The Royal Court of Suceava is a historical complex built between the 14th and 17th centuries, located in the center of Suceava, on Ana Ipătescu Street. The initial construction was carried out at the end of the 14th century, during the reign of Petru Mușat. Initially, it was a wooden princely house, with a cellar, two rooms and a sloping entrance. This first form was completed by ruler Alexandru cel Bun, who added stone walls and a new building with cellars. The court was seriously damaged by a fire in the second half of the 15th century, destroying most of the wooden buildings.
The restoration of the court took place during the reign of Ștefan cel Mare, who built a new stone building over the old remains. This edifice was a massive construction, with a deep foundation and thick walls, organized around a quadrangle. It had multiple functions: residential, administrative and ceremonial. The architectural elements included were a vast cellar divided into two naves, a gate tower, a tower-dwelling and the Royal Council Hall. The cellar was accessed either by a slide or by stairs. Coins dating from after 1480 were discovered under the stone pavement.
The last major changes were made during the reign of Vasile Lupu, in the 17th century, when the cellars were redeveloped with brick vaulted entrances and stone frames. However, the end of the 17th century marked the abandonment of the Court. It is believed that its destruction was ordered by Dumitrașcu Cantacuzino, who allegedly ordered the demolition of the fortresses of Suceava, Neamț and Hotin. In 1700, a Polish envoy described the site as a "walled, deserted princely palace".
It was not until the 1950s that archaeological research and conservation work began. The surviving walls are between 1 and 5 meters high. Research has revealed a variety of stove tiles, some glazed, decorated with motifs such as the coat of arms of Moldova, knights, plant elements and animals. A protective stone wall was built around the ruins.
New archaeological excavations were carried out in 1998–1999. On a length of 35 meters, in a north-south direction, a monetary hoard with over 300 pieces was discovered. Most were quarter dinars (quartringi) minted by Sigismund of Luxembourg in the period 1430–1437, and three coins were half grosz issued by Alexander the Good. These coins did not have a great value, being affected by the inflation of the time and the decrease in silver content. Archaeologist Monica Gogu assumes that the hoard belonged to a worker from the late period of Alexander the Good's reign.
In 2000, a national restoration site was opened. The area of the ruins was enclosed with a metal fence, but the work was carried out intermittently due to lack of funds. Over time, the area was invaded by vegetation and homeless people. In 2010, the Suceava City Hall allocated funds for the construction of a new stone and wrought iron fence, intended to protect the monument and improve the visual appearance of the area.
The Princely Court played an important role in the state life of Moldova. It was here that meetings of rulers took place, foreign envoys were received, kitchens for guests functioned, and means of transportation of the time were preserved. Architect Viorel Blănaru emphasizes that the ensemble was not fortified, which made it vulnerable to Tatar and Ottoman invasions, which required its frequent reconstruction. Historian Florin Hău documented these construction stages, starting from Peter I until the relocation of the capital of Moldova to Iași. Sufficient constructive and decorative elements were found to allow a partial reconstruction of the buildings' initial forms.
In 2011, local authorities, together with the Spanish firm Arena Teatro SL, launched a rehabilitation project that proposed transforming the Royal Court into a visitable archaeological site. Architect Gheorghe Sion proposed a modern "U"-shaped building made of glass, which would use the existing walls and maintain the medieval appearance. The project included glass walkways on the ground floor for observing the ruins and the arrangement of a library and exhibition rooms on the first floor. Although the project was completed in December 2011, estimated at 17 million euros, the National Commission for Historical Monuments considered it unviable.
Sursa: ro.wikipedia.org
