Sturdza Palace, Neo-Gothic castle in Miclăușeni, Romania

Sturdza Palace is a late Neo-Gothic castle built between 1880 and 1904 on the site of an older manor in Miclăușeni. Its light grey stone facade has a tall narrow tower with a pointed spire and two smaller pinnacles, a row of pointed-arch windows with dark glazing, a round carved medallion, and a gabled section with two large pointed-arch windows above a pointed-arch doorway.

Construction of the palace took place between 1880 and 1904 under George Sturza and Maria Ghica, replacing an earlier residence from the 17th century. This rebuilding reflected the family's prosperity and their connection to European architectural movements of that era.

The palace held a library of 60,000 volumes, many of them first editions, gathered by Alecu Sturdza and later owners. Carrara marble busts, medieval costumes, weapons and coins were also kept here. In 1944 retreating troops burned many books as stove fuel and sold others in Târgu Frumos, where they were used to wrap goods.

The palace lies in Miclăușeni, 20 km from Roman and 65 km from Iași, within the Miclăușeni Monastery complex. It has been owned by the Metropolitanate of Moldavia and Bucovina since 2001 and functions alongside an active nunnery, so visits depend on the community's arrangements. Ask the monastery in advance about access to the palace and the surrounding park.

The grounds are surrounded by an expansive English-style park where rare tree species from different European regions were planted during the 19th century. This landscaping reflects the gardening preferences and international connections of wealthy families during that period.