The ruins of the Doftana prison-museum, where communist and legionnaire leaders were imprisoned—including Nicolae Ceaușescu and Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, as well as legionnaires Horia Sima and Corneliu Zelea Codreanu—will undergo a rehabilitation process and subsequently enter the tourist circuit, announced Costel Brezeanu, the mayor of Telega commune.
Businessman Mohammad Murad has informed local authorities that he is interested in taking over the “Bastille of Romania” under a concession agreement—so named because no one ever managed to escape from it—and investing 10 million EUR in its renovation.
The mayor of Telega, Costel Brezeanu, specified that the investor has already submitted a request to the local town hall for the concession of the museum building and the surrounding land. The authorities are set to proceed with the request, following legal administrative procedures, including evaluation, specifications, and a public tender, during the next Local Council meeting.
Contacted by phone, Mohammad Murad did not fully confirm the information but admitted to being interested in several tourist attractions in the area. He noted that he has already purchased a 9-hectare plot of land in Valea Doftanei, where he intends to develop a tourist complex.
The information regarding the Lebanese entrepreneur’s presence in Telega was confirmed by several representatives of the local public administration.
The cited sources stated that Mohammad Murad visited Telega in August to inspect the land and the Doftana museum building, expressing his delight with what he discovered there.
The project for the rehabilitation of the former Doftana penitentiary aims to renovate part of what remains of the old building and transform it into a museum of communism, while a tourist complex that respects the prison’s architecture is to be built on the vacant land.
The prison building was severely damaged during the 1940 earthquake, at which point the penitentiary was closed and converted into a museum, which operated until the early 1990s. In 2011, the prison—a Class A historical monument with a total area of nearly 11 hectares—was transferred from the public domain to the private domain of the Telega locality, and its value was appraised by specialists at over 1.2 million EUR.
The building has been put up for auction repeatedly, but no one had been interested in investing there until now. The communist prison building is currently a ruin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the investor interested in Doftana Prison?Businessman Mohammad Murad has expressed interest in taking over the “Bastille of Romania” under a concession agreement for renovation and development.
What is the estimated value of the investment?The project involves an estimated investment of 10 million EUR for the rehabilitation of the historic site and the construction of adjacent facilities.
What will the Doftana site be used for after renovation?The plan includes transforming part of the ruins into a museum of communism and developing a tourist complex that respects the original architecture of the prison.