Built between 1698 and 1702 by a rich Romanian aristocrat Constantin Brancoveanu, the Mogoșoaia Palace is famous as an architectural monument because its façade is dominated by traditional staircase balconies, vaulted ceilings, hand-carved doors, columns with capitals, and arcades that have come to be known as Romanian Renaissance style, which is a combination of Ottoman and Venetian elements. The Palace bears the name of the widow of the Romanian boyar Mogos, who originally owned the property on which the Palace was built. In 1714 Constantin, who was the prince of southern Romania, was killed along with his four sons. At this point, the Palace was confiscated by the Ottomans and converted into an inn, but returned to the aristocrats of Romania some years later. The Palace was devastated by Ottoman forces during the Russo-Turisk War of 1768 to 1774. In early 1821 it was nearly destroyed during a revolution. Once again the Palace was returned to the Romanians with the Bibescu family taking ownership in 1832 after a planned marriage between two families, thus remaining in the family thereafter. Between 1860 and 1880, the Palace was renovated and the family vault was added. Prince George gave the Palace to his wife Marthe and eventually deeded her the land. After the Palace was bombed in 1916 during World War I, it was rebuilt and extended in the 1920s by Marthe Bibesco using a huge budget. The final rebuilding was furnished in 1935. During the 1930s, the Palace was used as a meeting place for the government. Prince George died on the site in 1941 and was buried under a small church built in 1688 near the palace. A cousin of Prince George, Prince Antoine Ribesco had his young wife Elizabeth buried in the family vault after her death during World War II. Since the country was under the Communist regime after World War II, neither Elizabeth Bibesco's husband, Prince Antoine, nor Prince George's wife, Marthe could be buried beside their beloved mate. Some of the art pieces disappeared during the Communist occupation. In 1957 the Palace became a museum and is a popular tourist attraction. The Palace's gardens with water features and statues are especially beautiful during the month of May when hundreds of purple iris are blooming. Today, the grounds has the Bibescu Family Tomb, the beautiful Palace, a gate tower and kitchen, a restaurant called Elchingen Villa., a greenhouse and various small buildings on the garden's grounds.