The Brătianu National Museum, based inside “Villa Florica”, is one of the newest museums in Romania, founded in the middle of the pandemic in 2020. The Brătianu family residence, named Florica in honour of Ion C. Brătianu’s first daughter, is situated in the Ștefăneștii Noi neighbourhood of Ștefăneşti City (Argeş County). It is still well maintained and one of Romania’s most stunning noble estates. Unfortunately, part of the objects inside, such as the books, decorations and furniture, were removed during the communist regime’s years of rule.
Before this house became a grand villa through 47 years of construction and improvements, a real civil dynasty was born and raised here. The most important family of Romanian politicians would have an overwhelming role in the creation of modern Romania. The Brătianu family were founders of the National Liberal Party alongside other massive names in Romanian history, such as Ion Ghica, Mihail Kogălniceanu and Constantin Alexandru Rosetti. Eventually, the National Liberal Party would be dissolved when the Romanian Communist Party came into power, a party that went against everything the National Liberals had built until then. The party would eventually be revived after the fall of communism in 1989. Yet, it did not continue its legacy, only its name, as the people that took over were leftovers from the Romanian Communist Party (The Post-Communist Liberal Party). The new National Liberal Party established in January 1990 would use the Brătianu residence “Villa Florica” as a getaway events location for its political members. Some sources speculate a plan was thought to transform “Villa Florica” into a public events venue. Fortunately, the Brătianu mansion was purchased by the Ministry of Culture and National Identity from the heirs of the Brătianu family in November 2017 by exercising the right of pre-emption of the Romanian state.
Based on an extract from an interview by Madalina Corina Diaconu for “Radio Romania Cultural” states that based on the legislation, the museum will have the following objectives: “bringing to the public’s attention the outstanding figures of the Brătianu family, their contribution to Romanian culture and history, respectively the formation of Modern Romania and Greater Romania. Creating a documentation department – library, to hold collections of books, publications and catalogues illustrating the bibliography on the life and work of the members of the Brătianu family, specialised studies, monographs, albums, photographs, other documents; the publication of studies, catalogues and albums, as a result of the undertaken research activities.”
Whilst the Florica estate was the birthplace of Romanian liberalism and monarchism ideologies and values, every building without a family would be soulless. The Brătianu family is core to this museum, and their battle for a country’s progress and development can be seen in the work done in their birthplace and home.
Notable Family Members:
Ion Constantin Brătianu, “I. C. Brătianu” – (1821-1891) – He served as the National Liberal Party’s first president and was at the centre of efforts to bring the various liberal groups together. The Revolution of 1848, the Union of the Principalities, and the victory over state independence were all historical events that Brătianu consistently led from the front. Ion C. Brătianu, one of the figures with extensive political experience, had an exceptional career in government, serving as prime minister of Romania for the longest stretch of time before the communist era. Necessary steps toward modernising and consolidating the Romanian state were taken under his cabinets. Being the youngest of the brothers and inheriting lots according to an old custom, Ion Constantin Brătianu picked his inheritance lots following his father’s passing in 1844. As a result, he acquired a collection of properties, including Ștefăneşti, known as Florica from 1865, Mălureni, Galeşu-Brătieni, Lereşti, and Sâmbureşti. (Younger brother of Dimitrie Brătianu)
Dimitrie Brătianu – (1818-1892) – He was a politician, diplomat, and, for a brief time, Romania’s prime minister. He presided over Carol I’s coronation at that time. He and his older brother, Ion Constantin Brătianu, were involved in the National Liberal Party’s foundation. Since the two brothers have always had disagreements, Dimitrie takes the helm of the liberal dissidents during his brother’s lengthy leadership. From this position, he brought down the government, and Dimitrie Brătianu briefly assumed the leadership of the National Liberal Party following the passing of his brother. (Older brother of Ion Constantin Brătianu)
Ion Ionel Constantin Brătianu, “Ion I. C. Brătianu” or ”Ionel Brătianu” – (1864-1927) – He carried the weight of his name and had a remarkable political career. He was conscious that while his name was a fantastic advantage, he had to uphold it. The political elite listened to his voice for two decades as he ruled over the government. Even King Ferdinand I was heavily affected by the liberal leader, whom he regarded as “the good star sign of Romania,” resulting in his opponents branding Ionel Brătianu as the “uncrowned king”. Historians have referred to him as the greatest politician and statesman of all time in Romania due to the reforms enacted to strengthen the unitary national state of Romania and the fact that he was one of the main founders of Greater Romania, the liberal ideal of the Romanian people. (Eldest son of Ion Constantin Brătianu, brother of Constantin I. C. Brătianu & Vintilă I. C. Brătianu)
Constantin I. C. Brătianu, “Dinu Brătianu” – (1866-1950) – He stayed away from militant political activities as his brothers’ more imposing personalities overshadowed his political career. With the death of both his brothers and the assassination of I. G Duca, Dinu Brătianu was chosen to take over as head of the National Liberal Party. Along with most of the political elite from the interwar era, he perished in the communist prison at Sighet. (Middle son of Ion Constantin Brătianu, brother of Ion Ionel Constantin Brătianu & Vintilă I. C. Brătianu)
Vintilă I. C. Brătianu – (1867-1930) – He is credited with developing the liberal economic principle, “prin noi înşine” (through ourselves) upon which the National Liberal Party’s financial strategy was built and implemented throughout the first decade of the interwar period. He has held various roles in the public, banking, and mining industries, accumulating a wealth of expertise in the economic sphere. Vintilă I. C. Brătianu’s economic theory, founded on Romanian liberal economic ideas, had its roots in a strong sense of patriotism and a feeling of national dignity. He advocated for the interests of the Romanian people and their legal claims to the nation’s wealth while encouraging national initiatives. (Youngest son of Ion Constantin Brătianu, brother of Constantin I. C. Brătianu & Ion Ionel Constantin Brătianu)
Elisa Brătianu – (1870-1957) – She was a political figure, member of the aristocracy, and attendee of the 1919 Inter-Allied Women’s Conference. Daughter of Prince Alexandru B. Știrbei and Maria Ghika-Comănești, inheritor of two noble titles. She advocated for popular Romanian traditions, created institutions to preserve stitchery customs out of concern for the decline of traditional Romanian culture, and wrote pattern books. After her husband Ionel Brătianu passed away, Elisa Brătianu was the driving force behind a foundation to gather his papers and establish a library to publish his most significant works. (Wife of Ion Ionel Constantin Brătianu)
The Brătianu National Museum Experience
Walking towards the estate was an exciting experience as I decided to leave my car further down the road that leads to Villa Florica. Someone noticed my camera and engaged in a conversation as I was at a crossroads between three places of interest in the area as he referred to them. He says, “On your right, you have corruption; on your left, you have communism; in front of you, religion and up the road, history”. That was all that was said, and I became even more intrigued by this place before reaching my primary destination. I became curious about everything surrounding the Brătianu family estate.
Slowly, everything this man said made perfect sense; on my right, it was clear what he meant when he said “corruption”, as a lot of construction was going on to expand a new “high-class” residential area, damaging every bit of natural beauty in the way. On my left was this derelict building with a locked gate, a common sight across Romania, representing the post-communist lack of interest in beautiful architecture. However, this building does not fit the brutalist style of architecture prevalent in Romania at the time. It looked more like something the Brătianu family might have owned, which was confirmed by the museum guides that it was a farm and vineyard from which the Brătianu family made part of their fortune. The vineyard location can be seen from satellite images on google maps of where the previously mentioned residential area is being expanded. Recently, this building was named “Conacul Brătienilor” (The Brătianu Mansion) and served as a public events hall. However, now it is a graffiti-ridden post-apocalyptic tragic end to a stunning historical construction.
The “Funeral Chapel Nativity of St. John the Baptist”, also known as the “Biserica Brătienilor” (Brătianu Church), serves as a tomb for the Brătianu family. The church was finalised in 1912 on the Brătianu estate, and today it is also home to the Florica Hermitage, where three nuns reside and care for both the church and hermitage. The nuns are painters, sculptors and Slavonic translators, working on various religious iconography and art. This is the religious side the mysterious man mentioned to me upon my arrival at the crossroads. It is rather unfortunate that I could not visit the church on the inside or see the tomb of the Brătianu family as there was some religious event at the hermitage and the only way to access the church and tomb was by contacting the nuns. I did not want to intrude on the event, so I decided to try another time.
“Up the road, history!” I could not agree more with the mysterious man. Walking towards the villa, I could hear woodpeckers everywhere and squirrels running around the beautiful curved road leading to the Villa. On the right side was this peculiar, somewhat modern-looking tower that felt medieval, more like a defence tower. Like everything in Romania that is in ruin, there was a lock and key only on the gate but not on the tower’s door, with smashed windows and darkness inside. Later I was informed that this tower was home to the electricity generator that powered the Villa. However, it seems rather grand to just host a generator; I feel it was more than just that.
Even in the winter months, when everything is gloomy and depressing, the outside surrounding the Brătianu estate is magnificent and calming. In the same calm mood, the security guard greeted the day’s only visitor in the early morning. Every door is shut from the inside because those in charge of the museum are working hard to restore the Brătianu family heritage and add as many priceless artefacts of Romanian history as possible. Once inside, I am greeted by an excited museum guide already overwhelming me with information about what I see right before stepping inside the Villa. Ionel Brătianu is presented in a large granite bust sculpture that stands at the entryway and weighs around a tonne and a half. This sculpture was hidden for over 42 years from the communists and was brought over to Villa Florica from Bucharest.
Upon purchasing my ticket, as the only visitor of the day, the tour guide took me up these grand stairs that I could not stop to photograph a few times, waiting for the perfect beam of light to shine through. The tour begins in the main hall, which serves as the greeting area. However, we engaged in an exciting and educational conversation about various topics, including the museum, politics, education, and Romania. We go through the ground floor library, which has a couple of books that were brought in and in the middle, the cherry wood table with Persian motifs, won by the Brătianu family at an auction. This table was brought over from Paris by train and served as a card-playing table for the family.
There are plenty of saloons in this Villa full of amazing stories and items that bring to life the personality of each room. Crystal glass windows and doors with oak, cherry and rosewood frames embellish the Oriental saloon. Another fascinating element that brings warmth to this room is the Bistrița terracotta stove. Several masonry heaters are throughout the saloons and rooms, one more delightfully decorated than the other. The living room, also known as the Elisa Brătianu saloon, serves as a stand-alone ethnographic museum full of folk costumes, ceramics and embroidery.
The tea room shows both simplicity and elegance, decorated with sophistication and grace, representing the Brătianu family style. The same can be seen in the bourgeois saloon, which easily stands out with its liberal ambience spread throughout the adjoining rooms. Full of information and photography showcasing the most significant and influential political figures Romania has ever seen.
The pièce de résistance has to be the suspended library of Ionel Brătianu, a breathtaking work of art. It encapsulates the authentic culture and status of the Brătianu family. It is sickening to know that most of the books from this library have been burnt in front of the Villa by the communists. The same system expropriated and arrested Dinu Brătianu without trial at the age of 84, the last owner of Villa Florica.
On the top floor is the office of Ionel Brătianu, where a massive framed family tree can be observed and studied. Other elements, such as another library, an imposing desk and beautiful decorations, can be admired as the terrace doors reveal a stunning panoramic view of Pitești.
As you exit the Villa, I recommend checking the final part of the tour atop the hill, where the stairs lead towards a great place to sit down and absorb all the information and history of this incredible family and its impact on Romanian society, history and culture. Where the three brothers will be at your side as vultures, the work of white marble created by Ivan Mestrovic in the interwar period.
With so many family members over two centuries, visiting for the first time can be overwhelming. The amazing people that run this museum have helped tremendously with understanding every bit of information about the history and legacy of the Brătianu family. This museum leaves you wanting more, craving more information about Romania’s history and the people who built it before the communist rule. How they coped with and opposed the communist government, and how their legacy is still alive today through those that continue to ask questions and search for answers.
Bibliography
The Brătianu National Museum (2022)
