Targoviste Sights and Landmarks Guide, Romania

Targoviste, Sights – Museums and Memorial Houses

If you happen to be in Bucharest or Satu Mare and have a bit of extra time,Targoviste sights are worth visiting.

The city has two main history related sights which are visited by all tourists arriving here, the “Princely Court” Museum Complex and the “Saint Friday” Church. The “Princely Court” was built between the 14th and 18th centuries and represented the place where the country was ruled from. Within the museum tourists are able to visit places like the residential area, the military fortifications area, the ecclesiastic area, the household area and the princely gardens. An important attraction within this museum complex is the Chindia Tower which initially had a defense role and then changed in prison, access gate and observation point. Nowadays the tower impresses by height, uniqueness and originality of the construction.

The princely houses composed of a cellar, private rooms and audience halls. As a particularity, the rooms were directly connected with the church by a narrow corridor within the building.

The baths are also interesting to visit, they are consist of a dressing room, the bath itself with a steam producing device and a fireplace.

Another important museum in Targoviste is the Print and Old Romanian Books House, one of the first cultural institutions of this kind in the country, opened to the public on 11th May 1967.

The “Vasile Blendea” Museum is also very important for the city’s cultural life, comprising the work of a well known Romanian sculptor and painter, who lived in Targoviste between 1895 and 1988.

Targoviste, Sights – Natural Attractions

Targoviste abounds in green areas especially near the Ialomita River but also numerous parks and gardens set throughout the city which creates a very pleasant atmosphere. One of the biggest parks here, the Metropolitan Park, is located downtown and near the old city center. Within the park, besides the gorgeous landscape offered by the beautiful trees and flowers, one can admire the Metropolitan Church, a building dating back to the 15th century.

Another attractive green spot in town is the Chindia Park, a large green area comprising of a recreational lake and a wonderful summer garden with an open air cinema and theatre stage. The park was built on the site of the old Princely garden behind the Princely Court’s building. Chindia Park also houses the oldest zoo in the country, the first such settlement being set in 1584. The zoo has numerous species of local and exotic animals, some of them unique in Romania.

Targoviste, Sights – Culture and Arts

Targoviste houses the Gheorghe Petrascu “Studio-House”, the former residence of a local painter turned into museum and presenting his works in a permanent exhibition. The city with its rich history and the calm and serene atmosphere surrounding it, impressed the painter and inspired him in his works. Another significant place in the local artistic life is “Stelea” Galleries, a place where numerous artists organize temporary art exhibitions and related events.

The city also has a philharmonic orchestra called The “Muntenia” Philharmonic Orchestra which organizes concerts every Monday in the “Balasa Doamna” Art High School building.

Targoviste, Sights – Monasteries and Churches

As a result of the rich history of these places, one can find here numerous religious edifices, some of them dating back to the 14th century.

One such example is the “Saint Friday” Church, a traditional Orthodox building with many characteristic features of a monastery like modest cells, beautiful arches and brick pavements, dating from the 15th century. Another beautiful church is the White Church, a small modest building dating from the 16th century with numerous interior and exterior paintings. Other important churches in town are the Wood Church which is set on the site of an old wooden church, initially built in 1842 and restored in 1864, the Saint John the Baptist Church built in the 17th century, the Buzinca Church and more.

Targoviste, Sights - Theatres

The theatrical activity in the city is also significant and is held in one of the two theater buildings present here, the “Mihai Popescu” City Theatre for Children and Youth and the “Tony Bulandra” Theatre. Both offer captivating shows every time and gather numerous people for each theatrical season.

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