Court of Radu and Constantin Șerban, Dobreni

Summary

Ruins of a princely court at Dobreni (Vărăști commune, Giurgiu County) with a church of the Dormition built in 1646 by Constantin Șerban and his wife Bălașa before he became ruler. The houses survive as ruined walls and vaulted cellars, while the church keeps valuable mural painting.

Legal status

Listed historic monument GR-II-a-A-14982 (category A per Turism Istoric); ruined houses .01, church .02 ↗

History

The Church of the Dormition was built in 1646 by Constantin Șerban (later ruler of Wallachia, 1654-1658) and his wife Bălașa next to their houses. The houses are attributed to different rulers: Paul of Aleppo, a 17th-century traveller, recorded that Radu Șerban built them between 1605 and 1611, with large vaulted rooms painted with saints, a garden and a pool, whereas many researchers credit Constantin Șerban. What survives of the houses is a rectangle of ruined walls of about 24 by 21 m over a brick basement with three deep vaulted cellars, part of one vault still standing. The church's bell tower over the narthex was demolished in the 19th century, and it keeps valuable mural painting. According to a 2014 article, the site was about 75 percent covered in vegetation, the cellars were used as a rubbish dump, the former pond had become a marsh, and a promised fence and conservation funding announced by the mayor in 2008 had not materialised; the monument is surrounded by private properties.

Listed components

• Ruinele caselor lui Radu și Constantin Șerban — 1640 (GR-II-m-A-14982.01)
• Biserica „Adormirea Maicii Domnului” — 1646 (GR-II-m-A-14982.02)

Sources & links