Cantacuzino Palace (Little Trianon), Florești

Summary

An unfinished French-eclectic palace nicknamed the Little Trianon, begun c. 1911 by Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino to designs by Ion D. Berindey. It stands in ruins on a 150 ha estate and a restoration estimated at EUR 20 million is still only planned.

Legal status

Nationalised 1948; returned to the Nababul's heirs after 1989; sold 2009 per ro.wikipedia ↗

History

Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino (Nababul) began the palace in 1911 (1907 per some sources) to designs by Ion D. Berindey, inspired by the Trianons at Versailles. He died in 1913 when it was nearly finished, and his son Mihail left it locked and uncompleted. Roofing and stoves were taken during World War I, the 1940 earthquake damaged it, and it was nationalised in 1948; the annexes later housed a dog-training unit and a tuberculosis sanatorium. The 1977 earthquake brought down chimneys and interior walls, and villagers removed parts of the structure. After 1989 it was returned to the Nababul's heirs, who reportedly sold it in 2009 to a private buyer, though Forbes in 2014 described a Cantacuzino descendant as co-owner and she was funding early stabilisation through the Karpatia horse event.

Transactions & prices

Listed components

• Palatul „Micul Trianon”-ruine — 1910 - 1916 (PH-II-m-A-16490.01)
• Turn de apă — 1910 - 1916 (PH-II-m-A-16490.02)
• Parc — 1910 - 1916 (PH-II-m-A-16490.03)
• Zid de incintă — 1910 - 1916 (PH-II-m-A-16490.04)

Sources & links