Brief history

Cantacuzino Castle from Busteni , of a great architectonic , historic and artistic value , was built and inaugurated in 1911 at the wish of Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino (also known as “the Nabob”-prime minister of Romania between 1899-1900 and 1904-1907)

The castle,built in neoromanian style,is surrounded by a park who’s alleys take you to the grotto,cascades and fountains.The Reception Hall houses a unique collection of heraldry in Romania. The building made of bricks and stone according to the plans of Grigore Cerchez , is built in a neo-romanian style and stretches over a surface of 3148sqm.

The decorations give the interior a strong romantic ambiance .The stained glasses , the stucco marble , the cantilevers , the exposed painted ceilings , the wooden , stone or forged iron handrails ,the iron work cast in brass and richly decorated are exquisitely crafted. The fireplaces made of white stone and bearing polychrome mosaics complete the atmosphere of a manorial residence , increasing the value of the building.

The castle holds an unique collection representing the coat of arms of the boyar families related to the Cantacuzino family members of the Wallachian side.

GHEORGHE GRIGORE CANTACUZINO "NABOB"

Short biography

Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino (born September 22nd, 1832, Bucharest, D. March 23rd, 1913, Bucharest) was a romanian politician, twice elected mayor of Bucharest (May 1869 - January 1870 and March 1913 - December 1913) and named Prime Minister of Romania between 1899 - 1900 and during 1904-1907. He was born from the old noble Cantacuzino family, being a descendant of Romanian rulers or Cantacuzino emperors of the Byzantine.

He studied in Bucharest and Paris, where he took his doctorate in law in 1858. After his return he was appointed Judge of the Court of Ilfov, after he was appointed to the Court of Appeal, from where he resigned on May 4, 1864.

Because of his colossal wealth, he was nicknamed "Nabob". From the money at his disposal, he built three palaces: the Cantacuzino Palace in Bucharest, located on Calea Victoriei, which now houses the National Museum "George Enescu" , Cantacuzino Castle in Busteni, sometimes called "Cantacuzino Palace Busteni", now a museum, and Cantacuzino Palace in Floresti, nicknamed "Little Trianon", now in ruins.