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All Romania Bucharest The House of Ceaușescu
AO Edited

The House of Ceaușescu

The kitsch mansion of the former Romanian president Nicolae Ceaușescu features a golden bathroom.

Bucharest, Romania

Added By
Lana Velkov
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Ascend the grand staircase.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Ascend the grand staircase.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Tapestries decorate some of the walls.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
The subterranean rooms include a swimming pool.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Stroll through the grand entrance.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
The mansion remains almost exactly the way it was left.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
An incredible degree of wealth is on display.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Original artwork adorns most of the rooms.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Nicolae and Elena Ceauşescu only had a primary-school education.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Understatement is not the name of the game here.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
The mansion is a must for architecture buffs in Bucharest.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Crystal chandeliers and sumptuous fabrics abound.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
The decor verges on overwhelming at times.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Many parts of the mansion attempt to mimic the grandeur of Versailles.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
The wallpaper patterns are particularly intricate.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
All of the bedrooms err on the opulent side.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Don’t forget to look up.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
  Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
A chessboard still sits ready to play.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Visitors can get a sense for the couple’s extravagant personal style.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
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About

After admiring the grandeur of the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, head to another storied site of pomp and circumstance. The House of Ceauşescu, also known as the Mansion of Ceauşescu, served as the private residence of Nicolae and Elena Ceauşescu and their children, Nicu, Zoia, and Valentin from 1965 to 1989. Because it was protected during the Romanian revolution, it remains almost exactly as the family left it. 

Architect Aron Grimberg-Solari designed this lavish abode using a mishmash of architectural styles. From the outside, it may appear smaller than you'd expect, because many of the rooms were built underground, including a private cinema, physiotherapy clinic, garden, walk-in closet and a hunting room.

Built in the mid-1960s to be known at the time as the Palatul Primaverii (the “Spring Palace”), the home was later enlarged in the '70s. Many designers worked on the house for its different elements. The home's landscaping was directed by architect Robert Woll who was also the primary furniture designer for the house, together with the landscape engineer Teodosiu. Robert Woll and Agrippa Popescu led the mansion's interior design.

Luxury and comfort are at the heart of the House of Ceauşescu, paired with a more-is-more approach to decoration: handmade panelling, crystal chandeliers manufactured in Romania, handmade fabrics, art by famous Romanian painters, vast mosaics, tapestries, instruments, and materials sourced from all over the country.  Elements such as a grand piano that no one knew how to play, and several absurd attempts to copy the Palace of Versailles, give a slightly surreal vibe to the place.

The room that tends to strike most visitors is the golden bathroom of Nicolae and Elena Ceauşescu. The sheer wealth on display, together with the knowledge that the Ceauşescu couple were educated to primary school level, is sure to leave vistors absolutely speechless.

Related Tags

Architectural Oddities Mansions

Know Before You Go

Update February 2024: Sadly the tours no longer take on the bunker and secret passages and there is currently no plan to reinstate this part of the tour.

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Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights

Discover Romania's Medieval Castles & Culture.

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Community Contributors

Added By

Lana Velkov

Edited By

Martin, katielou106

  • Martin
  • katielou106

Published

January 2, 2024

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  • https://visitbucharest.today/ceausescu-house/#:~:text=The%20%E2%80%9CCeau%C5%9Fescu's%20Mansion%E2%80%9D%20or%20%E2%80%9D,enlarged%20between%201970%20and%201972.
The House of Ceaușescu
Bulevardul Primăverii 50
, București, Romania
Bucharest, 014192
Romania
44.469095, 26.092473
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bucharest

Bucharest

Romania

Places 17

Nearby Places

Monument to the Heroes of the Air

Bucharest, Romania

miles away

Arcul de Triumf

Bucharest, Romania

miles away

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Bucharest, Romania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bucharest

Bucharest

Romania

Places 17

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