrought iron balustrades, white stone fireplaces and mosaic ornaments. The walls were uniformly painted during the period when the castle served as a sanatorium, but after the retrocession the original paintings reappeared.
Architecture
The castle was built and completed in 1911 by the architect Grigore Cerchez, at the request of Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino. The castle complex consists of 4 bodies, the central pavilion having an area of 3,148 meters, being built from a concrete foundation, carved stone walls and a tiled roof. The service pavilion has the ground floor of the building and a first floor, with a total area of 114 square meters. The chapel represents the fourth body, which is of particular beauty and full of charm. The door through which the entrance to the castle is made is decorated with stained glass windows, as well as the windows, which were brought from Italy. The doors in the building are made of oak wood, carved with vegetable motifs, being embellished by very richly ornamented ironwork.
Present
The castle, the sculpture park and the terrace, with their breathtaking view, attract more than 200,000 visitors every year. Cantacuzino Castle is also home to a museum, an art gallery, a gift shop and a fine dining restaurant called Canta Cuisine. Cantacuzino Castle and its grounds can also be booked for private events throughout the year. So far, only two accommodations are available in the castle. Special promotions such as truffle hunts and wine tastings can be found on the site. In summer, the castle park becomes a children’s paradise with a zip line and many other activities.
