Located at the foot of Zamora Mountain, in the district of the same name, Cantacuzino Castle has a superb view towards the Caraiman Cross and is one of the most visited sights in the Prahova Valley.
Much smaller than Peleș Castle, Cantacuzino, also known as the Nabob’s Castle, stands out for its splendid setting, its charm and its impressive history.
The castle was built at the wish of Prince George Grigore Cantacuzino, nicknamed “the Nabob”, a man of impressive wealth. He was prime minister of the country for two terms, starting in 1899, and mayor of the capital twice. A descendant of Romanian voivodes and of the Byzantine emperors Cantacuzino, the Nabob studied in Bucharest and Paris, where he obtained a doctorate in law. His fortune was colossal, and with it he built three palaces: the Cantacuzino Palace in Bucharest (now home to the “George Enescu” National Museum), Cantacuzino Castle in Bușteni and the Cantacuzino Palace at Florești, unfortunately now in ruins.
Thanks to his wealth, the prince could easily rival King Carol I, both in fortune and in social standing. Precisely because he wanted to outdo Peleș Castle in Sinaia in grandeur, he had the idea of paving the courtyard of Cantacuzino Castle with gold coins and covering the roof with the same kind of coins, set on edge, because otherwise more would have been needed. In the end, however, he gave up the idea.
Cantacuzino Castle covers 3,148 sq m and is surrounded by a superb, huge park with alleys crossed by waterfalls, fountains and artesian fountains. The courtyard and garden cover 3.5 ha, offering superb, incredible views towards the Bucegi Mountains. From the castle terrace you can admire the panorama over the whole resort and towards the Heroes’ Cross, on top of Caraiman Peak.
The building, finished in 1911, is in the neo-Romanian style, and its courtyard is paved with stone. The complex is made up of 4 buildings, a villa and a chapel (brought by the Cantacuzino family from Maramureș and consecrated in the presence of Queen Marie).
Unfortunately, most of the original furniture is no longer inside, but you can admire the stained-glass windows, the consoles, the ceilings with painted beams, the wooden and stone balustrades, the fireplaces made of white stone and the heraldry collection, unique in Romania. In the Hall of Honour there are paintings showing prominent members of the Cantacuzino family. There are also five empty frames here, where the portraits of the Cantacuzinos should have been, but the painter had no images of them to paint from.
The castle, an important architectural, historical and artistic monument, was used for a time as a sanatorium by the Ministry of the Interior, during which, unfortunately, much of its original interior was destroyed and damaged.
After the revolution, the building had several owners. It was returned to the tourist circuit in 2010, with various events organised: modern and contemporary art exhibitions, cultural events, concerts, conferences and more. If you would like to discover the story of the castle and the Cantacuzino family, tours are organised every hour by the castle’s guides.
