Crețulescu Palace, Gothic Revival palace near Cișmigiu Gardens, Bucharest, Romania
The Crețulescu Palace is a Gothic Revival palace located on Știrbei Vodă Street in central Bucharest, featuring pointed arches and intricate stonework throughout its facade. The building displays grand proportions and ornate details characteristic of early 20th century aristocratic architecture.
The palace was built between 1902 and 1904 by Romanian architect Petre Antonescu for Elena Kretzulescu. Over time, it served institutional purposes and became home to an important European educational organization.
The palace served as UNESCO's European Centre for Higher Education headquarters from 1972 to 2011, contributing to international academic collaboration.
The palace is situated on Știrbei Vodă Street in central Bucharest near Cișmigiu Gardens and can be easily reached on foot. Visitors should check in advance whether interior access is available, as the building may host private or institutional functions.
Elena Kretzulescu, born in Paris in 1857, had the palace built on land and houses her father Constantin had owned since 1718. She kept a greenhouse in the right wing and laid out a park of nearly two hectares around the building, with terraces, fountains, basins, springs and bridges; this became today's Cișmigiu Gardens.
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