Tourist Attractions & Monuments Romania

To the south-east of the Princely Court, this museum, which occupies a fine mansion, illustrates the evolution of writing and printing in Romania: its appearance in Târgoviște thanks to the erudite prince Radu cel Mare, the printing of the first Bible in Romanian at the end of the ^17th century, the gradual transition from the Cyrillic alphabet to Latin... Among the manuscripts on display is the oldest preserved Romanian text. You'll also see a fine ^18th-century printing press.

Close to the Gare du Nord railway station, the former prison, in operation from 1941 to 1977, is infamous for the atrocious experimental re-education-through-torture program that political opponents underwent here between 1949 and 1951. The same program, in which everyone was both victim and torturer, was later applied in the Aiud and Gherla prisons in Transylvania. A memorial was built there, and opened to the public in 2014. The premises have been left virtually untouched, with documents and testimonies. An emotional visit.

This gigantic mine is well worth a visit. At a depth of over 200 metres, you'll discover fourteen impressively large chambers created by salt mining. The polished rock is criss-crossed with colorful veins. There's also a bar, sports fields (soccer, handball, volleyball, etc.), children's games and a go-kart track. You can also relax and breathe in the mine air, which is good for the respiratory tract. Remember to bundle up before plunging into the bowels of the earth: it's around 12 degrees!

Situated 4 km north of the city center, on the voivode hill, the monastery is known as a princely necropolis, where the remains of a major figure in Romanian history are laid to rest: Mihai Viteazul (Michael the Brave), the first sole ruler of the three Romanian principalities, for a few months in 1600. A large marble sarcophagus, sculpted by Frédéric Storck in 1913, houses his tomb. Built between 1431 and 1501, the monastery is a landmark of local medieval architecture. Its carved stone church is remarkable.

Founded in the 14th century, this monastery is considered to be one of the oldest in Wallachia. It was built by Radu I, prince from 1377 to 1383. It was then rebuilt by his son Mircea the Elder and renovated by Constantin Brâncoveanu in 1711. The site is quiet and pleasant. The old church is in the centre of the flowery courtyard. Its facade, partly made of brick, is beautifully decorated with small coloured ceramic discs. Wood is omnipresent, especially on the roofs. The monastery is also home to the oldest bell in Wallachia, cast in 1385.

The museum, on the outskirts of the town, is housed in a beautiful house typical of the region, and is well worth a visit in its own right. Nicolae Iorga lived here from 1910 to 1940, when this great historian was assassinated by the fascist Iron Guard. A supporter of Romanian unity, this prolific author, patriot and democrat was also Prime Minister in 1931-1932. The museum exhibits objects, manuscripts and furniture that belonged to this important figure in Romanian history. Note the impressive library in the office.

Close to the royal court, it features archaeological and historical collections. It occupies the former Palais de Justice, a monumental building dating from the early ^20th century. Next door, the art museum dates from the late ^19th century. Formerly the seat of the prefecture, it boasts an elegant, Baroque-influenced interior. On display are fragments of frescoes from the great church of the princely court, dating from the Brâncoveanu period, as well as works by the great masters of Romanian painting, such as Grigorescu and Pallady.

Housed in the neoclassical former prefecture, the museum has several sections: one presents the history of the județ d'Argeș, from the Paleolithic to 1947. The museum also boasts a naive art gallery and a section dedicated to the natural sciences, with dioramas and stuffed specimens, as well as a fine mineral collection and a planetarium. The art gallery, housed in a handsome neoclassical building dating from 1886 (bulevardul Republicii, 33), exhibits paintings by leading local artists such as Grigorescu and Pallady.

To complete your knowledge of salt, you can visit this museum located not far from the mine, in a historic ^18th-century building. It explains the importance of this mineral for the human body and the history of its exploitation in the region. You'll even discover rare species of halophilic plants, which thrive in salty environments. Thanks to virtual reality headsets, you can also climb aboard a vintage wagon to visit a salt mine and learn about extraction methods, from the late ^18th century to the present day.

Located in the center, at kilometer zero, the princely church(biserica domnească), also known as St. George's Church(Sfântul Gheorghe), was founded in 1656 by Constantine Șerban, Prince of Wallachia, and his wife. Remodeled in the ^mid-19th century after a fire, this handsome brick edifice was slated for demolition in the 1960s, but was finally restored in 1968. Its porch, unusual in Romania, makes it an interesting exception.

The Villa Luminiş was built in 1926 by the famous Romanian composer George Enescu. It is now transformed into a memorial house in his honour. This superb Romanian-inspired building, whose name evokes celestial light, housed the violinist until 1946. He liked to spend the summer there, away from the bustle of Bucharest. While listening to Enescu's works, one goes from room to room to admire the refined living environment of the artist, his piano, old photos, beautiful furniture and art objects of various styles.

Close to the princely court, this museum occupies a historic building, built in 1701 by Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu as a home for his sons and restored in neoclassical style at the end of the ^19th century. It traces the history of the police in Romania, from its beginnings in the late ^18th century to the present day, through photos, uniforms, edged weapons and firearms. One room features a rich collection of police uniforms from all over the world.

This atypical cave lies just west of Mangalia, in the village of Limanu, on the edge of the pond of the same name. Stretching over 4 km, it is by far the longest cave in the region. Formed by a maze of rectangular galleries, some of them man-made, it is believed to have been inhabited since prehistoric times and to have served, over the millennia, as a place of worship or refuge. Numerous animal species have also been discovered, mainly invertebrates, but also bats, foxes, turtles and polecats.

The national capital of black gold, Ploiești is home to a dedicated museum, which traces the rich history of Romanian oil extraction and refining. Located in one of the town's beautiful classical mansions, it boasts a rich heritage: ^19th-century wooden and metal drills, geological maps, mineralogical samples, oil lamps..., as well as patents and works by Lazăr Edeleanu, the inventor of the modern oil refining method.

It's housed in the palace of ^19th-century politician and banker Ghiţă Ionescu, a beautiful listed building. The museum exhibits works by famous Romanian artists of the ^19th and ^20th centuries, including Theodor Pallady, Nicolae Grigorescu, Gheorghe Tattarescu and Corneliu Baba. It also features a fine series of drawings, sketches and engravings, as well as a number of sculptures. On the decorative arts side, you'll find an interesting collection of ^19th-century icons on glass and precious contemporary tapestries.

A little dated, the museum evokes at length the destruction and reconstruction of the city during the 20th century, but also the great events of the 19th century: the revolutionary movement of 1848, the struggles for independence... An impressive collection of stamps, postcards, coins and official decorations is also presented. The museum occupies a large neoclassical-style building, built in the second half of the 19th century.

This museum (also known as Callatis) houses a fine collection of Roman sculptures, including a ^3rd-century marble Aphrodite. There are also fragments of columns, capitals and friezes, as well as ceramics and jewelry... At the entrance is the "papyrus tomb" dating from the ^4th century BC, discovered in 1959. Sent to Moscow for conservation, the papyrus went missing for decades and was only repatriated in 2011. In the outdoor park, other architectural fragments are on display, along with sarcophagi from the Roman era.

Built in 1573, it is one of the country's oldest mosques. It bears the name of its founder, Princess Esmahan, daughter of Sultan Selim II and wife of a vizier, who took refuge in Mangalia at the time. This handsome, thick-walled, carved-stone edifice is surrounded by a small cemetery where prominent figures of the time are buried. Some of the stelae are over three centuries old. Also note the ablutions fountain in the courtyard. The mosque still serves as a place of worship for the town's Turkish-Tatari community, which numbers some 3,000 worshippers.

The Musée de l'Horloge(Muzeul ceasului) displays a unique collection of timepieces from different eras, origins and mechanisms: pocket clocks, table and mantel clocks, sundials, clepsydras, etc., as well as music boxes and automata. One of the oldest, a water clock, dates back to the ^17th century. Some of the clocks belonged to Romanian historical figures. Recently restored, the museum is also worth a visit for its setting: it occupies an elegant Romantic-style mansion, built at the end of the ^19th century and listed as a historic monument.

Located on the site of the former bishop's palace, from which it incorporates elements, the Palace of the Princes of Transylvania was built in stages from the ^mid-14th century onwards. It was the home of Michael the Brave during his eleven-month rule of Transylvania between 1599 and 1600. After many years of restoration, a museum has opened within its walls. It traces the history of the building and the illustrious figures who have occupied it.

The ruins of this ancient Roman city are divided into three sections: the museum, which houses archaeological remains (vases, funerary objects, etc.); the ruins of the city and its well-preserved surrounding walls; and the triumphal monument, erected in 109 A.D. to celebrate the victory won here by Emperor Trajan over the Dacians a few years earlier. The mausoleum visible today is a replica. The city was destroyed by the Goths in the ^3rd century.

It consists of two adjoining buildings, one 19th century neoclassical, the other dating from the 1980s. Works by great Romanian masters, mainly from the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th, are exhibited: Nicolae Grigorescu, Theodor Aman, Ioan Andreescu, Ștefan Luchian, Frederic Storck... The museum gives pride of place to paintings of marine inspiration, with many Dobrogean landscapes in particular. It also manages a section dedicated to the sculptor Ion Jalea, a native of the region (strada Arhiepiscopiei, 26).

This museum is housed in the former town hall, a neo-Romanesque building dating from 1896, with a very oriental feel. The interior is in the same vein. Here you'll see a variety of handicrafts from all regions of the country: wooden and glass icons, ceramics, pearl jewelry... The collection of folk costumes and textiles is particularly rich. There's also a craft store. On your way out, take a detour to contemplate the nearby Hunchiar mosque. This Moorish-style mosque dates back to 1868.

Near Lake Tăbăcăriei, to the north of the city, the complex includes a dolphinarium where you can see shows of small Black Sea dolphins, a planetarium, a microreserve featuring Dobrogea fauna and an exotic bird exhibition. There's also an aquarium right opposite the casino. Here you'll see the main specimens that inhabit Romania's coastal fresh waters (ponds, lakes, delta), as well as exotic fish such as moray eels and piranhas.

The 7.5 km-long Red Lake(lacul Roșu), with an area of almost 15 ^km2, lies between the Sfântu Gheorghe and Sulina arms, some 5 km from the Black Sea. Those interested in ornithology will be able to admire pelicans, egrets, swans and other species. The lake and its surroundings are also known as one of the best areas in the delta for carp and pike fishing. Carp lovers will head for the Puiu-Roșu canal, while pike enthusiasts will choose Lumina and Puiuleț lakes.

It is the largest mosque in Romania, with an imposing minaret. It was built in 1865 by the Muslim community of Tulcea, with the approval of the Sultan of the time, Abdülaziz (hence its name). At the time, Dobrogea was part of the Ottoman Empire. The interior is sober, with a light green wooden ceiling and carpeted floor. The mosque is now used by the small Muslim community of Tulcea, consisting of the historic Turkish and Tatar minorities, plus a large number of Roma.

This fortress was built in the ^mid-7th century BC by Greek settlers from Asia Minor, before coming under Roman control in the ^1st century AD. Among the ruins are the necropolis, the oldest Greek burial complex on the Black Sea, and two artisan kilns used to fire pottery during the Roman period. The fortress is also worth seeing for its setting: it lies 6 km east of the village, on the spectacular Cape Doloșman and its imposing limestone cliffs, at the junction of lakes Razim and Golovița.

This beautiful mansion with its eclectic style was built in 1897 for Alexandru Avramid, a wealthy Greek businessman of Albanian origin who lived in the area. Confiscated by the communists, it has long housed a museum. In 2010-2012, the house benefited from a vast rehabilitation project, which allowed it to regain its splendour. The interiors, furnished with period furniture, objects and photos, are luxurious: painted ceilings, mouldings, gilding, frescoes, parquet floors, chandeliers... The house also houses temporary exhibitions.

On the Caraorman bank lies the small village of the same name (which means "dark forest" in Turkish). Both Ukrainian and Romanian are spoken here. To the west lies an 840-hectare forest reserve with the same characteristics as Letea: different varieties of climbing plants flourish here, clinging to age-old trees, including venerable oaks. The Caraorman forest is also an important nesting area for birds. The surrounding sand dunes can reach 10 m in height.

It is one of the oldest monuments of Muslim architecture in Romania. This beautiful mosque was built at the very beginning of the 17th century by General Ali Gazi, when Dobrogea was under Ottoman administration. Moreover, the mausoleum that stands in the courtyard houses the bones of the general. The building was beautifully renovated at the end of the 1990s. Its minaret is more than 20 m high. Inside, you can admire beautiful wooden ornaments and old Persian carpets.

The headquarters of the biosphere reserve houses an ecological information and education centre, where you will find a small informative exhibition on the fauna and flora of the Danube Delta. Maps of the area and information on fishing and hunting licences are available. You will also be able to buy (either at the ticket office or at the ATM) the permits needed to visit the delta, if you don't go through an agency.

The Tulcea Museum of Ethnography and Folk Art, which occupies an emblematic building in the city, reopened its doors in 2023 after renovation work. It features a collection of over 8,000 costumes and various objects that take us back to the multicultural Tulcea of yesteryear, and allow us to discover the folklore of local minorities. The museum also manages the house of the writer Panait Cerna, born in the commune of Cerna, the Panaghia house in the town of Babadag and the museum of the traditional village of Dobroudja, located in Enisala.

Below the monument to the Heroes of Independence, this museum boasts a fine collection of ancient ceramics and coins from Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Part of the exhibition focuses on the adoption of Christianity by the region's inhabitants and religious persecution in the first centuries AD. Ruins of the ancient fortress of Aegyssus, which dates back to antiquity, can be seen next to the museum.

A must see! This modern building houses a large aquarium, where you can observe exotic fish and species present in the mouth of the Danube: pike, carp... The highlight of the visit, the sturgeon pond is absolutely captivating. The centre also presents several dioramas reconstructing the natural environments of Dobrogea, with their fauna and flora: pelicans, eagles, mink, etc.. An excellent introduction, before setting off to explore the region.

Located in the northern part of the citadel, it was founded in the late ^18th century by Bishop Ignác Batthyány. Housed in a former Baroque church, it is home to some 70,000 volumes, including 1,230 manuscripts and rare books. The most precious of these is the Codex aureus, written in gold ink on ^8th-century parchment and richly illustrated. The superb Great Hall blends neoclassical and rococo styles. It was also here, in 1792, that the country's first astronomical observatory was established, destroyed during the revolution of 1848.

This obelisk planted on top of the citadel hill, east of the city, was erected in 1900 by the sculptors Vasilescu and Bălăcescu, as a tribute to the dead of the War of Independence of 1877-1878. All the way up, after climbing a good flight of stairs, you will enjoy a 360-degree view of the river, the city and the surrounding fields. It is also on this hill that the giant letters forming the name of the city were erected.

This beautiful neoclassical building was constructed in 1870 by Ismaïl Pacha, then Ottoman governor of Tulcea. Recently modernized, it houses a fine collection of paintings, engravings and sculptures. Among them are contemporary works by Pallady, Aman, Baba, Brauner and Grigorescu. One room is dedicated to paintings depicting Tulcea and Dobrogea. You can also admire Russian and Lipoven icons, as well as fine pieces of European and Oriental decorative art: jewelry, furniture, carpets, Persian earthenware, dresses sewn with gold thread..

This beautiful park is the oldest in the city, laid out in the first half of the 19th century and then frequented by the elite. It is known for its linden trees, especially the one near which the poet Mihai Eminescu liked to settle in search of inspiration. Almost five hundred years old, it is supported by metal crutches. Nearby is a museum dedicated to the artist. You will see in the park several busts of personalities who have marked the cultural life of Iași: Eminescu of course, but also his lover Veronica Micle and his friend Ion Creangă.

At the entrance to the archaeological site, a museum informs visitors about the history of the city and presents the objects unearthed during the excavations, which began in the early ^20th century: statuettes, vases, painted ceramics, bas-reliefs... Then paths lead you through the remains. You'll recognize the city walls that once surrounded a 60-hectare city. You'll also see the remains of temples dedicated to Zeus and Aphrodite, cobbled streets, thermal baths and a ^6th-century Christian basilica. Please note that access to the site is difficult without a car.

Located to the north of the Sulina Arm, it's one of the delta's largest lakes, covering an area of almost 1,000 ha. Spelled Fortuna or Furtuna (meaning "storm" in Romanian), its name derives from the fact that, in bad weather, its waters become very turbulent, making the area potentially dangerous. It's one of the most spectacular spots for birdwatching: swans, pelicans, eagles, egrets, cormorants... Many boat excursions pass through here. It's also a popular fishing spot.

It is located in the former princely palace, built in the 16th century and retaining elements of Gothic style from the end of the 15th century. It served as a customs house for the salt mines, but also as a temporary residence for the Princes of Transylvania during their visits. The museum exhibits many archaeological remains found in the area: Neolithic ceramics, medieval tools, weapons and coins. Objects from the Roman period make up the bulk of the collection. The museum also has art and ethnography sections.

It is organized around piața Libertății. This small, long pedestrian square is bordered by the large Elisabeta Park. Nearby are a number of interesting buildings, such as the Hungarian National Theatre, in a corner of the square, or the arcaded house(Casa cu arcade, 1821), located strada Libertății. Just behind it lies the Sfântul Gheorghe Orthodox Cathedral, built in 1802. To the north of the city, in strada Cetății, you can visit the ^14th-century fortified Reformed church, surrounded by ramparts flanked by a massive bell tower.

Here you'll find some 16,000 decorated eggs of great diversity: painted eggs from Bucovina and other regions of Romania, some fifty to one hundred years old, but also a large international collection, with eggs from over 82 countries (embroidered, wooden, porcelain, transformed into music boxes...), not forgetting the creations of Romanian artist Letiția Orșivschi, the museum's owner. An audioguide in French is available at reception. Demonstrations are available for groups (minimum 20), on reservation.

The museum boasts a fine collection of 3,000 painted eggs, some of them over a hundred years old, belonging to Dr. Anton Setnic, a physician in Botoșani and then Vatra Dornei in the second half of the ^20th century. Fascinated by the art of painted eggs, this collector collected them from all the villages of Bucovina, thanks to his patients. Most of them are still full, making them fragile and difficult to preserve. Grouped by zone, they are presented in small wooden display cases, pyrographed by the doctor himself. The collection reveals the full diversity of this folk art: some eggs feature floral motifs that you won't see elsewhere, others display astonishing yellow and pink colors, while still others play on two-tone sobriety, with wax-drawn motifs... Ciocănești's, meanwhile, are recognizable by their black background and geometric motifs in yellow, red and white tones, similar to those adorning the village's houses. These eggs are sealed with a very specific technique, using beeswax and a tool called a "chişiță": it's a complex process that requires a great deal of meticulousness. You can also admire the works of the winners of the painted egg competition, held every year at the time of the dedicated festival - over 6,000 eggs in all. The museum also has a small store selling painted eggs made by local craftsmen.

It will delight lovers of hiking and mountain flora. The Rarău refuge, accessible by car in summer or on foot (4h), is the starting point for many hikes. The Pietrele Doamnei, a pretty rock formation, is within easy reach, as are two nature reserves: the Todirescu reserve protects numerous mountain flowers (tulips, chrysanthemums...). Further on, the Slătioara reserve is a primary forest of beech and fir, considered Europe's oldest coniferous forest, with 50 m-high, five-hundred-year-old spruces.

Located southeast of Fălticeni, this fortified monastery was built in 1530 by Petru Rareș, who is buried here. The church's interior and exterior paintings date from this period. The state of preservation of the exterior frescoes is precarious, particularly on the west and north facades. Scenes from the life of St. Nicholas, the church's patron saint, can still be seen. The Apocalypse of John is depicted in its entirety, with the theme of the Last Judgment omnipresent. The vaults are decorated in a Baroque style.

A well-designed, highly interesting ethnographic museum housed in a building dating back to Austrian times. The museography is original: it presents the customs of the region, following the calendar of events that marked and still mark the rhythm of the farming year. Each event is the subject of a reconstruction, supported by a rich collection of objects, tools and costumes, as well as beautiful black-and-white photographs. You'll be immersed in the customs and beliefs of the people, a blend of religiosity, pagan rites and observation of natural cycles: st. Andrew's Eve, when evil spirits came back to haunt the living and young girls could catch a glimpse of their husbands; St. Elias, on July 20, when shepherds could begin to descend from the mountains; St. Alexis, on March 9, when insects came back to life and beehives were put out... not forgetting, of course, the rich traditions of Christmas and Easter. The room dedicated to the New Year is particularly interesting: from the reconstructed porch of a typical Bucovine house, you can observe the various masked characters who roam the villages, from house to house, to sing the New Year and chase away evil spirits: the bears, the gypsy, the drunkard, the emperor, and so on.

The museographers can guide you on your visit in English. A brochure is also available in French at reception.

From its success during the Austro-Hungarian period, the spa has retained some fine ^19th-century houses and attractive buildings, such as the Vieux Palais des Bains (1898), the Palais Unirea and the casino (both 1896), the railway station (1902) and a beautiful Moorish-style synagogue. Its vast park, laid out in 1862, is planted with beech and fir trees, amid which gushes a mineral spring, marked by a castle-like building. Finally, the town boasts an interesting ethnographic museum (strada Eminescu 17, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

A visit to the saltworks is well worth the effort: you have to climb more than 280 steps to reach the bottom! Along the long corridors, you'll see a chapel, a saltwater basin and an astonishing ballroom with parquet flooring and chandeliers. Period documents and photos tell the story of the mine. In operation since 1791, the saltworks is still in use. At a depth of some 90 meters, beneath the part that can be visited, miners continue to extract salt. The result is a pervasive odor, which may bother certain sensitive organisms.

Houtsoul artist Lucia Condrea has some 30,000 eggs on display in her museum. Most of them are her creations, but there is also a section of antique eggs and an international collection. In addition to the traditional batik technique, Lucia Condrea uses fourteen techniques that she has invented herself: lace, crochet, cubism... Her sources of inspiration are many, but she draws in particular on traditional Romanian motifs. An original work of great finesse.