About Cluj Napoca.
Places of interest.

About Cluj Napoca.

Cluj-Napoca, or for short, just Cluj is situated in Northern Transylvania. It is the third largest city in Romania, and the seat of Cluj County. The city lies in the valley of the Somesul Mic River and is the capital of the historical province of Transylvania.

In the heart of Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca awaits its visitors, with the silent full of history walls and hospitable people. Treasures of architecture and years of shaping people's minds have made this county special in its uniqueness. You'll see here the famous Transylvanian calm and reflexive mind, seriousness and pride.

With one of the most vibrant economies in the country and a population of around 350,000 people, Cluj is one of Romania's most prosperous cities and important financial centres, it has a very special, traditional charm. The historic capital of Transylvania - also called "the Treasure city" or "the Treasure Cluj" is a compelling fusion between a medieval fairytale town, a small peaceful city and a vibrant 21st century financial centre. Surrounded by undulating hills, delightful forests and the imposing Western Carpathians, Cluj is also a refreshing oasis of natural living in our busy, modern era.

Cluj is renowned in Romania and even abroad as a city of academic excellence, with some of the best universities in Romania such as the Babes-Bolyai University. The cultural life is also very intense, as the city has theatres and operas both Hungarian and Romanian, lots of museums and exhibitions and there is the famous Botanical Garden. Cluj is one of Romania's largest cities and a major destination for foreign investment, the most recent being the new Nokia plant. The six state and several private universities located here also make Cluj Napoca the city with the largest percentage of student population in Romania.

Cluj-Napoca Airport is the third airport in Romania, offering regular flights to Bucharest, Timisoara, Targu-Mures, Bologna, Budapest, Chisinau, Florence, Munich, Vienna and Frankfurt;
Public transport in the city is possible by means of bus lines, trolleybus lines, and tram lines.

Taxis are not very cheap but not too expensive, almost the same rates as Bucharest's taxies, but still cheap and very convenient comparing to other european cities. All the respectable companies charge the same price. Payment is always done in cash, and paying by credit card is not possible.
There might be underground, "shark" drivers as they are called, which try to exploit unknowledgeable strangers by overcharging. You should avoid them as they charge at least several times the normal fee. They mostly hang around the train station and the airport. Shark drivers might sometimes "helpfully" offer a ride themselves; you won't see a usual driver do that. Usually shark drivers' cars are marked TAXI and nothing else. Search for name of company on the door of car! Respectable firms typically have several cars parked at each station; that's an easy way to identify them. Elseway, the price per kilometer is sometimes displayed on the cab door.
It may happen that you will be driven around on a longer route if you don't know the city but this is not a typical fact for Cluj but of every other part of the world. This may happen even with respectable firms. You can't do much to help that, unless you are able to read a map very well, especially if you're easy to spot as a foreigner. The best thing to do is to appear confident, jump in the car and state your destination unhesitantly as if you knew exactly where it was.

Cluj's crime rate is rather low in comparison to other large East European cities with recent polls showing a high degree of satisfaction with the work of the local police department.
Cluj-Napoca has a continental climate, characterised by hot dry summers and cold winters. The climate is influenced by the city's proximity to the Apuseni Mountains, as well as by urbanisation.

In order to meet the increasing demand for high standard accommodation, in the latest years many hotels were inaugurated in Cluj-Napoca, and others are being built. Business people and foreign tourists are the main clients of Cluj hotels.
Cluj-Napoca benefited last year from numerous industrial development projects and continues to attract businesses. In order to meet the demands for business facilities, many business centers have been or are being inaugurated, offering conference rooms, parking places, financial services, wellness centers, and other facilities for launching and developing a business project.
The main towns in Cluj County, especially Cluj-Napoca, host many festivals and other socio-cultural events, to mention “Lucian Blaga" International Festival, “Toamna muzicala clujeana" Festival, The Men's Dance Festival, The “Transylvania" International Film Festival, The Puck-Animafest International Marionettes Festival, Zilele municipiului Cluj-Napoca, Zilele portilor deschise, Ziua Europei, Beer Festivals, The Wine Festival, Man.In.Fest Theatre Festival, the fairs and exhibitions of Expo Transilvania, Delahoya Rave Festival.

Cluj-Napoca has everything a tourist may need: average-price shops, as well as brand shops, cheap clothes and expensive cosmetics, kiosks, boutiques and supermarkets.

Some very good ski resorts are close to Cluj as well as summer resorts and spas. The real reason why people visit Cluj, however, is for outdoor pursuits. Just south-west of the city are the Apuseni mountains (Sunset mountains), which are inundated with wonderful caves, underground rivers and walking trails through the forests. The fauna and flora are breathtaking.

At the end of the day, if you are looking for a busy night life, Cluj will not be disappointing. Plenty of night café's, pubs, cinemas and clubs await the tired, but still vivid visitor.

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Places of interest.

The various cultural and material influences, which left their mark on Transylvania's history, made up an important cultural and historic legacy of monuments, ancient vestiges or medieval churches and cathedrals at the side of modern masterpieces, as well as museums, memorial houses and architecture monuments.
Union Square (Piata Unirii).

Featuring baroque, gothic, Renaissance and neoclassical buildings, the square allows for quick access to St. Michael's Church and the Banffy Palace. Flanking the church on the south side is a 1902 equestrian statue of the 15-th century ruler, Matei Corvin. In the southwest corner of the square stands Hotel Continental, built in 1895 in an eclectic style combining Renaissance, classical and baroque elements. During World War II, the hotel served as the German military headquarters in Transylvania. Across the square,you can visit the Hintz House, which served as Cluj's first and longest-running pharmacy (1573-1949) and is now home to the Pharmacy Museum (see museum details).
St. Michael's Church (Biserica Sfantul Mihail) located in Piata Unirii (Union Square) is one of the most beautiful gothic monuments in Transylvania. St. Michael's Church was erected between 1350 and 1487 on the site of the former St. Jacob's Chapel. The altar, built around 1390, is the oldest part of the church. The most recent section is the tower, erected in neo-gothic style in 1860. The star-shaped vault, the stained-glass windows and the sculptures impress with their beauty and grandeur. Repeated restorations revealed early 15th century murals. The latest restoration took place between 1957 and 1960.
Banffy Palace (Palatul Banffy) located in Piata Unirii (Union Square), an imposing former residence of the Austro-Hungarian governors, was designed by the German architect, Johann Eberhard Blaumann, for then-governor of the city, Banffy Gyorgy. Built between 1774 and 1775, it is considered the most representative example of baroque style in Transylvania. In 1951, the palace became the home of the Cluj National Art Museum. Calvinist Reformed Church (Biserica Reformata).
The building of this impressive church, located on Mihail Kogalniceanu street, began in 1486 and was completed around 1516, with a pulpit added in 1646. The church, one of the largest in southeastern Europe, is a perfect illustration of the late gothic architectural style. Created in 1373 by the masters Martin and George of Cluj, the statue of St. George slaying the dragon, which stands in front of the church, was inspired by one of the world's most famous equestrian sculptures, a 14-th century statue displayed in centre of Prague. Organ concerts are frequently held in the church.
St. Peter and Paul Church (Biserica Sf. Petru si Pavel). Named for the apostles Peter and Paul, this gothic church, located on 21 Decembrie 1989 Blvd., was built between 1844 and 1848 on the foundation of an earlier church.
The imposing portal at the entrance was built by a priest, Biro Jozsef, after the Black Death struck the town (1738-1742). A statue of Saint Archangel Michael is centered above the main entrance, flanked on the left by John the Baptist, Saint Sebastian and Saint Charles Borromei, and on the right by Saint John the Evangelist, Saint Rocus and Saint John Nepomuc. The portal was moved here in 1899 from its former location at St. Michael's Church and was recently restored.
The statue of St. Mary is a beautiful and valuable baroque work of art by sculptor Schenbauer Antal, who created it for the consul, Kornis Antal, in 1744. The statue was removed from its former location at the crossroads of Kogalniceanu and Universitatii Streets and placed in the yard behind the church in 1961. Tailors' Bastion (Bastionul Croitorilor).
Dating from 1550, Tailors' Bastion, located on Baba Novac Square, is the only such structure still standing from the medieval fortified city.
Fortress Hill.
Few the tourists who visit Cluj-Napoca and even locals will miss a climb on the “Fortress Hill" (Dealul Cetatuia), in order to admire one of the best panoramas of the city and the surrounding hills, rivers and even mountains. With an altitude of 405 meters above sea level, and 60 m above the city, the hill got its name from the Austrian fortress built there, the oldest representative of baroque secular architecture in Transylvania. Dominating the historical canter of the city, the fortress was built in the 18th century, in order to ensure the control of the city, more than for defensive purposes, occasionally serving as a prison.
The Franciscan Monastery and Church (Manastirea si Biserica Franciscana). One of the city's oldest structures, the Franciscan Monastery, located on Victor Deleu street, was built in the 15-th century on the site of an older church dating from 1273 and handed to the Dominican order by ruler Iancu de Hunedoara in 1455. Located at the south of the monastery complex, the church was offered as a gift to the Franciscans who restored it in baroque style around the year 1728.
Cathedral of the Transfiguration (Catedrala Schimbarea la Fata) is located on Eroilor Blvd.
In 1764, the church was bought by Franciscan monks living on the outskirts of Cluj. Its tower practically crumbled 15 years later, thus destroying the whole frontispiece. Restoration work began in 1783 and the church was rebuilt in baroque style. In 1924, it was donated to the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church.
Mathias Corvinus House.
The Memorial Matthias Corvinus House is known as the oldest lay building in Cluj-Napoca, well preserved and having many functions along the time.
Built around XIV-XV th centuries in gothic style, it never belonged though to the Corvin family. Matthias Corvin, the son of Iancu of Hunedoara (great voivode of Transilvania and governor of Hungary), was born here by chance, when his pregnant mother sought shelter at the inn that functioned in the building. Since Matthias was born and spent a few of his first months of life here, the house was declared “The Memorial Matthias Corvinus House". Along the time, the outer walls were altered with Renaissance elements. There are wine cellars at the basement of the entire building. Until recently, the stands for the wine barrels were still in place. The municipality of Cluj bought the building in 1740. Since then it served as a military casern and ammunition depot, which caused an explosion in the northern part of the building. Later, at the beginning of the XX th century, the House hosted the Ethnographic Museum with the exhibition of the plans of the statue of Matthias Corvin in the center of the town.
Since 1950, the owner of the building is The Design and Fine Arts University. The institution organizes here many temporary exhibitions for its students and professors, which do not however affect the building. The walls were painted and the foundation was preserved and there were installed fans and a heating system.

Jewish Cluj-Napoca.
The New Synagogue (Sinagoga Noua) is located on 21, Horea street.The original grand Moorish-style synagogue, better known as the Memorial Temple of the Deportees (in memory of those who died in World War II), was designed by architect Hegner Izidor and opened on September 4th, 1887. Ruined 40 years later by the Iron Guard, a nationalistic Fascist organization of the time, it was restored in 1951 with the support of Romania's Jewish community.

Museums.
Cluj National Museum of Art (Muzeul National de Arta Cluj). The 22 halls of the Banffy Palace display sculptures, graphics, weapons, furniture, carpets, and paintings by famous Romanian artists such as Nicolae Grigorescu (1838-1907), Theodor Aman (1831-1891) and Theodor Pallady (1871-1956). Both Grigorescu and Aman were influenced by the Barbizon group and the Impressionists, while Pallady spent many years in Paris and drew inspiration from Matisse.
Emil Racovita Speleology Institute & Museum (Insitutul de Speologie Emil Racovita) The museum displays the fascinating collection of renowned Romanian biologist, Emila Racovita (1868-1947), who set up the Romanian Speleology Institute in 1920. Here, you can admire some of the discoveries made by Racovita in the spectacular caves of Romania, including different types of rocks which preserve the traces of animals that died thousands of years ago.
The Emil Racovita Speleology Museum is the only one of its kind in Europe.
Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania (Muzeul Etnografic al Transilvaniei).
Endowed with a collection of more than 65,000 ethnographic items, the museum offers an excellent introduction to Transylvanian folk art and traditions. Founded in 1922, it is one of the most important ethnographic museums in Romania. Its various sections, devoted to trades, lodging, food, pottery, textiles, national costumes and customs, include more than 50,000 photographs as well as open-air and international sections. Together, they paint an image of Transylvania's folk culture.
History Museum of Transylvania (Muzeul National de Istorie al Transilvaniei). Founded in 1859, this museum illustrates the history of Transylvania from Paleolithic times to the present. The size of the collection has grown from about 24,000 items in the 1870s to more than 400,000 today, including many rare or extremely valuable objects. Strange skulls, mammoth tusks, arrow- and spearheads illustrate the progress from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages to the rise of the Dacian civilization, which reached its peak between the second century B.C. and the first century A.D. The sections for medieval, modern and contemporary history and the Numismatic Cabinet contain collections of decorative art, ancient books, old printings, memoirs, history and coins.
Pharmacy Museum (Muzeul Farmaceutic). This museum, exhibiting some 2,300 medical instruments, is located on the site of Cluj-Napoca's first pharmacy (1573).

Parks and Gardens.
Botanical Garden.
The “Alexandru Borza" Botanical Garden in Cluj is a very appreciated place of recreation and a valuable research resource for students and researchers, having connections with 450 similar institutions in 80 countries. Occupying 14 hectares of abrupt and hilly land in the south of the city, it is the largest green area of Cluj-Napoca, displaying a large variety of flora specific to every season. In a town where the green areas tend to become more and more scarce, the Garden is an oasis of quietness, relaxation and an interesting place to explore.
Central Park (Parcul Central). You can hire a boat to row on the small lake or just enjoy a stroll in this 180-year old park.
Romulus Vuia Ethnographic Park (Parcul Etnografic Romulus Vuia).
Founded in 1929, the park exhibits some 90 Romanian, Saxon and Szekler traditional houses, sawmills, wells, potter's workshops, sheepfolds and outbuildings for grinding gold-bearing ores, sheep rearing, blacksmithing and tanning hides. The park also contains several 18th century wooden churches from the Transylvania region.
Opera & Ballet.
Opera (Opera Nationala Romana Cluj Napoca). Aida by Giuseppe Verdi was performed at the opening night of the Cluj National Opera in 1919. Since then, the opera company's repertoire has added impressive stage productions such as La Boheme, Tosca, Giselle, Carmen, Faust and the Bald Soprano.

Hereby we invite you to feel good in our Cluj, and explore all it has to offer.

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