Brief History

Between 1922-1925 the Museum had carried on its activity in the building of Arts and Crafts Museum on G. Baritiu Street no 5. In this building, in the spring of 1923, the first ethnographical Romanian exhibition in Cluj was opened, with the objects acquired from Padureni and Hateg County.

Between 1925-1935 the Museum carried its activity in the building from Mihai Viteazul Square where on 17th of June 1928, the permanent exhibition was opened officially, having the following sections: gathering, hunting, fishing, agriculture, shepherding, home textile industry, furriers trade, pottery, furniture, building elements, kitchen vessels, costumes, sewing - weaving, ethnographic charts.

Between 1935-1940 and 1945-1957 the Museum was hosted by a building in the Central Park of the city where on 17th of July 1937 the permanent exhibition was opened in this building, in the presence of King Carol II. The exhibition had the same sectors as the previous one from 1928.

As a result of the Diktat of Wien (30th of August 1940), the Museum took refuge together with the University to Sibiu, where it remained till the 13th of July 1945. In 1957, the Museum got the Palace "Reduta" on Memorandum Street, building where it is hosted today.

The building, a historical monument, dated from the XVIth century, time from only the basement is conserved. In the XVIIIth century, the building is renovated, one of the most important inns of the city, "Calul Balan", carried on its activity here. In the XIXth century, by a new renovation, the building received the actual shape and the name "Reduta". Also in this period the building becomes one of the most important political, administrative and cultural places in Transylvania. The main room at the first level was the witness of some important cultural and historical events both for Transylvania and for the city: public meetings, balls and concerts. Here great musicians of the world had concerts such as Franz Liszt, Bélá Bártok and George Enescu. The building was also one of the meeting place of the Transylvanian Diet (the Province Parliament).

In 1894 in "Reduta" palace one of the greatest political trials of the century took place, which was commented by the whole European press: the Memorandum Trial. In his speech within the trial, as an accuser, the political Romanian leader Dr. Ioan Ratiu said the memorable words: "The existence of a people is not to be questioned, but asserted!"

In 2001 the permanent exhibition was closed, the Museum starting a large process of restoration, modernization, reorganization. The permanent exhibition was reopened on 21st of December 2006, under a new look by setting it up following the new standards of the contemporary museology.

Photos of the previous exhibition:

Features from the old exhibitions Features from the old exhibitions Features from the old exhibitions

Visit program

Main Building's Section

Tuesday-Sunday:

9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday closed.

Ethnographic Park "Romulus Vuia": 1st of May - 31st of October: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (last entry 4 p.m.), Monday closed. The Park is closed between 1st of November and 30th of April.

Acces: buses - lines 26, 27, 28, 30, 41, "Piata 14 iulie" station

Details