Visit the ASTRA Traditional Folk Civilization Museum In Sibiu, Romania

Visit the ASTRA Traditional Folk Civilization Museum In Sibiu, Romania
Sophie
Sophie 
Published
| 2 min read

From the urbanites of Bucharest to the villagers of Transylvania, Romania today boasts a wide range of citizens. However, this was not always the case, as in the past the country was largely rural. To immerse yourself in the pastoral history of Romania, look no further than the ASTRA Traditional Folk Civilization Museum. This ethnographic museum is the largest open-air museum in Romania. Situated in the Dumbrava Forest south of Sibiu, the Folk Museum is an ideal place to spend some time in nature and learn more about the lives of rural Romanians throughout history.

Over 100 years of folk museum history

visit the astra traditional folk civilization museum in sibiu, romania | over 100 years of folk museum history

The ASTRA Romanian culture group first decided to build a collection of museums of Romanian folk history in the late 19th century. The first folk museum was opened in 1905 in Sibiu, and subsequently an open-air museum and village museum were opened in Cluj-Napoca and Bucharest, respectively. However, after World War II and during the communist period, plans were made to relocate the open-air museum to Sibiu. After many years of delay, the ASTRA museum opened in 1967 and mainly displayed folk technology. A few years later, houses and structures were added and the museum became one of folk civilization. Today, the Folk Civilization Museum is part of the larger ASTRA National Museum Complex, and contains a collection of structures that has been continuously improved upon over the last 45 years.

An affordable, easy-to-access option for visitors to Sibiu

visit the astra traditional folk civilization museum in sibiu, romania | an affordable, easy-to-access option for visitors to sibiu

The museum is located south of Sibiu, and is easily accessible by car, the Rasinari tram, or the number 13 bus, which can be boarded at the train station or close to the old town. The museum is open Tuesday - Sunday, from 9 am - 5 pm in the summer and 10 am - 6 pm in the winter. Tickets for a day’s exploring cost 17 / 3.5 RON for adults / students (approximately 4.25 / 0.90 USD). Besides the open air museum, there is a gift shop and restaurant that serves traditional Romanian food in an outdoor dining area with long tables and benches. Highly recommended dishes are mamaliga, warm polenta served with cheese and sour cream, and Transylvanian chicken soup.

Experience rural Romanian life in a peaceful environment

visit the astra traditional folk civilization museum in sibiu, romania | experience rural romanian life in a peaceful environment

The open-air museum itself is ideal for a leisurely half-day of exploring. Bring your own lunch, or take advantage of the restaurant. The museum boasts 10 km (6.2 miles) of walkways throughout the park and around two lakes. As you walk through the peaceful expanse of land, you will encounter traditional peasant houses, pottery and iron workshops, wooden churches, water mills, a Danube Delta fishery, and much more. Most of these original structures were dismantled and brought in from other parts of Romania, so it’s as if you have all of historic rural Romania in one place. Perhaps the most impressive is the collection of functional windmills from throughout Romania - the oldest was built in 1833. Besides the structures themselves, staff are available to explain the purpose and history of certain buildings. There are also plaques written in Romanian and English to explain the backstories. In the summer, boat and carriage rides are offered to visitors.

Spend time at one of the most popular sites in Romania

The ASTRA Traditional Folk Civilization Museum is a highlight of Romanian tourism, and attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year. In addition to the permanent exhibition, cultural festivals and events happen often, including the Folk’s Craftsmen Fair, which takes place every August. Whether you’re wanting to learn more about Romania’s diverse rural history or just need a place to relax after days (or weeks) of traveling, The ASTRA museum is the perfect place. Looking to enjoy nature and appreciate peaceful folk life? Plan your visit to the engaging ASTRA Traditional Folk Civilization Museum.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

I left the United States in June 2015, and have been working, volunteering, and backpacking my way through Europe ever since. My traveling passions are food, history, and cultural exchanges,...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore ASTRA National Museum Complex
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top