Tourist Information

Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum in
Bucharest
The Village Museum (Muzeul Satului in Romanian) is an open-air ethnographic museum
located in the Herăstrău Park (Bucharest, Romania), showcasing traditional Romanian village
life. The museum extends to over 100,000 m2, and contains 272 authentic peasant farms and
houses from all over Romania.
It was created in 1936 by Dimitrie Gusti, Victor Ion Popa, and Henri H. Stahl.
A house in the Village Museum
The church of the Timişeni village, now at the Village Museum
Museum of the Romanian Peasant
The Romanian Peasant Museum - the facade (December 2007)
The Museum of the Romanian Peasant (Romanian: Muzeul Ţăranului Român) is a museum in
Bucharest, Romania, with a collection of textiles (especially costumes), icons, ceramics, and
other artifacts of Romanian peasant life. One of Europe's leading museums of popular arts and
traditions, it was designated "European Museum of the Year" for 1996.[1]
Located on Şoseaua Kiseleff, near Piaţa Victoriei, the museum falls under the patronage of the
Romanian Ministry of Culture. Its collection includes over 100,000 objects.
First founded in the 1930s by and originally managed by Alexandru Tzigara-Samurcaş, the
museum was reopened February 5, 1990, a mere six weeks after the downfall and execution of
Nicolae Ceauşescu. During the Communist era, the building housed a museum representing the
country's Communist party; the museum's basement still contains a room devoted to an ironic
display of some artifacts from that earlier museum. The building, which uses traditional
Romanian architectural features, was built on the former site of the State Mint (Monetăria
Statului).
The museum was devastated during the June 1990 Mineriad, due to being confused with the
headquarters of the National Peasants' Party.
"The house in the house"
One of the museum's most famous exhibits—originally the work of Tzigara-Samurcaş—is "the
house in the house". The house, which originally belonged to peasant Antonie Mogos of Ceauru
village in Gorj County. From the first, the house was displayed in a non-naturalistic way: objects
that would normally be in the interior were displayed in various manners outside; outbuildings
were suggested by fragments. The Communist regime displayed the house much more
conventionally, outdoors at the Village Museum; it returned to the Peasant Museum in 2002. The
current display at the Peasant Museum revives the original non-naturalistic approach. For
example, from a platform, museum visitors may peer into the attic, part of whose wall is stripped
away; various objects are arranged inside.[2]
In 2002, the museum's exhibit space was greatly expanded as the museum store and offices
moved into a new building behind the old one, freeing up a considerable amount of floor space
in the museum proper.
Inside the museum
Church outside the museum
Sinaia Monastery
The Sinaia Monastery, located in Sinaia, in Prahova County, Romania, was founded by Prince
Mihail Cantacuzino in 1695 and named after the great Sinai Monastery on Mount Sinai. As of
2005, it is inhabited by 13 Christian Orthodox monks led by hegumen Macarie Bogus. It is part
of the Bucharest archdiocese.
Overview
Situated in the Prahova Valley, the monastery gave its name to the nearby town of Sinaia. The
monastery consists of two courtyards surrounded by low buildings. In the centre of each
courtyard there is a small church built in the Byzantine style. One of them—"Biserica Veche"
(The Old Church)—dates from 1695, while the more recent "Biserica Mare" (The Great Church)
was built in 1846.
The monks possess a library that is a repository for valuable jewels belonging to the Cantacuzino
family, as well as the earliest Romanian translation of the Bible, dated 1668.
Take Ionescu, former Prime Minister of Romania, is buried on the grounds.
History
Prince (Spătarul) Mihail Cantacuzino founded the monastery upon his return from a pilgrimage
to Mount Sinai. The first buildings were completed between 1690 to 1695. It was designed to
serve as a monastery as well as a fortified stronghold on the route from Brasov to Bucharest.
The initial plan was for the monastery to hold 12 monks, to imitate the Twelve Apostles, but in
time the number of monks grew.
In the midst of the Russo–Turkish War, 1735–1739, before deserting the monastery, monks hid
the valuables by burying them inside a bell. During a battle, the Turks defeated troops stationed
within the walls of the monastery. The Ottomans burned the area and broke through the wall in
two places.
Until 1850, Sinaia consisted of little more than the monastery and a group of huts. In 1864,
however, the monastic estate was assigned to the Board of Civil Hospitals (Eforia Spitalelor
Civile), which opened a hospital and several baths, and helped develop mineral springs in Sinaia.
In 1948, the monastery was put under the patronage of the Archdiocese of Bucharest from the
Board of Civil Hospitals. The Romanian Patriarch, Justinian Marina, restored the buildings
between the years 1951 and 1957 with money from the Archdiocese. During this period, the
whole monastery was fitted with running water, electricity, and natural gas. Thanks to the efforts
of King Carol I, the Great Church of the monastery has become the first church to use electric
lights in Romania.
The Old Church
The entrance door of the Old Church
The Old Church was built in 1695. In 2006, it was closed to begin a restoration project to return
it to its former beauty. The original interior painting was completed by Pârvu Mutu and were
restored for the first time in 1795.
The Great Church
Under the leadership of Hegumens Ioasaf and Paisie, construction of The Great Church began in
1842 using funds allocated by the monastery and was completed in 1846. This smaller structure
was enlarged by the Board of Civil Hospitals during a period from 1897 to 1903. These efforts
gave the building the appearance it has today.
Current appearance
Created by architect George Mandrea, the structure utilizes the Moldavian style and the
Brâncovenesc style from Walachia. It is said that the belt of three green enamel lines that
encircle the building represent the unity of the Holy Trinity in one God and the unity of the
Three Romanian Kingdoms in one country.
Paintings
The gold mosaic paintings were created by Danish artist Aage Exner in a typical neo-Byzantine
style. The main illustrations show five persons:
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Iosif Gheorghian mitropolit primat – he re-opened the building in 1903
Carol I of Romania – shown dressed as an officer, with his right hand upon a rock pillar
with a missing piece. This symbolizes the missing Romanian territories at that time
Elisabeth of Wied – Queen consort of Romania, known in the literary world as Carmen
Sylva
Princess Maria of Romania – Queen Elisabeta's only child, who died at an early age
Mihail Cantacuzino – builder of the Old Church
Furniture
The furniture was made of wood (sycamore, maple, and oak) by Constantin Babic and his
students at the Bucharest Art School (Ṣcoala de Arte si Meserii). The King's throne displays the
royal emblem and the motto Nihil sine Deo (Nothing without God). The Queen's throne is
embossed with the letters E.D..[1] Both thrones are gold-plated.
The two Russian icons, of Saint Serghei and Saint Nicholas, were a gift from Tzar Nicholas II of
Russia in 1903. They were presented to the Hegumen Nifon Arhimandritul for the baptism of
Prince Nicholae, son of King Ferdinand.
A remarkable piece adorning the monastery is the epitaphios by Anna Roth, made of silk and
gold on a cotton base. It took three years (from 1897 to 1900) to finish.
The bell tower
The Bell Tower as seen from within the walls
During the leadership of Hegumen Nifon Popescu (1888–1909), a large bell tower was added to
the monastery walls. It was completed in 1892. The 1,700-kilogram (3,700 lb) bell was brought
from the Colţea Tower in Bucharest.
The museum
In celebrating its bicentennial, the Old Church opened the Museum of the Monastery. This is the
first exhibition of church objects in Romania.[1]
Location
The monastery can be reached by train as Sinaia railway station is just 'downstairs' from the
monastery. It is also accessible by road.