If you travel to the northern part of Romania, I highly recommend visiting one of the loveliest outdoor museums in the country. Bucovina Village Museum is located in Suceava, in the region called Bucovina.
The museum offers a glimpse into the rich past of a beautiful eclectic region. Keep reading to discover some interesting gems inside the museum.
The land of the beech trees
Bucovina means “beech land” and the region stretches between the northern Carpathians and the Prut River. One of the most beautiful and visited areas in Romania, Bucovina is known for centuries-old architecture, UNESCO frescos, beautifully embroidered folk costumes, furniture, pottery, tapestries, painted eggs and traditions handed down from one generation to the next.
For almost 150 years, Bucovina was under the Habsburg authority (from 1867 until 1918) and the Habsburg influence in this area was best reflected in the Austrian architect Karl Romstorfer’s interest in Bucovina, which led him to create the Museum of Bucovina. He loved the northern Romanian architecture so much, that he influenced the creation of a village museum in the area, to preserve and showcase the beautiful wooden houses.
Discover authentic Romania
The museum is right next to the Suceava Citadel and exhibits over 20 old traditional homes from Bucovina, with their original furnishings, tools and decorations. You can explore the village’s church, the workshops of small handicraftsmen, the mill, various households and even the local pub.
The overall display of the museum reflects the setup of a typical village in Bucovina with the layout and specific crafts and activities. The houses are arranged along several alleys and include residential premises, the church, school, a mill, different craft workshops, including a potter’s house, local pub and more.
Take a look inside
Inside the houses, you’ll see full-size mannequins that reenact various customs like birth, a christening, wedding proposal and funeral. As you step inside, old traditional songs start playing, recreating a genuinely authentic atmosphere.
Romania is predominantly rural and Bucovina is no exception. Visiting this museum is like stepping 200 years back in time and discovering everyday tools, clothes, appliances and beautiful wooden houses.
A 233-year old wooden church
Inside the museum, there’s a church that was built in 1783 and relocated from Vama, one of the oldest villages in Romania. The church was built with wood from pine trees and has many zoomorphic and geometric ornaments.
The church still plays a huge role in rural Romania and visiting a village during a holiday is pure joy. Traditions come alive, beautiful folk costumes pop up everywhere, songs with deep, philosophic meaning are chanted along the streets and it’s almost like urban life is just a myth beyond the hills.
An enchanting day outdoors
Bucovina Village Museum is a great option for spending a few hours outdoors and learning about how people used to live in this part of Romania, over 200 years ago.
During the summer, the museum is open from Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm. During the winter, opening hours are Monday to Friday 9 am to 3:30 pm and the museum is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets are cheap: 2 RON / 0.45 EUR / 0.50 USD and the photography fee is 5 RON / 1.1 EUR / 1.23 USD.
In addition to the Village Museum, you can also visit the newly restored Suceava Citadel. Located right next to the museum, the fortress was built at the end of the 14th century and was never conquered, even though was repeatedly attacked by the Ottomans.
Northern Romania boasts rich culture, traditions and history and can be a great add-on to your Romanian trip itinerary.
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