Close to Bucharest, on the edge of Grădinari village, confined by the Arges River and neighbouring the old Wallachian forests, we find a manor with a special charm. It is one of the countryside homes where the descendants of the Oteteleşanu family spent their summer holidays in the beginning of the 20th century. The property was animated by guests from the Bucharest elite. Since then, many years have passed over this architectural monument, which was eventually returned to the heirs.

The Oteteleşanu family has deep roots and a long genealogy since the time of Michael the Brave. "Great minds, passionate patriots and in love with the national culture, Otetelişanu boyars influenced the history of these places, starting with Radu Otetelişanu, who was one of the secretaries of the Lord, during the reign of Michael the Brave, and to the famous Iordache Otetelișanu, art lover and philanthropist, or Iancu Otetelișanu, director of the National Theater. The members of the Otetelișanu family are a branch of the Buzeşti people. Exchequers, secretaries, leaders or politicians, these boyars were important figures not only in the history of Oltenia but also in the national one."

"Whoever looks at the family trees of the two families," says Tudor Octavian with respect and admiration, "is shocked. Wherever you look, you find a famous name among them: Grigore Ureche, Iancu Jianu, Petrache Poenaru, Nicolae Bălcescu, Năsturel Herescu, Argetoianu. "

Ioan Oteteleşanu was the son of Constantin Oteteleşanu, one of the founders of Logreşti Monastery in Gorj County. He was the director of the salt mines in the period between 1838-1841, gathering an important fortune. Between 1851-1853 he was Minister of Control during the reign of Barbu Ştirbei. In 1865-1866 "Conu Iancu Oteteleşanu" was Minister of Finance during the reign of Cuza, in the government of Nicolae Kretzulescu. In 1860, Iancu falls in love with Elena Filipescu, daughter of the great steward and exchequer Iancu Filipescu. He had known her since childhood. As Gh. Crutzescu recalls, Oteteleşanu's wife, Safta, realized her husband’s allegiance and although she loves him, she decides to get divorced in order "not to destroy his happiness." But the two, Safta and Elena, come to know each other and they even have a sort of "reconciliation moment" in front of Virgin Mary’s icon at Sărindar. Thus, the two women live sharing their love for the same man. Safta continues to stay nearby. It was a highly publicized "scandal" in the epoch. As far as Oteteleşanu is concerned, he was passionate about playing cards but also collecting postage stamps, being one of the first Romanian philatelists and one of the great philanthropists.

On his death, in 1876, Iancu Oteteleşanu was honoured with royal funeral ceremony and the entire aristocracy of Bucharest was mourning. His first wife, Safta, who loved him so much, was said to have died the same day. Elena Oteteleşanu died in 1888.

Directly linked to the history of our manor, the descendants of the famous family living at the beginning of the twentieth century, included the well-known Ottilia Michail, the famous painter of the Royal House, Queen Elizabeth’s (Carmen Sylva) and Nicolae Grigorescu’s protégé who was married to Șerban Oteteleşanu and grandmother of the painter Maria (Măriuca) Oteteleşanu.

The Oteteleşanu family owned several properties in Bucharest, some of which gained the reputation of being the meeting place of the Bucharest elite; a house which today hosts the "Constantin Tănase" Theatre; The Oteteleşanu terrace (and gardens) where the first skyscraper was built in Bucharest - the Palace of Telephones.

We listed some of the most important properties of the Oteteleşenu family, better known perhaps than the Manor in Grădinari. Modest compared to the others, it still had the glory of the boyars' mansions of the time, with a generous and elegant terrace in the North, a hall for receptions in the central area of the ground floor and a large park.

Built at the end of the 19th century, the mansion reflects the alignment of the Romanian architecture to a new style borrowed from the French. As a reflection of the cosmopolitan orientation of the dominant classes, the shapes characteristic of the eclecticism that dominated the European architecture at that time, and in particular that characteristic to the French school, were preferred.

The Oteteleşanu manor is built following an Eclectic style with predominantly Neoclassical elements and influences from the French Renaissance.

Surrounded by a park of nearly two hectares, the mansion has a built-up area of 1220 sqm. The façades are well proportioned and have a great visual effect. The same style is found in the interior. The central lobby is free on all levels, with a skylight on top. The access to the building is done on the north and south façades through imposing terraces and ladders, and there is a third service access from where you can reach the basement. Both inside and outside there is a symmetry of the facades. Within the estate, there are also some annexes, ruined buildings, dating from a more recent period, as well as a fountain built once with the park.

Being in an advanced state of degradation, both outdoors and indoors, the construction will require a rehabilitation project in order to make a great impression again. Due to its size and location, investing in the rehabilitation of this property would be a success since it can have multiple possible functions; it can serve as a holiday home, a hotel or a boutique hotel, an event center or even a nursing home or recovery clinic.

An important asset is the proximity to Bucharest - the manor is just 29 km from Victoriei Square, and also the accessibility, it is only a few minutes away from the A1 highway, with direct access from the main road.

With a dream view and at the same time so close to the city, the Oteteleșanu Manor in Grădinari opens up to many opportunities and looks forward to the project that will bring it back to life and to the owner that will grant it the glory it deserves.

https://www.sothebysrealty.ro/

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The Mansion is abandoned and closed for visiting