The Palace of Culture, Emblem of the City of Iași

In the cultural capital of Moldavia, Iași, there are numerous special tourist attractions, including the Palace of Culture.

The whole project was handled by the architect Ion D. Berindey, and the building was built between 1906 and 1925.

According to statistics, the Palace of Culture is among the most photographed tourist attractions in the whole county, which does not surprise us, given the beauty of the whole ensemble.

Geographically, the Palace of Culture is right in the centre of the city of Iași, so tourists can find it easily. Built in line with European palaces, the Palace of Culture includes a variety of architectural styles, among them the Romantic, neo-Gothic and neo-Baroque. The palace’s central tower, over 55 metres high, is also remarkable.

“The Hall of Honour” is the first room visitors enter, and is also in the neo-Gothic style. At the end of the hall there is a vault decorated with stained glass, which catches everyone’s attention.

While in the first part of the building the style used was austere, in the second part decorative elements of Baroque inspiration appeared. On the balcony many zoomorphic elements were created, and the floor illustrates various fantastic animals, such as dragons, griffins and double-headed eagles.

The staircases are truly grand, made of Carrara marble, and the Voivodes’ Hall on the upper floor is the most beautiful in the whole Palace of Culture.

The name of this room has special symbolism, coming from the famous gallery of portraits of the rulers of Moldavia (Trajan, Decebalus, Aurelian).

The building’s fame is also due to the tower clock. Every hour, “Hora Unirii” rings out, to the delight of tourists.

The years before the First World War were quite difficult for Romania, which made it hard to organise the inauguration ceremony of the Palace of Culture. Even so, on 11 October 1925 the long-awaited event took place, attended by both the royal family and the leading figures of the day. Although it was originally built to serve as the Administrative and Justice Palace, from 1955 it was turned into the Palace of Culture.

At present, the building houses the Moldova National Museum Complex. This ensemble includes the History Museum of Moldavia, the “Ștefan Procopiu” Science and Technology Museum, the Ethnographic Museum of Moldavia, the Art Museum and the Centre for the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage.

In recent years the famous palace has been renovated, and all the work was carried out with great care, precisely so as not to affect the building’s original appearance.

The whole area is truly spectacular, visited by a very large number of tourists. Whether you choose to stroll in the palace gardens or want to discover the rooms inside, you will enjoy a unique experience. Dozens of lights animate the Palace of Culture at night too, turning it into a fairy-tale place.

Read also: What can you visit in the capital of Moldavia? The main sights in Iași