Monuments to visit Romania

At the entrance to the historic center, at the junction of Strada Lipscani and Bulevardul Brătianu, stands the Lupoaicei statue, a reproduction of the famous Roman she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus. It was donated to the city by the Municipality of Rome in 1906, to mark the Latinity of Romanian culture. Similar replicas can be seen in other cities around the country, such as Timișoara, Alba Iulia or Târgu Mureș, donated by various Italian municipalities. In Bucharest, the she-wolf has changed location several times.

Slightly higher than the royal palace, Pelișor (literally "little Peleș", which nonetheless has 70 rooms) bears the same German Renaissance touch as its big brother. It was built between 1899 and 1903 by Carol ^I, who presented it as a gift to his nephew Ferdinand and his wife Marie, heirs to the Romanian throne. It was she who designed the interior decoration, in the Art Nouveau style she was so fond of. The small palace reveals the romantic, avant-garde personality of this aesthete queen, who died here in 1938.

Built in the ^14th century on the site of a Roman fortress, this impressive monument to local Gothic architecture is a must-see if you're in the area. Originally a princely residence, its function was defensive. In 1390, Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg, King of Hungary, donated it and the forty surrounding villages to the Romanian prince(cneaz) Voicu, in gratitude for his feats of arms. Between 1446 and 1453, Voicu's son Iancu de Hunedoara (Hungarian: János Hunyadi) transformed it into a castle for military purposes. Renaissance and Baroque elements were subsequently added to create a sumptuous residence.

Among the castle's highlights are the gallery, the Knights' Hall (west wing), the Diet Hall (west wing) with its medallions of the reigning princes painted on the walls, the White Bastion (food store), the chapel and over fifty rooms with numerous murals. The north wing is known as the Matei wing, named after Iancu de Hunedoara's son, the famous Matthias (Matei) Corvin, King of Hungary. Here you'll see a column bearing the Corvin family coat of arms, with a raven holding a ring in its beak. The Corvins take their name from the Latin corbea, meaning "raven". The towers bear evocative names such as Tour des Massues or Tour Neboisa ("don't be afraid"). The balconies, with their wood and stone ornamentation, are remarkable.

A museum displays historical and ethnographic collections.

Perched on a Carpathian ridge at the foot of the Făgărăș mountains, this ruined citadel is considered the real castle of Vlad Țepeș, the Vlach voivode who inspired the character of Dracula. Built in the ^14th century by Prince Negru Vodă to protect against Ottoman invasions, it has undergone numerous transformations, with the addition of towers and a keep. Vlad Țepeș, in particular, undertook an extension of the fortress during his reign, making it his second home. Legend has it that he took refuge here from the Turks in 1462, when they invaded the region. His wife is said to have thrown herself into the void to avoid ending up in their hands. Falling into the river below, she gave it its name: râul Doamnei, the river of the Princess. The Poienari citadel occupies a strategic position, at the entrance to the Argeș valley. It's reached by climbing a staircase of some 1,400 steps. Up there, you'll enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the Argeș valley, the Vidraru lake dam and the surrounding mountains.

You'll reach the citadel from the north, via the mythical Transfăgărașan road, or from Curtea de Argeș, some 25 km further south. In winter, as the Transfăgărașan is closed, access is only from Curtea de Argeș. Find out in advance whether the rehabilitation work has been completed and whether the citadel is open to the public again (www.muzeul-judetean-arges.ro/cetatea-poienari/).

Dating from the ^14th century, the remains of the former princely court(Curtea Veche) are Bucharest's oldest monument. The complex was at the heart of the medieval city. It was under the reign of the Wallachian voivode Vlad Ţepeş (who inspired the character of Dracula), between 1456 and 1462, but above all under that of Constantin Brâncoveanu (1688-1714), that the princely residence enjoyed its greatest influence. Damaged by fire and earthquakes, the prestigious buildings were gradually abandoned by the end of the ^18th century.

It is the main tourist attraction in Suceava. To the east of the city, on a wooded plateau overlooking it, the Throne Fortress (cetatea de Scaun) was built in the 14th century by Petru II Muşat, who had taken up residence there. It remained the main residence of Moldova's leaders for almost two hundred years, when Suceava was the capital of the province. The building was enlarged and fortified by the sovereign Alexander the Good, who made it a defensive work. Later, Ştefan cel Mare considerably reinforced the surrounding walls and towers. Damaged by Turkish attacks and invested by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1538, it was dismantled in the following century, then gradually fell into ruin, a degradation accelerated by the transfer of the Moldavian capital to Iași in 1564. Its stones were even used as building material. Its circular shape, massive walls, some watchtowers and the remains of the foundations can still be seen. The fortress was the subject of a vast rehabilitation and development project in 2015. It now houses an exhibition combining period objects (medieval arms and coats of arms, crowns...) and multimedia projections on the history of Moldova.

In the large park surrounding the fortress stands the monumental statue of Ștefan cel Mare, the great builder of monasteries. It is 23 m high and dates back to 1977, a period during which Ceaușescu enjoyed reviving the heroes of Romanian history.

This imposing 1900 building, one of the most beautiful in the capital, was designed by French architect Paul Gottereau. Built in an eclectic style reminiscent of the Petit Palais in Paris, it is one of the symbols of French influence on Romanian architecture in the early ^20th century. Its richly decorated facade is dominated by a large central dome, which illuminates the hall. The monumental entrance arch, supported by four columns, houses a clock, framed by Hermes and Demeter. Today, the palace houses the headquarters of the CEC Bank.

Erected in the ^15th century by Transylvanian voivode István Báthory, the fortifications were almost entirely destroyed in the early ^17th century, then rebuilt between 1605 and 1653. The enclosure, surrounded by bastions named after guilds (tailors, butchers, tanners, etc.), is remarkably well preserved, with a pretty public garden. The main tower houses a small Citadelle museum upstairs. The walls protect the ^14th-century Hungarian Reformed Church (in the center of the courtyard), built by the Dominicans on the site of a former Franciscan monastery. A ^17th-century building houses the Archaeology and History Museum (open Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, Saturday 9am to 2pm, Sunday 9am to 1pm). The citadel is a regular venue for events such as the Festival des Lumières in May.

The streets around the citadel, such as bulevardul Cetății, offer beautiful tree-lined promenades lined with pretty houses. On strada Mitropolit Andrei Șaguna, a few steps north of the citadel, you'll see a small wooden church from 1794 dedicated to Saint Michael (sfântul Mihail). It stands in the middle of a cemetery and is said to have sheltered Mihai Eminescu, the national poet, for a night. South of the citadel is the Bolyai Memorial Museum, housed in the same building as the Teleki Library (strada Bolyai 17, open every day except Monday). It is dedicated to the mathematician Farkas Bolyai (1775-1856).

This small station is in kind a "prestige" station. This is where the Orient-Express stops, before winning Istanbul.

It is one of the symbols of Sibiu, linking piața Mică and piața Mare. The Council Tower (Turnul Sfatului) was built in the 13th century as the gateway to the city and has been rebuilt many times since: partially collapsed in 1585, it was rebuilt and extended by one floor in 1826. It now has seven. The tower hosts various small exhibitions, but if you absolutely have to go there, it's mainly for the view it offers: all up there, the panorama of the city and its surroundings is breathtaking!

In the village of Cetatea de Baltă, 25 km north-east of Blaj, this castle built in the 16th century was completely remodelled at the beginning of the 17th century in a French Renaissance style, on the model of the castle of Chambord. It's flanked by big round towers. It belonged to the powerful Bethlen family, whose members included Gabriel Bethlen, the reigning prince of Transylvania (1613-1629) and king of Hungary (1620-1621). Today it belongs to the Jidvei group, a major Romanian wine producer, and can be visited upon prior request.

It was built between 1694 and 1703 for Johann Schuller von Rosenthal, mayor of the town at that time. Above the entrance, a coat of arms with a sword and a bouquet of three roses bears the motto of the house: Per spinas ad rosas. A romantic figure and inveterate adventurer who spent his youth in Turkey as a translator for the Sultan, Johann Schuller von Rosenthal was convicted in 1703 for embezzlement and beheaded in the courtyard of the Dominican monastery.

They were built in several stages. The first lines date back to 1224, but little remains of them. At the end of the ^13th century, a second line was built, the main vestige of which is the Council Tower. The fortifications visible today date from 1410 and are best preserved in the strada Cetății. The two towers (Olarilor and Dulgherilor) and the wooden and brick parapet walk are superb. Other towers, often named after craft guilds, were added later, such as the Soldisch bastion (1627).

This elegant neoclassical building was built between 1894 and 1896 by Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer. The hall features a monumental staircase. The 740-seat auditorium, with boxes and balconies, is decorated with sumptuous Baroque and Rococo elements. The institution has seen many illustrious representatives of national culture, including playwright Vasile Alecsandri (1821-1890), a founding figure of Romanian theater. His statue faces the building.

It was founded in 1860 by the sovereign whose name it bears. It is the country's leading institution of higher education. Today, it is home to over 24,000 students. Inaugurated in 1897, the monumental University Palace on Copou Hill was built by Swiss architect Louis Blanc in a French eclectic style. The building contains several gems: the long salle des pas perdus with its surrealist murals, the former aula with its Baroque ornamentation and, finally, a superb library combining Baroque and Neo-Gothic styles.

This is the house where the great Romanian historian and politician Nicolae Iorga lived between 1876 and 1880. You will find a large number of books, manuscripts, diplomas obtained in the most prestigious European universities (Sorbonne, Cambridge...), as well as photographs of the scientist, at various periods of his life. The interiors, typical of the period, illustrate the modest means available to his family, but also his illustrious ancestry.

Built between 1307 and 1315 by Charles Robert of Anjou, King of Hungary, it was enlarged by Iancu of Hunedoara (Hunyadi) in the 15th century and served as a barracks in the 18th century. Damaged by earthquakes and battles, rebuilt several times, its current appearance dates back to 1856. The castle houses the Banat Museum, which traces the history of the region. It also includes a natural sciences section. But it has been closed for several years for renovation, with no known reopening date at the time of closure. Temporary exhibitions are organized at the Theresia bastion.

The citadel of Deva is considered one of the most important medieval fortresses in Transylvania. Situated atop a volcanic cone over 180 m high, it dominates the town and the Mureș valley, as well as the main road linking Romania to western and central Europe. It was built around the middle of the ^13th century, on the ruins of Daco-Roman fortifications. Traces of human occupation dating back to the Neolithic period have even been found on the site. The citadel has been restored and reconfigured over time, according to the needs of its owners. In the ^15th century, the voivode Iancu de Hunedoara (János Hunyadi) transformed it into a fortified castle, which played a major role during the Ottoman invasions. In the ^16th and ^18th centuries, the second and third perimeter walls were built. During the Transylvanian Revolution of 1784, the fortress served as a refuge for nobles fleeing the uprising campaigns. Fierce battles ensued between the imperial garrison and the rebels. The citadel was restored after 1817, by order of Emperor Franz ^I. But in 1849, a fire caused by the explosion of the ammunition depot largely destroyed the imposing structure. Today, thanks to extensive restoration work, it is possible to get an idea of the past grandeur of the city of Deva.

It can be reached either by cable car, or on foot via marked paths through the woods on the slopes of the hill. The view from the top is extraordinary.

This fortified castle, the town's oldest building, was erected in 1621, burnt down during the Tatar invasions of 1661 and rebuilt in 1716. Its role was both defensive and political (seat of the Sicilian Country). Today, it houses a museum with historical, folkloric and artistic collections relating to the region and reflecting its cultural particularities. Behind the castle, you can see the reconstruction of two traditional houses.

This superb, vast castle, built between 1438 and 1543, belonged to the Bánffy family, one of Transylvania's most important noble families. Originally built in the Renaissance style, it was later extensively modified to become a pearl of Baroque architecture. Nicknamed the "Versailles of Transylvania", it was considered the most beautiful in Transylvania at the time. It remained so until the end of the Second World War: requisitioned by the Germans in 1944, it was ravaged by a terrible fire as they retreated. The fire spared only the walls and a few Baroque statues. Communism didn't help matters: like many other Transylvanian castles, the building was deliberately abandoned and vandalized. It wasn't until 1999 that restoration work began, with the help of international funds and the support of Prince Charles of England, who visited the site and fell in love with it. Today, as the site is gradually restored, training programs in the conservation of historic buildings are organized for craftsmen. Artists are welcomed in residence, and a cultural café has been set up in the former kitchens. The park has become a popular place for picnics and relaxation. Bánffy Castle also hosts major cultural events, such as the popular Electric Castle music festival, which takes place every year in mid-July.

The Alba Iulia citadel was built between 1714 and 1738 by the Habsburgs, who dominated Transylvania at the time. Baroque in style, it covers an area of 70 ha and features seven bastions. The citadel, with its Vauban-style star-shaped defensive system, is very isolated from the city and therefore not very lively. Crossed from east to west by strada Mihai Viteazul, it is nevertheless pleasant, airy and full of flowers. The cloister and cathedral are superb. Also worth a visit is the small wooden Orthodox church (Trinity Church), at the end of the road on the right as you exit to the east. The panorama of the city and surrounding area (including a highly visible factory painted blue and yellow) is very attractive.

Its walls, 12 km long in all, are pierced by three large gates. The first, at the bottom of the mountain, is shaped like a classical triumphal arch. The upper level is richly sculpted in Baroque style. In the center is a pedestal featuring the imperial coat of arms of the House of Austria: a double-headed eagle bearing a sword and scepter. Little remains of the second door, which was blocked up in the early ^20th century. Only two stone pillars remain, while the sculptures that once adorned the building can now be seen at the Union National Museum. The third door is the most impressive, both in terms of size and ornamentation. It is shaped like a double triumphal arch. Four pillars support the arch that surmounts the three entrances.

Strategically located to dominate the city and the northern plains, the citadel(cetatea) was part of Braşov's fortification plan, after that of Mount Tâmpa had been abandoned. Modified and remodeled many times over the centuries, the citadel lost its defensive role in the ^19th century, serving in turn as a prison, a military barracks and a repository for state archives under Communism. It was extensively restored in the 1980s. You can't visit the interior, but the view over the city is sumptuous.

Built at the very beginning of the 20th century, it dominates the northern tip of the park Cişmigiu. It impresses with its eclectic elegance, blending French Renaissance styles with Baroque influences, with a richly ornamented facade topped by a crenellated roof. The palace, built for Elena Crețulescu (or Kretzulescu), was designed by the architect Petre Antonescu, to whom we also owe the Arc de Triomphe bucarestois. Riddled with debts, the owner sold the building to the town hall in the 1920s. Since 1972, it has housed Unesco services.

Subjected to numerous enemy attacks and incursions, the town's inhabitants decided to build truly effective fortifications. From the ^14th to the ^17th century, stone walls were gradually erected all around Brașov (3 km long, 12 m high), along with watchtowers and gates, making it one of the most fortified cities in Transylvania. The best way to appreciate this defensive system is to visit the best-preserved of these bastions, the Weavers' Bastion(Țesătorilor), built in 1436. In its wood-panelled galleries, you can visit a museum, where a huge 1896 model depicts the Brașov of the 1600s. Among the other visible remains, Poarta Ecaterinei, from 1559, once the town's main entrance, is the only gate that has survived the tests of time. Poarta Schei, at the end of the street of the same name, was built much later, in 1827. To the west of the old town, along Strada După Ziduri (the "Street Outside the Walls"), at the foot of Warthe Hill, the Black Tower(Turnul negru) and the White Tower(Turnul alb) served as observation posts. Not far away is the Graft bastion, which served as a bridge over the stream and can also be visited. The construction of the fortifications was financed by the Saxon trade guilds, and the bastions were named after one of them:Postăvarilor,Fierarilor orFunarilor, from which the cable car to Tâmpa departs.

Built between 1114 and 1131, the citadel was destroyed by the Tatars in 1241. It was rebuilt in the ^15th century and then, above all, in the 17th^{and 18th} centuries, according to plans inspired by Vauban and entrusted to Italian architects, who developed a typical star shape. From then on, it became the epicenter of the city and a bulwark against Ottoman invasions. The majestic princely palace dates back to the reign of Gabriel Bethlen in the early ^17th century.

Recently restored, the citadel now hosts restaurants, craft workshops, medieval demonstrations and numerous cultural events. It is also home to the town's museum, whose sections are divided between the different parts of the princely palace. You can visit a lapidarium in the basement, an art gallery, a bread museum, a memorial to the resistance and communist repression, temporary exhibitions... One of the permanent exhibitions is devoted to the history of photography, another to the musical tastes of youth in the tough 1970s-1980s... Don't miss the Griffin Room, the most beautiful in the palace: decorated with stucco depicting fantastic and real animals, it was probably originally used as a reception room. The two adjoining rooms feature superb painted vaults. As for the former moat, it has become a beautiful park, where you can walk along the imposing red brick walls.

In the small town of Carei, 36 km southwest of Satu Mare, this superb Baroque castle is well worth a visit. Built in 1792 by the powerful Károlyi family on the site of a ^15th-century fortress, it was transformed again in 1894 to take on its current eclectic, medieval castle form: several towers were added and the facades decorated with Romantic and Neo-Gothic elements. The interiors, furnished with period furniture, recreate the atmosphere of a late ^19th-century aristocratic residence.

The foundation stone of this baroque building was laid in 1731 by Peter Solderer, the mayor of the town, for the German community. The façade, decorated with the town's coat of arms, was restored in 1782 in Renaissance style. Its external appearance was further modified during the restoration of 1935. Near its main entrance, on the right-hand side, you will find an inscription in Arabic, a sign of the Ottoman occupation of the city and which refers to the Turkish baths on which the old town hall (Primăria veche) was built.

This is the only remaining bastion of the nine in the Timișoara fortress, built in the ^18th century in the Vauban style. The bastions formed the third and final circle of the fortification, the innermost. The whole complex was almost entirely demolished in 1892, to allow for the development of the city. Renovated, the Theresia bastion now houses temporary exhibitions organized by the Banat Museum, as well as bar-restaurants, an art gallery and a museum dedicated to the cartoonist Popa (Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Considered one of Bucharest's most beautiful buildings, this mansion has been restored to its former glory after years of neglect. Its name, "Mița la cycliste", refers to the woman who occupied the premises, Maria Mihăescu, the first woman to ride a bicycle in Bucharest and a key figure in the Bucharest social scene in the first half of the 20th century. She was known for her "extravagances", but above all she was a free woman ahead of her time. This magnificent example of Art Nouveau now houses a cultural center, a bookshop and a cocktail bar.

Hard to miss. Still topped with dozens of satellite dishes, the Palace of Telephones(Palatul Telefoanelor) would not be out of place in Gotham City. Inaugurated in 1934, this building, reminiscent of the old New York skyscrapers, bears witness to the architectural follies of the time. For many years, it was the tallest building in the city, standing at 52.50 m. It is emblematic of the Art Deco style, well represented in Bucharest with the Ambasador and Lido hotels on Magheru boulevard, and the Union International Center on strada Câmpineanu.

A neo-Brâncovenesc monument, the Palace of the Institute of Architecture(Palatul institutului de arhitectură), built between 1921 and 1927 by Grigore Cerchez, houses the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urban Planning, named after this great architect and promoter of the neo-Romanian style. Its facade, recently cleaned, shows just how beautiful the city could be if the same treatment were given to the many buildings blackened by car fumes.

This austere 1950 building first housed the Ministry of the Interior, before becoming the headquarters of the Communist Party. It was from the balcony of this building that, on December 21, 1989, Ceaușescu delivered his last speech, interrupted by the crowd. The next day, after a night of chaos, the dictator and his wife fled by helicopter from the roof, and demonstrators invaded the palace. The palace housed the Senate until 2005, when it was returned to its original function.

Located south of Cotroceni, at the end of Eroilor Boulevard, it is a building that is hard to miss if you are driving through this part of the city. Very massive and square, it rises on one of the rare reliefs of the capital. Built in 1938 by Duiliu Marcu, it houses on its esplanade a statue in memory of the heroes of the fatherland (Eroilor Patriei), soldiers who fought for the country's freedom during the Second World War. The building housed the Nazi authorities during this period. It is now home to the National Defense University.

Everyone knows this building in the middle of a crossroads in Bucharest. It's a fire watch and warning tower, built in 1891 to replace an earlier one erected in 1715. At the time, it housed a large water tank, fire pumps and horses to transport them. It was used by firefighters until 1935, when it became a museum that recently closed its doors.

Located at the intersection of Iuliu Maniu and Geniului Boulevards, very close to Cotroceni Palace, the Monumentul Eroilor din Arma Geniului (Monument to the Heroes of the Weapon of Genius), nicknamed "the Lion" (Leul), is an imposing bronze statue. Symbolizing resistance and courage, it was erected in 1926 and is dedicated to the soldiers who fought in the First World War. The inscription on the pedestal reads, "Tell future generations that we made the supreme sacrifice on the battlefield, for the entire nation. »

It's hard not to notice this major building, which has stood at the heart of the central boulevard since 1876. Built according to the plans of the architect Ferenc Pekár, the administrative palace has a Flemish neo-Renaissance style. Its clock tower, 54 m high, is reminiscent of Flemish town halls. In the entrance hall, the imposing red marble-covered staircase, leading to a beautiful village hall, features beautiful stained glass windows on the theme of the seasons. Just next door, at no. 73, is the Cenad Palace (19th century), in an eclectic style.

This building, inaugurated in 1913, features a neoclassical façade with Corinthian columns supporting a pediment. The side wings feature Italian Renaissance elements. Inside, a superb marble hall leads to the concert hall. The palace in fact houses the philharmonic, as well as several sections of the județ museum: history (under renovation), natural sciences and the picture gallery. The history museum includes a room dedicated to the 1989 revolution in Arad, illustrated with numerous photos.

It's a handsome 100-meter-long edifice that stretches along the banks of the Dâmbovița. Designed by Albert Ballu in 1895 in a French neo-Renaissance style, it was built on the orders of King Carol ^I, who wanted to provide the young independent kingdom with judicial institutions worthy of the name. Damaged by the 1977 earthquake, it was condemned to demolition by Ceaușescu. Renovated in the early 2000s, it has regained its lustre and now houses the Bucharest Court of Appeal. Its facade is decorated with six allegorical sculptures, surmounted by two other statues.

Located at kilometer zero, this imposing edifice is recent: bombed during the Second World War, the National Theater was rebuilt under the Communist regime. Completed in 1973, it was completely reconfigured and renovated between 2011 and 2015, including its facade. It has no fewer than 6 halls and, in summer, a rooftop amphitheater hosts shows. In front of the building, a beautiful bronze sculpture depicts the best-known characters created by the great Romanian playwright Ion Luca Caragiale, who gave his name to the theater.

The massive neoclassical-style University Palace extends at the entrance to the Boulevard Regina Elisabeta. It was inaugurated in 1869. The four muses adorning the façade were added in 1929, works by the sculptor Emil Wilhelm Becker. Also noteworthy are the statues of teachers and statesmen in the surrounding area. The palace now houses the geography, mathematics, history, literature and other humanities sections, as well as the chemistry section. The University of Law is located at Kogălniceanu and the University of Medicine at Cotroceni.

This unattractive building, constructed in the 2000s, houses a gigantic stained glass window, called The Creation of the World. Completed in May 2004 in Râmnicu Vâlcea by artist Gheorghe Dican, it covers an area of 142^m2, divided into seven concentric circles. To make it, 500 kg of lead and 2,000 kg of glass were used. The giant stained glass window now forms the central dome of the Vâlcea județ library. This superb achievement can be admired free of charge, during the library's opening hours.

Commissioned by Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, one-time Prime Minister, the castle was built in 1911. Its facade is a fine example of neo-Romanesque architecture, while the colorful interior features stained glass, stucco and woodwork. The^2nd floor houses an art gallery where exhibitions are held. The castle has also seen a resurgence in tourist interest since the airing of the hit TV series Mercredi (Wednesday), since it was here that the scenes set at Nevermore Academy were filmed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This superb library was opened in 1802 by Count Sámuel Teleki (1739-1822), whose ambition was to collect and preserve all the knowledge published at the time and make it accessible to the public. Throughout his life, this bibliophile collected and purchased books in the twenty-five European cities he travelled to. It was one of the largest libraries on the continent, with its 40,000 books. Today it has more than 200,000 volumes, including a 14th-century Codex and some 70 incunabula, books from the earliest days of printing.

The city's emblem, this imposing palace was built between 1908 and 1913 in the Transylvanian Secession style, according to the plans of Budapest-born architects Marcell Komor and Jakab Dezső. This duo also designed the nearby town hall. On the outside, its massive form is softened by its coloured tiles, mosaics, stained glass windows, bas-reliefs and statues. A visit to the interiors of this amazing building is a must: created by members of the Art School of Gödöllő, they are a true demonstration of Hungarian decorative and applied arts. The paintings and stained-glass windows, with original colours and patterns, create a very special atmosphere. The hall is a masterpiece in itself, where green, blue and gold dominate, as well as floral motifs. In the staircase, the stained glass windows depict portraits of historical figures, signed by Miksa Róth, a great master of Hungarian Art Nouveau stained glass. On the first floor, the Hall of Mirrors (Sala oglinzilor) has two Venetian mirrors and twelve valuable stained glass windows, evoking scenes from everyday life in Transylvania or Sicilian legends.

The large concert hall, which today houses the local philharmonic orchestra, is decorated with plant and animal motifs, purple and gold, inspired by Transylvanian folk art. It also has a gigantic organ with more than 4,000 pipes.

The building also houses the Museum of Art, which exhibits works by Romanian and Hungarian artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.

It's one of the oldest buildings in the city. The Butchers' Bastion (Bastionul Măcelarilor), which faces the market, was one of the seven defensive towers of the city wall that protected the city. It's the only one that has survived the centuries. It is circular in shape and was erected in the 16th century by the guild of butchers, at the time the most powerful in the city. It is 13 m high and its stone walls are 1.50 m thick at the base and 1 m thick at the top. The first level was used to store ammunition, the second has slots.

It's the symbol of the city. With a height of 50 m, the Stephen's Tower (turnul Ștefan), in Gothic style, is the former bell tower of a church destroyed in the 19th century after serious damage. Its construction dates back to the 15th century, ordered by Prince Iancu of Hunedoara to mark the victory of Ialomița over the Ottomans. It was completed during the reign of his son Matthias Corvin in 1468. Its impressive stairs will take you to the top, where you will enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the surrounding hills.