A late-19th-century royal residence on the hill of Cotroceni, built by King Carol I for his nephew Ferdinand. After the abdication in 1947 the Communists used it as a pioneer palace; today the modern wing is the official residence of the President of Romania, and the historic wing is a museum.
The tour takes you through the apartments of Queen Marie — the formidable English-born queen who transformed Romanian royal style with her mix of Art Nouveau, Byzantine, and Celtic Revival — including her famous gold bedroom and her Byzantine reception room. The 17th-century church of Cotroceni Monastery, demolished by Ceaușescu in 1984 and rebuilt after 1989, stands in the palace grounds. Visits are by guided tour only, booked in advance with photo ID.