The Queen Maria Palace is under the administration of the Ministry of Culture for restoration

The Palace of Queen Maria in Constanța will be restored and transformed into a cultural center, after it has officially entered the administration of the Ministry of Culture.

Raluca Turcan, Minister of Culture. Photo: Facebook

The Minister of Culture, Raluca Turcan, announced a significant moment for the Romanian cultural heritage: the Palace of Queen Maria in Constanța was officially transferred to the administration of the ministry and will benefit from an extensive restoration program. The building, built between 1924 and 1926, went through a complicated period from a legal point of view, with the palace owned by the Ministry of Economy and the land belonging to a private company.

During today’s Government meeting, after sustained efforts on several levels, the palace was declared of national public interest. The transfer of the building is carried out at the established value of 5,758,504 lei, according to an evaluation report dated August 29, 2024. Raluca Turcan mentioned that the funds necessary for its purchase are provided by a supplement to the budget of the Ministry of Culture, coming from the Budgetary Reserve Fund of the Government for the year 2024.

Raluca Turcan said: “Today, we managed to solve complex issues related to property rights, taking over the building from the Ministry of Economy. Together with Constanța City Hall, we are working on the process of transferring the land into the ownership of the state and under the administration of the Ministry of Culture.”

The minister detailed the future plans for the palace, emphasizing that:

  • The complete restoration of the royal villa, which will be carried out through a financing agreement with the Development Bank of the Council of Europe (BDCE).
  • Transforming the palace into a space dedicated to cultural activities and services, thus facilitating public access to this important monument. “This palace will become a place that not only preserves history, but also promotes culture and education”Turcan added.

The Minister pointed out that, as early as March, the Ministry of Culture started the initiative, and the Memorandum regarding the contracting of a loan from the BDCE for the “Cultural Foundations” project was approved, including the necessary funds for the restoration of the Queen Mary Palace. “This project will ensure not only the saving of a building with an exceptional historical value, but will also contribute to the development of cultural tourism in the Constanta area”she explained.

In conclusion, Raluca Turcan stated: “Queen Mary’s Palace is a symbol of our history, which, from today, we are committed to preserving for future generations.”