Snagov Palace
A lakeside royal residence north of Bucharest, built for Prince Nicholas in the 1930s and later reshaped by Nicolae Ceaușescu, the palace witnessed a dramatic moment during Romania’s 1989 revolution.
At a glance
Snagov Palace stands on the shore of Lake Snagov, approximately 40 kilometres north-east of Bucharest. Built in the early 1930s in the Romanian Brâncovenesc architectural style, it replaced a 19th-century royal hunting lodge. The palace features formal gardens with fountains designed by Austrian landscape architect Rebhun and a guesthouse in Romanian Arts and Crafts style.
History
Henrieta Delavrancea-Gibory commissioned the palace for Prince Nicholas of Romania, brother of King Carol II, completing the work in 1932. Prince Nicholas rarely occupied the residence due to a conflict with the king over his morganatic marriage; he was expelled from Romania in 1937.
After his departure, the palace served intermittently as a state residence. Ion Antonescu occasionally used it after 1940. During the communist era, General Secretary Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej stayed there periodically. Nicolae Ceaușescu undertook a major seven-year reconstruction in the 1980s, directed by professor Nicholas Vladescu, transforming it into both a personal residence and venue for state functions.
On 22 December 1989, as the Romanian Revolution unfolded, Ceaușescu and his wife Elena fled to Snagov Palace by helicopter from Communist Party headquarters. They remained only briefly; from his presidential suite, Ceaușescu conducted phone calls with officials before departing by helicopter toward Pitești. It is suspected he removed valuables from the palace during this final visit.
What you see
The palace exemplifies the Romanian Brâncovenesc style, characterised by its distinctive architectural vocabulary rooted in 17th-century Wallachian design. The formal gardens include decorative fountains and a separate Arts and Crafts guesthouse. The presidential suite, added during Ceaușescu’s renovation, reflects 1980s state aesthetics.
Cultural significance
Snagov Palace embodies the 20th-century evolution of Romanian royal and state power. It documents the transition from interwar monarchy through dictatorship to communist rule, with each regime reshaping the building to suit its needs. The palace’s role in December 1989 connects it directly to one of Europe’s most dramatic revolutions.
Key facts
- Location: Snagov commune, Ilfov County, Romania, approximately 40 km north-east of Bucharest
- Coordinates: 44.726°N, 26.172°E
- Built: Early 1930s, completed 1932; reconstructed 1980s
- Architectural style: Romanian Brâncovenesc
- Current use: Event venue for conferences, banquets and celebrations
Practical information & getting there
The palace is located near Snagov Monastery on Lake Snagov’s shore. Today it operates as a rental venue for private and official events. For visitor information, access details and event bookings, contact local tourism authorities or check current availability before planning a visit.
Sources & resources
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