Curtea Veche, Royal medieval residence in Bucharest, Romania
Curtea Veche is a medieval architectural structure in central Bucharest, with preserved stone walls, column fragments, and foundations revealing the layout of a former ruler's residence. The ruins stand within a small archaeological park surrounded by several streets and supplemented by panels explaining individual sections of the site.
Wallachian rulers chose this location as their seat of government in the 15th century, with Vlad III residing here temporarily and making important decisions. Later princes expanded the compound until it lost its central political function in the 18th century and partially fell into ruin.
The name refers to the old princely court that served as a power center here for centuries, while the architecture with its curved arches and carved stonework now recalls trade routes connecting Transylvania with the Black Sea. Visitors see column remnants and window frames showing how traveling craftsmen combined local tradition with techniques from Constantinople.
Access to the site is through a main entrance near a busy street, and visitors can move freely on paved paths within the park. Display panels in several languages help understand the ruins, while opening times may vary on weekends and holidays.
Below the visible grounds, narrow passages lead to chambers that once served for storage and possibly escape, where archaeologists found pottery and coins spanning several centuries. These rooms provide insight into everyday court life, far from the ceremonial facades and festive halls.
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