Curtea Veche (Old Court), Bucharest

The Old Court marks the birthplace of Bucharest as a city and was once the political nucleus of Wallachia. Established in the 15th century by Vlad Tepes-better known as Vlad the Impaler-this was originally a princely residence and fortification, designed to protect the fledgling capital from invasions and political instability. Over time, it grew into a complex of royal buildings that included halls, churches, and administrative quarters. Though much of it now lies in ruins, the remnants offer a tangible link to the medieval roots of Romania’s capital. Walk off the busy Lipscani pedestrian lanes into the open archaeological area of the historic courtyard, pausing right at the edge of the medieval brick foundations.

The site became a centre of power for successive rulers, including Mircea Ciobanul and Constantin Brancoveanu, who each left their architectural and cultural marks on the court. A fire and multiple earthquakes in the 18th century led to its gradual abandonment, and the royal residence eventually shifted elsewhere. However, archaeological excavations beginning in the 20th century helped uncover the stone foundations, brick walls, and fragments of a time when this location served as the seat of the Wallachian princes.

Today, the Old Court stands as an open-air museum and historical site in the heart of Bucharest’s Old Town, surrounded by cafes and cobbled streets. Visitors can explore parts of the preserved palace walls, the ruins of the old kitchens, and even the remains of Vlad Tepes’s cellar. The adjacent Old Court Church - Bucharest’s oldest church - adds to the medieval atmosphere. Stroll along the elevated wooden walkways above the excavated ruins, looking down into the subterranean storage chambers and the remnants of Vlad the Impaler's old cellars.