Tourist Attractions & Monuments Romania

The Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj is the country's largest public institution of higher education, with 56,000 students and 111 specialties taught. It is named after two scientists: the Romanian bacteriologist Victor Babeș (1854-1926) and the Hungarian mathematician János Bolyai (1802-1860), as a symbol of the tumultuous history of the place. Following the revolution of 1848, the Minister of Education, József Eötvös, conceived the idea of a university in Romanian, Hungarian and German. Following his death, Emperor Franz Joseph did not pursue the idea. In 1872, the Franz Joseph University of Cluj was founded... with courses in Hungarian only. In 1919, following the incorporation of Transylvania into Romania, a Romanian-language university was founded. As a result, the Hungarian university moved to Szeged, Hungary. It returned to Cluj in 1940, following the annexation of northern Transylvania by Hungary. The Romanian university then moved to Sibiu and Timișoara. In 1945, it returned to Cluj and Franz Joseph University ceased operations. The authorities therefore founded another Hungarian university, János-Bolyai, and renamed the Romanian university Victor Babeș, before the two merged in 1959, hence the name Babeș-Bolyai.

Today, it is home to one of the largest university libraries in Eastern Europe, with 3.6 million books, as well as the world's only Emil Racoviță University Institute of Speleology and its museum, located strada Clinicilor.

The Orthodox Cathedral is located in the centre of Piaţa Avram Iancu. This admirable building, built in ten years, between 1923 and 1933, is a perfect example of the marriage between the Romanian and Byzantine styles, particularly visible in the domes. Forty years after its construction, in 1973, the Diocese of Cluj was established as an archbishopric, with the Orthodox Cathedral remaining its property. In front of the building, the statue of Avram Iancu, one of the leaders of the 1848 revolution, was erected in 1993. Finally, the external façade was renovated between 1996 and 1999.

Looking for a pleasant place to stroll? Head for the public gardens, which stretch along the Someșul Mic river. The central Simion Bărnuțiu Park opened in 1827, and its lake was an early encouragement to canoeing in summer and skating in winter. Part of the site is dedicated to sports. The site, listed as a historic monument, is an emblematic place for strolling. It's not far from Cetățuia Park, on the other side of the river, which overlooks the rooftops of the old town. These are just two of the many parks in Cluj.

This monumental sculpture, located near St. Michael's Cathedral, depicts Matei Corvin, King of Hungary between 1458 and 1490, on horseback, on a bastion of the city wall of Cluj, where he was born. The statue won a prize at the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition, before being inaugurated in 1902. The end of a veritable marathon: the plans were approved in 1894, for an idea first mooted in 1882. The statue is the work of architect Lajos Pakei and sculptor János Fadrusz.

This foundation, which is very active in rural development, carries out numerous actions: participation in the creation of a Natura 2000 area, organization of events, marking of footpaths, creation of maps... The foundation has also created some 100 km of cycle paths, which link Saschiz to Viscri and Sighișoara, passing through other villages such as Cloașterf or Bunești. You can pick up a map at the tourist office. A race, the Transilvania Bike Trails Race, is organized on these trails on the third weekend in August.

Surrounding these two long squares, bordered and crossed by major roads, are a number of important administrative buildings, all erected in the ^19th or early ^20th century: prefecture, courthouse, Orthodox theological institute and finance palace. They are also home to the Orthodox cathedral and the opera house, which face each other and between which stands a statue of Avram Iancu, a figure of the Romanian revolution of 1848.

It's the landmark of Constanța. On the jetty by the Black Sea, this superb Art Nouveau building was designed by Swiss architect Daniel Renard and inaugurated in 1910. Its façade is adorned with a shell-shaped bay and its interiors are sumptuous. Confiscated by the Communists, the casino changed hands again and again after the revolution, until it fell into disrepair in the 2000s. After many ups and downs, a vast rehabilitation project was launched in 2020 and is due for completion in June 2024. You can already admire the restored façade.

5 km south of Agapia, in the village of Văratec, this monastery, all white in the middle of a pretty landscape, was built in 1795 and its church in 1808. The latter is striking, with its two slender, round towers. The charming complex is occupied by nuns, who keep the site beautifully in bloom. You'll see many magnificent icons. The village of Văratec itself is very pleasant, with its traditional houses. It is home to the tomb of poet Veronica Micle, Mihai Eminescu's great love.

It's the city's landmark building. Of neo-Byzantine and neo-Romanesque inspiration, the Orthodox cathedral was built between 1936 and 1946 and can accommodate 5,000 standing worshippers. Its monumental appearance is impressive: 63 m long, 35 m wide, 80 m high. The ochre and yellow of the brick and the green and gold of the tiles form an elegant color combination. Its bells, each weighing 8 tonnes, were cast from rare metals from Sumatra and Borneo. Inside, the icons are superb. Some are on display in a basement museum.

A decisive moment in the 1989 revolution was played out here. On December 21, from the balcony of the Communist Party, Ceaușescu delivered a speech - his last. Interrupted by protests from the crowd, he fled by helicopter the following day, after a night of bloody repression. In the center of the square, the Renaissance Memorial pays tribute to the victims. In one corner, you'll also see the remains of a beautiful building burnt down during the revolution, reputed to have housed Securitate services. Renovated, a glass tower has been added.

Long and lined with colorful houses surrounding a large square, it's the heart of the town. It is home to a number of fine buildings, including the Catholic Cathedral, built in the ^18th century in the Baroque style, and the former girls' school, a beautiful pink-orange building (at no. 22), also in the Baroque style. To the far east of the square is a yellow eclectic building called Reduta (1889). At the other end, continuing westwards, the Gothic-style Reformed Church adjoins the former Prefecture, a ^17th-century red-and-yellow Baroque building.

It was built according to the plans of the Austrian architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach (1693-1742). Begun in 1736, work was interrupted by the plague epidemic and the cathedral was not completed until 1774. In the shape of a cross, it mixes classical influences and baroque decorations. The two altars bring a rococo touch to the whole. In 1849, the building was severely damaged and the last restorations took place in 1981-1982. The arrangement of the vaults gives the place an excellent acoustics, suitable for organ concerts.

Dedicated to the archangels Michael and Gabriel, the Armenian church(biserica armenească) was built in 1915. Recently renovated, it has regained its whiteness. The courtyard features a bust of General Andranik (1865-1927), Armenia's national hero. It also houses a museum dedicated to the history of the country's once sizeable Armenian community. Mainly made up of small craftsmen and merchants, it has left a precious architectural heritage, visible in the surroundings in the beautiful Armenian quarter, which starts here and stretches along Calea Moșilor.

Situated on Cotroceni hill, surrounded by a beautiful park, this palace has been the residence of the President of the Republic since the 1990s. Neoclassical in style, it was built in the 1890s for Prince Ferdinand, to plans by French architect Paul Gottereau. Neo-Romanesque elements were added later. The full tour takes in the hall of honor, the kitchens, the basement, the king's library, various salons... Queen Marie's bedroom and the Oriental Room are the two highlights of this beautiful visit.

Quiet and charming, this is one of the city's prettiest districts, where the streets bear the names of great doctors and researchers. It's a pleasant place to stroll, especially along Sfântul Elefterie, Joseph Lister and Romniceanu streets. This is a residential district, with no shops apart from a few good cafés, and often very large mansions built from the late ^19th century onwards in a variety of styles: neo-Romanesque, neo-Moorish and Art Deco. The streets, all lined with plane trees, are shaded in summer.

Opened in 2016, twenty-seven years after the dictator's fall, the Spring Palace(Palatul Primăverii) was his private residence for a quarter of a century. Located in a district reserved for the nomenklatura, it was built in the mid-1960s, then enlarged in the 1970s. It has some 80 rooms, and the 45-minute guided tour takes you through fifteen of them. The interiors, decorated in Renaissance and Rococo style, are luxurious and comfortable, furnished with paintings by local masters, handmade silk tapestries, sumptuous crystal chandeliers, objets d'art of all kinds and beautiful mosaics, such as those adorning the indoor swimming pool. You'll stroll through the offices, salons, dining room, winter garden... A marble staircase leads upstairs, where each of the Ceaușescu's three children had their own little apartment, with a bedroom, study and bathroom. The spouses also had their own private suite, as well as a gold-plated bathroom that had particularly scandalized, just after the revolution. You'll also see the cinema room, the couple's vast dressing room and, by the pool, the whirlpool, sauna and tanning booth. Outside, peacocks roam the garden: they are the descendants of those who lived there in Ceaușescu's time! For a tidy sum, you can opt for the full tour, which also includes the trophy room, the bunker and the underground tunnel.

This 23-storey, 80-metre-high tower was erected under Ceauşescu's regime in agreement with the American Intercontinental group. Its construction was launched when the dictator decided that a capital city needed a structure of this standing. The city's first tower, inaugurated in 1971, was featured on the cover of every tourist guide to Bucharest, as proof of its modernity. During the revolution, the tower welcomed many foreign journalists, who watched from its balconies as soldiers fired on the crowds.

Surrounded by an imposing fortification wall, it was built between 1690 and 1695 by Prince Mihai Cantacuzino, on his return from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Sinai, hence its name. A new church with a red façade is part of the ensemble. It was restored in 1903 by the French architect Lecomte du Nouÿ, who modernized it by adding ceramics, enamels and paintings. The older, smaller church is in the Brâncovenesc style. The Sinaia monastery is also home to the first Bible translated into Romanian (written in Cyrillic), dating from 1668.

On the road to Bucharest, the former manor house(conac) of the Goleşti, a great boyar family, is well worth a stop. Built in 1640, it features interesting traditional architecture with oriental influences. Inside, the family's life is recreated. You'll also find an exhibition of history and folk art, a remarkable ^17th-century church (Sfânta Treime), Turkish baths dating from 1807, unique in Romania, and a 12-hectare open-air wine museum, which bears witness to local activity linked to orchards and vines.

Built by Prince Brâncoveanu in the early ^18th century, this palace has an eventful history. After the prince's death, it suffered extensive damage from fire and invasion, and was once used as an inn. Recently renovated, it now hosts seminars, exhibitions, concerts and a restaurant. Its balconies, arcades and ornamental sculptures are remarkable. The color of the stone and bricks and the architectural harmony of the whole are enchanting. The roof of the main building features curious chimneys.

In the center of the large pedestrian square that bears his name, you'll see the pensive statue of the Latin poet Publius Ovidius Naso. Born in 43 B.C., exiled in 9 A.D. by the Emperor Augustus, he died in Tomis in 17 or 18 A.D., leaving behind melancholy poems. His tomb has never been located. The statue, erected in 1887, was designed by the famous Italian sculptor Ettore Ferrari, who also created the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Washington. Surrounded by heterogeneous buildings, the square has been a gathering place since Antiquity.

Built between 1883 and 1895, it was the first church built in the city after the War of Independence of 1877. Its inauguration was delayed because of its interior paintings, which had to be corrected: the artist had given the features of local personalities to the religious figures! The brick building is Neo-Byzantine in style and is topped with copper domes that do not go unnoticed. In the park surrounding it, you can see the remains of the old town of Tomis.

Going up along the pleasant seaside promenade, you will see this lighthouse dating from the 14th century, renovated in 1860. It is also called the old lighthouse (farul vechi), as opposed to the new lighthouse (farul nou), which is very futuristic and which you may see on your way to the stations on the southern coast. Not far away, by the sea, is the statue of Mihai Eminescu, created by the sculptor Oscar Han in 1930. Further on, you will reach the marina of Tomis and, continuing along the sea, you will arrive at the grey sandy beach of the town.

It lies on the border between the old town and the modern city, at the foot of the Town Hall. This park is home to the remains of ancient Tomis, founded by settlers from the Greek city of Miletus in the ^6th century BC. Here you can see a tower rebuilt in the time of the Byzantine emperor Justinian, in the ^mid-6th century, and the last section of the Roman wall (on the Boulevard Ferdinand side), dating from the ^3rd century AD. The park's paths are lined with amphorae and column fragments.

This is the northernmost of the Bucovina monasteries. Its enchanting setting, among forests and hills, is worth a visit in itself. It houses the tomb of the founder of many of Moldavia's religious buildings, Ștefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great), making it a mecca for Romanian patriotism. In fact, you'll be greeted by a statue of national poet Mihai Eminescu, erected in memory of his 1871 speech, delivered right here, in which he declared, "Let's make Putna the Jerusalem of Romania." Built in 1469, this is Ștefan cel Mare's first fortified construction. It has undergone numerous alterations and restorations over the centuries, not least following the terrible fire that ravaged it two years after construction was completed. Of the original construction, only the Treasure Tower on the west wall remains. The present church, 35 m high, dates from 1662. The pyramidal roofs of its towers echo those of the well.

The builder's tomb is a fine Carrara marble ensemble, surmounted by a baldachin (which distinguishes it from the tombs of his two successive wives) and decorated with the aurochs' head, Moldavia's emblem. He had decided to rest here as soon as construction of the complex began, and supervised the construction of his tomb himself.

The Putna monastery, now home to a community of monks, was also an important cultural center, as evidenced by the remarkable collection of embroidery and illuminated manuscripts on display in the museum.

Situated 5 km south of Gura Humorului, it's the most visited monastery in Bucovina, and it's not uncommon to have to queue for admission in the middle of summer. Its popularity and multiple titles (the most famous being "the Sistine Chapel of the East") are justified, however. This monastery was erected by Ștefan cel Mare in 1488, in just twenty-one days, according to legend. In fact, the bells, still in use, date back to the time of the famous Moldavian voivode! The walls of the Sfântul Gheorghe church, in typical Moldavian style, feature the most beautiful fresco in Bucovina, the very fresco that earned it the nickname of the Sistine Chapel: the Last Judgment covers the entire western wall of the veranda. This recurring scene in the monasteries of Bukovina is here detailed to the extreme. You'll recognize Jesus judging the living and the dead, the gates of Paradise, Adam and Eve and the paths that sinners and the righteous will take towards Hell or Paradise. These sinners are depicted, for the first time, according to their ethnic origin (Turks, Tatars, Armenians, Jews). All the exterior murals were painted in 1547, under Petru Rareș.

The place is famous for the color known as "Voroneț blue", which fascinates with its unique transparency and whose manufacturing secret remains untold. This blue background wonderfully brings out the details of the many richly colored figures, religious personalities or local figures. Peasants are also recognizable.

Râșca is located 20 km southwest of Fălticeni, 10 km away from the Suceava-Târgu axis Neamț. The monastery includes a church, also founded by Petru Rareş in 1542 (then extended in 1611-1617), a bell tower and a surrounding wall from the 17th century. The church is elongated in shape, dominated by two towers. The exterior paintings are rather well preserved. The multiple roofs, the size of the building and the richness of the frescoes form a superb ensemble. The monastery has been restored many times, notably in 1991.

Route 12C, which links the charming village of Bicaz with Gheorgheni and Transylvania, crosses the gorges rightly considered the most beautiful in the country. They were formed by the erosion of limestone rocks. The winding road, which follows the River Bicaz, is dominated by gigantic monolithic walls emerging from the forest. Piatra Altarului, the most spectacular, is 1,120 metres high and takes its name (Altar Stone) from the ceremonies once celebrated here by the Dacians. You then reach Lake Roșu.

A picturesque ride not to be missed: this small train pulled by a steam locomotive takes you 12 km through the beautiful Bucovina countryside. Built at the end of the ^19th century to transport timber from the forest to the sawmill, this narrow-gauge railway line was in use until 2001. Trains run every weekend and every day in high season. Open-air restaurant at the terminus, in the village of Argel. There is an alternative route from the same station to Vatra Moldoviței (diesel locomotive, 10 km, 2 hrs.).

It was founded by Petru Rareș in 1532, not far from a 1410 church built by Alexandru cel Bun and later destroyed by a landslide (its ruins are still visible, 500 m away). While most of the monasteries in the region have suffered much destruction, Moldovița has preserved all of its original buildings. The Buna Vestire (Good News) church is surrounded by a bucolic, delicately flowered garden, enclosed by an imposing 6-metre-high, quadrilateral perimeter wall. This makes the church all the more impressive.

The interior and exterior paintings date from 1537. Inside, you'll see, among others, a votive painting of Petru Rareș and his family offering the model of the church to Christ. Outside, the painting on the south façade is particularly well preserved. The themes depicted are the Tree of Jesse, the Hymn to the Virgin and, below, the Siege of Constantinople (where you'll notice the use of perspective).

A small museum is housed in the former treasure house. Built by Metropolitan Efrem in 1612, it also housed a school for copyists and miniaturists. From the reign of Alexandru cel Bun until the ^18th century, the Moldovița monastery functioned as an important cultural center, where church books were copied and decorated. The most precious manuscripts date from the ^15th century. The museum's centerpiece is Petru Rareș's carved wooden throne. Also on display are icons, embroidery, old books..

The illustrious American Jewish writer and philosopher Elie Wiesel, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, was born in Sighetu Marmației in 1928. At that time, almost half the town's population was Jewish, and there were numerous synagogues. World War II decimated the community, which was massively deported to concentration camps. The only survivor of his family, Elie Wiesel devoted his life to bearing witness to the horror of these camps, leaving an abundant body of work until his death in 2016. Today, you can visit his birthplace, transformed into the Museum of Jewish Culture in Maramureș. Documents, objects and testimonies tell of their ancient roots in the region. One room recounts the tragedy experienced by the Jews of Maramureș, after the region's incorporation into Horthist Hungary in 1940 (ghettos, massacres, deportations...). Another room is dedicated to Elie Wiesel, his work and his visits to his hometown.

Located in the city's old Jewish quarter, the house is close to the only surviving Sephardic synagogue (strada Basarabiei, 8). Built in 1904, its interiors are richly decorated. The town also boasts a number of memorials, such as the one on Gheorghe Doja Street, erected in memory of the 38,000 Jews from Maramureș arrested by the Hungarian police and deported in 1944. The Jewish cemetery is located south of Mihai Eminescu Street, not far from Grădina Morii Park.

South of the river Săsar, around the piața Libertății, the old town is not lacking in charm. There are some imposing buildings and beautiful late-Gothic medieval structures. From the piața Libertății starts the pretty Vasile Lucaciu street, partly pedestrianized, as well as the lively Gheorghe Șincai street. To the south, take Rue 1 Mai or Rue Crișan, and you'll come across the pleasant, recently rehabilitated piața Cetății. In addition to the Etienne Tower, you'll see the Church of the Holy Trinity. Baroque in style, it dates back to 1720.

Located between Piața Unirii and the park Cișmigiu, it is the historical heart and the starting point of the development of Bucharest. Around the princely court, of which only ruins remain, this district attracted merchants and craftsmen from the 15th century onwards. Ravaged by a fire in 1847, foreign architects, mostly French, helped to give it a European look. The district is crossed by Lipscani Street, once the most commercial street in the city. Its name comes from Lipsca, or Leipzig. The streets Şelari (des Selliers) and Blănari (des Fourreurs), which bear witness to the age-old trading and craft activities in the district, are also interesting to walk along. To go from Lipscani to Blănari, you can take the Hanul cu Tei (Lime Tree Inn) street, lined with art and antique shops. Other points of interest include the Hanul lui Manuc caravanserai, the bookshop Cărturești and the Caru' cu Bere brewery. Having miraculously escaped the destructive madness of Ceaușescu, people now come to Lipscani to stroll along its lively pedestrian streets with numerous terraces. In recent years it has become one of the trendiest areas of the city, where tourists and Bucharesters mingle. It has in passing gained in glitz and lost some of its soul, but remains one of the most interesting to visit. The streets have a very special charm, where ruins and decayed buildings stand side by side with beautifully renovated buildings. A true concentrate of Bucharest.

This park to the north of the city is one of the most pleasant. Opened in 1936, it is laid out around a beautiful expanse of the same name, part of a necklace of lakes formed by the Colentina River. In winter, it freezes over and becomes a skating rink, while in summer, boats can be hired for a leisurely stroll. The wide avenues are lined with a variety of trees. There are numerous terraces for refreshments and refreshment. Although gigantic, the park is overcrowded on Sundays, when all the inhabitants of Bucharest seem to gather.

The National Art Museum (Muzeul național from artă) is housed in the former royal palace, with richly decorated interiors. Built in the 1930s by Carol II, after the fire of the previous palace, it was damaged by the bombings of 1944. It also saw the arrest of Antonescu in the same year and the abdication of King Mihai in 1947. During the revolution, the palace suffered considerable damage and many works were destroyed, including several master paintings. It was fully restored in the 1990s, along with some of the works. It is possible to visit certain areas outside the museum, such as the throne room or the royal dining room. The Art Museum is divided into several sections. The European gallery presents works of painters such as Greco (The Adoration of the Shepherds), Rubens (Portrait of a Lady), Delacroix, Bruegel (The Massacre of the Innocents), Monet (Camille), Rembrandt, Renoir, Sisley... In the section of Romanian medieval art, where religious art dominates, you can admire pieces of great value : iconostases, icons, cult objects... Moldavian, Transylvanian or Wallachian, they come from the monasteries of Horezu, Curtea of Argeş, Snagov... The National Gallery of Modern Art exhibits works by Romanian artists such as Brâncuşi (including the superb Sleep), Baba, Grigorescu, Aman, Pallady or Brauner. Even if you don't know much about Romanian artists, hurry up! The museum also hosts prestigious temporary exhibitions.

Raluca, the initiator, has turned her grandparents' apartment in one of these concrete blocks into a museum of family life under Communism. With a wealth of commentary, the tour focuses on the harshest years of the 1980s. Room by room, you'll learn how power infiltrated Romanians' daily lives, which were characterized by rationing, propaganda and resourcefulness (bartering, cooking and bathing at night...). Extended packages are available, including a visit to the center or a Communist dinner. An original, instructive and touching experience.

This beautiful classical-style building, built in 1852, was purchased in 1874 by the Capşa family, who turned it into a highly reputed confectionery, before adding a hotel, restaurant and café. The establishment enjoyed its heyday in the 1930s, when it became a meeting place for writers, artists and intellectuals. Neglected under Communism, it was renovated and restored to its former refinement in the 2000s. As for the confectionery, it still exists: here you can sample the sweets and cakes that made the place famous.

One of the best preserved in Transylvania. Atop a hill, it offers breathtaking views. Built in 1335 to protect the village from possible attackers, particularly the Tatars, it was subsequently transformed several times. Its 5-meter-high walls included nine defensive towers. In 1690, during the city's last siege, the fortress was taken by the Turks. Damaged by fire in 1718, then by an earthquake in 1802, it served as a final refuge during the revolutions of 1821 and 1848.

The immense Place de la Victoire forms a kind of gateway to the city's upscale northern districts. It's surrounded by buildings in a variety of styles which, however tall and massive they may be, in no way detract from the square's appearance as an enormous crossroads. To the east, you'll notice the columns of the austere Palatul Victoriei, a rigid building designed by Duiliu Marcu. Built in 1944, it housed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before becoming the seat of the Romanian government. To the south are buildings typical of the Ceaușescu era.

Erected in 1922 on the Parisian model, it celebrates the victory of the Romanian army in the First World War, the proclamation of King Ferdinand and the unification of the three Romanian provinces. As the first version quickly fell into disrepair, it was destroyed, rebuilt and inaugurated in 1936. Under Communism, the royal representations were removed, then replaced after 1989. From its summit, the Arc de Triomphe offers a fine view of the surrounding parks. The small museum inside features photos of the old arch and plans of the city at the time.

Opened in 1860, it is the oldest park in Bucharest, and certainly the most charming. Its benches, kiosks, avenues lined with venerable trees, lake and bridges give it a very romantic feel. It is a very popular place in all seasons: in good weather, you can rent a boat there. In winter, people come here to skate or toboggan. Also look for the chess player area (șahiști), where gentlemen play lively backgammon games. All in length, the park is surrounded by beautiful residences, such as the palace Creţulescu.

Stretching around the massif's highest point, at 2,238 meters, the "Prince's Stone" National Park is characterized by its steep walls and rich flora. It was here that the film Return to Cold Mountain, starring Nicole Kidman and Jude Law, was shot. The area is home to many endemic plant species, including the Piatra Craiului carnation. Birds of prey and large carnivores can also be found here. It's a popular massif for hikers and mountaineers. One of the most beautiful hikes: the one leading to Cabana Curmatura via the Zărnești gorge.

This superb open-air ethnographic museum is the best of its kind in the country. A visit is a must for anyone wishing to learn more about the riches of the Transylvanian and Romanian rural world. More than 400 houses are on display, in a magnificent park of almost 100 hectares, complete with lake, in the heart of the Dumbrava Sibiului nature reserve. Along the 10 km of paths, you'll discover the homes of the fishermen of the delta and the peasants of Maramureș... These houses with their preserved interiors will plunge you into the daily life and past traditions of peasants from all over the country. You'll also see a multitude of technical installations from all eras: wine presses, weaving looms, ovens, distilleries, farming equipment and more. You can also admire wooden churches. Finally, there's an impressive area devoted to mills of all types: water, wind, hand and horse-powered... The walk is as enjoyable as it is instructive. You can even take a boat or horse-drawn carriage ride. In addition to the open-air museum, the Astra complex includes a section dedicated to the heritage of Transylvania's ethnic minorities. The pavilion also houses a folk art gallery (perfect for buying souvenirs), a cafeteria and a tourist information center.

Numerous events and traditional festivals are held here, particularly in summer: the National Festival of Folk Traditions in mid-August, the Taraf and Brass Band Festival at the end of the same month..

To the south of Piaţa Mare, this lively pedestrian shopping street is a beautiful row of old houses with thick walls, some of which date back more than two centuries. In summer, the terraces blossom. At this time of year, you'll also notice the presence of unusual inhabitants: storks, who have taken up residence on the town's rooftops. At the beginning of the street, you'll find the striking Hotel Împăratul Românilor, housed in an imposing ^19th-century building that has welcomed the likes of Franz Liszt, Johann Strauss and King Carol ^I.

This is the heart of the old town. Council Square takes its name from the Council of One Hundred Citizens, which once governed the city and met here. Called Marktplatz by the Saxons, it's probably one of the most beautiful pedestrian squares in Romania, beautifully paved and with a fountain. It's surrounded by solid, colorful houses, each with a shop or restaurant on the first floor, some with pleasant terraces. In the center, the Council House(Casa Sfatului) dates back to 1420, but has undergone numerous alterations over the centuries. Badly damaged by the great fire of 1689, it underwent major restoration work at the end of the 18th^century , and was remodeled in the Baroque style it retains today. The 48-meter-high tower was added in 1528 and restored in 1910. This former town hall now houses temporary exhibitions, as well as the History Museum. Here, you can familiarize yourself with the town's history, through medieval documents relating to the various trade guilds, while contemplating the square from above. Back on the cobblestones, notice the vast orange medieval-style building, whose color contrasts so well with the dark green backdrop of the Tâmpa hill forest. Known as Casa Hirscher (or Casa Negustorilor, the Merchants' House), it was built in 1545 by the widow of a nobleman, Apollonia Hirscher, who turned it into the town's covered market.

This vast square is equipped with a fountain to match its size. Built in the 1980s, the fountain was renovated in 2018 and now offers beautiful night-time shows with water jets, light shows, projections and music. A free "symphony of waters" that is played every weekend from May to October. The buildings, which are clad with pubs, are identical on three sides, only the northern part having survived the destruction. The Unirea shopping centre, created in 1976, saw the opening of the country's first McDonald's in 1995, an emblem of emerging capitalism.

At the heart of Piaţa Unirii is one of the oldest religious buildings in Cluj and one of the most imposing Gothic buildings in the country. A place at the crossroads of styles, built between 1350 and 1480: its carved wooden pulpit is Baroque, its portal of the sacristy (1528) is Renaissance and its 80 m bell tower, erected between 1834 and 1863, is neo-Gothic. Also note its superb stained-glass windows, its wall paintings and its portal with the Archangel Michael, protector of the place.

Since 1954, the Craiova Art Museum has been housed in a superb palace in the centre of the city, known as Mihail Palace, named after the family that built it. Built according to the plans of Paul Gottereau, a French architect, it was completed in 1908, one year after the death of its owner, Constantin Mihail. His son Jean, an enlightened businessman, bequeathed it to the Romanian state in 1936. The building displays an eclectic style typical of the period, mixing French academicism with late Baroque elements. While the façade is richly ornamented, the interiors are equally grandiose: the vast halls are richly decorated with Lyonnais silk, golden stuccoes, Carrara marble, Murano crystal and Venetian mirrors. The palace was completely restored in 2014.

The Art Museum is divided into several sections. The National Gallery presents works of Romanian painters and sculptors, such as Aman, Grigorescu or Jalea. The universal gallery exhibits works from French, Italian, Dutch and German schools, from the 17th to the 19th century. Finally, the museum's masterpieces are the eight works by Constantine Brâncuși, exhibited in a cabinet dedicated to the internationally renowned artist. You will be able to see the famous Kiss, but also the Girl's Head, the Boy's Head, Vitellius, the Woman's Torso, Miss Pogany, as well as a flayed sculpture and a carved wooden corner chair, made when Brâncuși was a student at the city's School of Arts and Crafts.

A strange name for a cemetery, but a fitting one indeed: a masterpiece of naive, colorful and poetic art, the joyful cemetery(cimitirul vesel) of Săpânța attracts thousands of tourists every year. Its originality lies in its 800 or so bright-blue painted crosses, embellished with many other colors and motifs, personalized for each of the village's deceased: they are most often sculpted and decorated to illustrate their trade (woodcutter, weaver, ploughman...) or some other emblematic activity in their lives (drinking, praying...). Some represent the circumstances of a tragic death: by drowning, in a car or subway accident. The crosses are accompanied by short biographies written in the first person, recounting the major episodes in the life of the deceased, his or her joys and sorrows, qualities and faults... texts filled with humor and tenderness. To get the most out of them, we advise you to be accompanied by a Romanian-speaking guide or friend, even if the drawings are quite explicit. These folk art jewels are the work of a certain Stan Ioan Pătraş. Born in 1908, this local craftsman began carving and painting crosses in 1935. He died in 1977 and is buried here, his tomb topped by a cross decorated... by himself. Since his death, his disciples have carried on the tradition. You can also visit his house, which has been converted into a memorial, where you can also see some of his furniture. It is located in a street behind the cemetery.

Located in the commune of Mitocu Dragomirnei, some fifteen kilometers north of Suceava, this monastery impresses with its castle-like appearance, due to the magnificently preserved defensive walls and towers, which are reflected in the nearby waters. It was built between 1602 and 1609, around a small church built a few years earlier(biserica mică, influenced by Muntinian architecture). The large church(biserica mare, 1609), which follows a Latin cross plan, is particularly imposing due to the height of its facades and its tower (42 meters), which dominates the ensemble. The monastery itself stands out for its proportions, its height being particularly excessive in relation to its width. The facing is in rough stone, but the pillars are made of cut and shaped stone blocks. The decorative carving features a range of geometric and vegetal motifs. Moldavian, Byzantine and Muntinian styles are combined. The beautiful interior paintings are in the Byzantine style. The fortifications and defensive towers were built in 1630 by the voivode Miron Barnovschi. You can admire the emblem of the Moldavian region, carved in stone on the main tower.

The site was a major cultural center, specializing in illumination and the copying of religious texts. The monastery museum features some superb books and manuscripts, including the 1609 Tetraevangile illuminated by Anastasie Crimca, to whom the monastery owes its cultural influence.