The finest surviving example of the Brâncovenesc style — a Wallachian architectural synthesis of Byzantine, Ottoman, and Italian Renaissance — set in landscaped grounds beside Lake Mogoșoaia, 15 km northwest of central Bucharest. The palace was built in 1702 by Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu, then almost destroyed after his execution in 1714. It was restored in the early 20th century by Martha Bibescu, the cosmopolitan writer who used it to entertain Marcel Proust and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
The interior holds a museum of Brâncovenesc art, including carved-wood furniture, painted icons, and inter-war photographs of the Bibescu salons. The gardens are extensive and excellent for picnics. Combine with the small but beautiful 1688 church on the grounds. Easily reached by suburban bus from Piața Presei Libere or a 25-minute taxi from the centre.