Things to see and do Ploieşti

This massive neoclassical-style building, whose construction took place between 1906 and 1933, was first used as a courthouse, before becoming the Cultural Centre. In particular, it houses the Museum of Man, which includes several rooms dedicated to anatomy, genetics, biodiversity, protected areas, etc. They are punctuated by interactive multimedia installations. The aquarium has some 70 tanks with more than 60 species from all over the world, including 1,200 rare fish, as well as turtles and newts.

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.

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.