The Mansions of Izvoru de Sus, County Argeş: uncertain future of a couple of buildings, fading away of some memories

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

The two mansions of Izvoru de Sus village, known as the “large castle” and the “small castle”, are parts of the former manor that is likely to have been established in mid-17th century. Th e domain of Izvoru was initially owned by Ştirbei family, who founded “Saint Nicholas” Church, as the manor chapel that subsequently became parish church. Close to the church, the boyars built a house too, the cellars of which can still be seen today under the “small castle”. In the 19th century, the property passed into the possession of Perticari family who set up the “big castle” and restored the old house which became the “small castle”. Nowadays, the “castles” of Izvoru de Sus have been falling in ruins with every passing day and nobody can or wants to deter this process. Some parts there of, like the floors of the “big castle”, are widely destroyed. Th e moral deterioration that both mansions have been undergoing since 1947 is enhanced by the physical deterioration started 33 years ago. Th e present-day situation of these buildings is not only the consequence of the 1977 earthquake. On the contrary, de-allocation, lack of maintenance, and robbery are the crucial causes of the deplorable state of these heritage objectives.