Cluj-napoca Sights and Landmarks Guide, Romania

Cluj-Napoca, or Cluj, as it is affectionately called by the locals, is both literally and metaphorically the heart of historical Transylvania. A lively student city from October through July, in summer Cluj becomes the perfect place for a bit of cultural sightseeing. You can find a monument, a beautiful building or a charming café at virtually any corner. As opposed to Bucharest, Romania’s capital, Cluj has a much more casual, easygoing atmosphere. Take a bite of Transylvanian culture in the many museums, relax at a terrace or in a park, and go out for some fine dining in one of the excellent restaurants in the city. This Cluj-Napoca Sights Guide will list the most important tourist attractions in this wonderful city.

Cluj-Napoca Sights Guide - Museums

Since Cluj is one of Transylvania’s most important cultural centers along with Timisoara, naturally there are quite a few interesting museums in the city, hosting both permanent exhibitions and temporary ones. The National Arts Museum located in Unirii Square in the very heart of the city can serve as an excellent introductory course on Transylvanian painting and sculpture. The museum also hosts a few pieces by some exceptional Romanian painters such as Stefan Luchian or Ion Andreescu, as well as a collection of works by Hungarian, Italian, French and Dutch artists.

If you’d like to learn more about Transylvanian folklore and traditions, all you have to do is hop over to the Ethnographic Museum on Memorandumului Street, five minutes away from the Art Museum. The History Museum is also close by, in the Museum Square, and it houses a collection of historical artifacts from Romania and abroad. The Zoology Museum comprises an impressive number of native species, as well as a few curiosities.

Cluj-Napoca Sights Guide - Parks and Monuments

There are many monuments of various degrees of interest scattered around the city. For those who are interested in religious architecture, Saint Michael’s Church at the center of Unirii Square is a must-see. The gothic structure built in the 14th centuries is one of the most beautiful gothic churches in Romania, along with the Black Church in Brasov and the Evangelical Cathedral in Sibiu. There are several other interesting churches in the city, for example the Biserica cu Cocos, or the Rooster Church, built in Vienna Secession style, which gets its name from the forged metal rooster perched at the top of the tower.

The Tailor’s Bastion in Baba Novac Square is a fine example of medieval architecture. Other remains of the medieval fort can be seem on the Cetatuia Hill, which now also houses a five star hotel and a beautiful promenade. Cluj-Napoca National Theatre is another impressive building erected at the beginning of the 20th century, and besides the beautiful architecture, the theatre is also one of Romania’s most prestigious theatrical institutions. For a relaxing walk visit the Central Park or the lush Botanical Garden.

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• Cluj hotel experiences
  review by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  Flying out to Cluj was not exactly an easy task. The connection was easy but I was traveling with my mom and my 96 year-old grandpa. This of course makes a trip like this quite a project. Where are the elevators and where are the toilets, are the most frequent questions :) We drove by car to...
• Visiting Cluj for a couple of days
  review by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  Cluj Turned out to be quite different from what I had remembered. The city is much larger than Oradea and there is much more going on. You can go out every night of the week and you'll see lots of students. During the day while visiting the old town, one can only imagine the lost beauty of this...
• Treasure city of Transilvania
  review by danpop posted more then 30 days ago
  The third largest city in Romania, Cluj-Napoca is situated in the region of Transylvania. The city claims the unofficial title of the historical province of Transylvania. The city exists from the Dacian period, second century A.D. After the Roman conquered Dacia, the city was renamed Napoca,...

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