This is an interesting architectural theme old bronze commemorative plaque produced with the occasion of the inauguration of the Prefecture Palace of the then Vlasca county, located in the Danube port town of Giurgiu, south of Bucharest. The building is designed in an attractive and well proportioned French Second Empire style, often encountered in examples of grand public buildings in Romania of that period. The inscription on the back reads “The Palace of Vlasca [today Giurgiu] prefecture, built in the year 1903, the 37th year of HM King Carol I’s reign, the prefect being Ion T. Ghica”. Today the building hosts the Giurgiu County Museum and is a shadow of its former glory, defaced by aggressive unprofessional renovations performed during the last two decades, a deplorable situation encountered now all over Romania.
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I endeavor through this daily series of daily articles to inspire appreciation of the historic houses of Romania, a virtually undiscovered, but fascinating chapter of European architectural heritage.
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If you plan acquiring a historic property in Romania or start a renovation project, I would be delighted to advice you in sourcing the property, specialist research, planning permissions, restoration project management, etc. To discuss your particular plan please see my contact details in the Contact page of this weblog.
Valentin Mandache, architectural historian 