Prince Vlad Ţepeş ordered the construction of the first Princely Court in Bucharest at the middle of the 15th century. By the middle of the 16th century, Prince Mircea Ciobanul employed craftsmen to rebuild the princely court on its old foundations. Burned by the Turks during the battles of 1595, the princely residence was entirely rebuilt by Matei Basarab. Upon his accession to the throne of Wallachia, Prince Constantine Brâncovan built the princely mansion, named "the large one", masonry rooms for the princely guards, as well as the princely bath. The main entrance gate was fitted with a watch tower. The elegant "largest" house impressed many foreigners a...rrived at the court. Damaged by fires, destroyed by earthquakes, left in ruin following the Austro-Russo-Turkish war from 1768 - 1774, this princely residence was no longer inhabitable. Thus, Alexander Ipsilanti had to build a new princely court in Dealul Spirii - the New Court, in 1775. After it was built, the buildings of the old court, found in ruin, became known under the name of the Old Court. Lately the archaeologists had uncovered many evidence on the Old Court. The edifice bears the seal of the reigns of Grigore Ghica, Şerban Cantacuzino, and Constantin Brâncovan. Its beautiful portal dates to the time of Prince Ştefan Cantacuzino. Only fragments remained from the old painting (Mircea Ciobanul's sons, and, later Şerban Cantacuzino's sons had ordered its execution). Currently, the Old House Architectural Complex is under restoration.
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