The Bucharest Museum, or Sutu Museum is in UNIVERSITY SQUARE in the center of Bucharest. It is a small building but full of history and where you will learn everything about the history of the Romanian Capital. Since we have been living in Bucharest for more than 20 years, we use to visit it quite often. It is a charming Neo-Gothical construction. There are many temporary exhibitions at Sutu Palace. Only few people know that in 1830s, one could get to the palace especially by horse-drawn carriage. Also, more than 100 years later, the nowadays museum was a few official acts away from demolition.

WHAT TO SEE AT SUTU MUSEUM

There are many temporary exhibitions. They usually last one year or more, so no matter the season you visit Bucharest, you have the chance to see interesting pieces of history. We learned here about Bucharest in the Middle Ages and also about the Romanian Revolution in 1989, for example.

MUSEUM OF BUCHAREST TICKETS AND TIMETABLE

Sutu Palace is open for visitors from Wednesday to Sunday, so it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. You can see the exhibitions from 10 AM to 6 PM. If you plan to visit the museum and you need guidance, you should know that this is possible only with reservation and only for groups.

A ticket is 14 RON. Children under 7 years old do not have to pay anything. Fees might change, so you should better check the museum website.

WHO BUILT MUSEUM OF BUCHAREST

Two great architects, Johann Veit and Conrad Schwink, built this house between 1833 and 1835. A boyar called Grigore Sutu had the land and decided he needed a house. Later, in 1863, the well-known architect Karl Stork built inside the house the monumental stairs you can see today.

MUSEUM OF BUCHAREST HISTORY

The inner glass, in front of the stairs came from Murano. Thus, Bucharest Museum became a more interesting building for the boyars of the time. The owner’s mark was carved at the entrance. But because it looked like the state mark, Lord Alexandru Ioan Cuza removed it.

In the late 19th century, the house is the heritage of a Sutu’s nephew, Grigore Sutu who built a greenhouse just where The University of Bucharest is today. This palace became one of the most visited places by local aristocracy for parties, musical and literary meetings. The story of this place is similar to that of the nowadays MUSEUM OF ART COLLECTIONS IN BUCHAREST.

BUCHAREST MUSEUM AND UNIVERSITY SQUARE

After Grigore Sutu died, the building housed the headquarters of the Town Hall in 1932. Ten years later became the House of Economics, the state bank, now CEC. It was the moment when the managers of the bank wanted to demolish the construction. Only chance and beaurocracy saved it. Bucharest Museum came into being here in 1956. The state reconditionted it between 1957 and 1958.

SUTU PALACE CONSTRUCTION STYLE

Now, one can notice the Romantic influence in architecture. We are talking about 4 towers on two sides of the building. At the entrance there is a metal and glass construction, as a piece of history, since in the 19th century this was the style for all boyars’ houses. Inside, you will see a monumental hall with the stairs that divide the palace. If you want to learn more about the cultural life of Bucharest and Romania in nowadays, you can visit, in the House of Parliament, the Contemporary Art Museum.

400.000 OBJECTS TO SEE

The first floor has got 12 rooms. It is here where permanent exhibitions are. If you are to travel to Bucharest, you should know that temporary exhibitions are also to be seen here on different occasions. What is very interesting in Bucharest Museum is the ceiling which is made under Pompey influence. Also the natural, original parquet is a piece of history. The Bucharest Museum is house for more than 400.000 objects, pieces of history, in thematic rooms, like archaeological pieces, medals, seals, coins( that can be usually seen at the MUSEUM OF THE ROMANIAN NATIONAL BANK), documents( if you are interested in original manuscripts you can find them at BUCHAREST LITERATURE MUSEUM), maps, pictures and even guns, all of them being part of Bucharest history from its beginning to nowadays. Exhibits of the BUCHAREST ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY are also housed here.
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