The former voivodal residence influenced the medieval and modern destiny of Romania.
80 kilometres from Bucharest, in a region where the hills meet the plain, Târgovişte has a historical century-old inheritance. For more than three centuries, the city was the main economic, political, military and cultural centre of Wallachia. The ruins of Curtea Domnească (the Princely Court) give proof of the importance of the city at that time. Târgovişte was the Princely residence and capital for almost the whole period from the 15th to the 18th centuries, Târgovişte is the place where the ruler Mihai Viteazul (Michal the Brave) planned and pursued the first union of the Romanian Principalities. At the end of the 19th century, the city was modernized by the introduction of public lighting, the construction of the railway to Bucharest and the establishment of the first industrial enterprises.
Curtea Domnească (The Princely Court)
The Princely Court was the Residence of Wallachian rulers in Târgovişte. It comprised a complex of buildings where the family, courtiers and servants of high officials lived which is now a ruin with the foundations of rooms preserved. The complex still keeps the traces of the delimitations in areas of interest: the residential area, the area of military fortifications, royal gardens etc.
On either side of the Princely Court ruins there are two interesting churches – the 400 year old Mare Domnească Church, which has a large gallery comprising the portraits of local rulers, and Sfânta Vineri Church, the only architecture monument in Wallachia dating from the middle of the 15th century and kept in its original form up to these days.
The Court is situated near Chindia Tower, founded by Vlad Tepeş (Dracula) in the middle of the 15th century as a watchtower, fire tower and shelter for the treasury. The Chindia Tower contains an exhibition of documents, weapons and objects relating to the ruler Vlad Tepeş.
Curtea Domnească Museum Complex: 181, Calea Domnească.
