The Lieutenant’s Abandoned Manor

In a quiet village of Mehedinți County, an abandoned manor stands in solitude, a relic of a time when knowledge, literature, and medicine shaped its walls. Now forsaken, the house still carries echoes of its past through its intricate architecture and the few artifacts left behind, each whispering the stories of those who once lived here.

From documents and photographs discovered in the house, it appears that it belonged to Lieutenant Doctor Ștefan Gherghinescu, a military physician who, in 1925, published a doctoral thesis titled Surgical Treatment of Chronic Maxillary Sinusitis. He remained active in his field during the communist era and later moved to Bucharest, where records from 1947 indicate that he became a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine. Another notable figure associated with the house was Dumitru Gherghinescu, a poet, translator, and literary figure. Though little documentation confirms his connection, it is possible he was related to Ștefan and may have lived in the same house. His literary work found its place in numerous Romanian publications, leaving behind a poetic legacy spanning several decades.

Sevasta Gherghinescu, an elementary school teacher in the village, also lived here. It is possible she was the wife of the military lieutenant. By 1978, she was of advanced age and received postcards from her two granddaughters, who were already grown, possibly in high school. These small tokens of affection added warmth to the otherwise quiet manor. There is also a possibility that she was related to Ștefan Gherghinescu and may have shared the same home, though sources confirming this are scarce.

The manor itself is an impressive example of early 20th-century Romanian architecture. Its façade features elegant, arched windows and decorative motifs reminiscent of Brâncovenian influences. The red-tiled roof, now partially collapsed, reveals the toll time has taken on the structure. A carved wooden entrance door bears a stylized letter G, presumably for the Gherghinescu family. Inside, the house seems frozen in time, with dusty furniture, scattered books, and newspapers from the communist era creating an eerie yet fascinating atmosphere. A military uniform and cap, likely belonging to Ștefan Gherghinescu, still hang in the hallway, silent reminders of his service. A forgotten calendar from 1991 hints that the house was inhabited long after its golden years, though by whom remains a mystery.

Despite its desolation, the manor still retains an undeniable presence. Every creaking floorboard and faded book seems to whisper forgotten stories. Hidden in the countryside of Mehedinți, it remains a sanctuary of Romania’s past, waiting for time to reclaim it entirely.

Photo & text: Alex Iacob