Craiova can be explored through its art collections, architectural history and green urban spaces. For a cultural trip, there are several themes to choose from: the art museum in Jean Mihail Palace, historic civil and religious architecture, gardens with distinct characteristics, and cultural events held at certain times of the year. You can shape your stay around the theme that interests you most, while also checking whether an event date fits your travel dates.
Art and Architectural History
The Craiova Art Museum is housed in Jean Mihail Palace, built between 1900 and 1907 to designs by French architect Paul Gottereau. The museum has a cultural collection of more than 4,000 works of art. The Romanian Art Gallery includes works by Constantin Brâncuși; individual displays may change. The venue thus brings together the history of a specific palace and an extensive art collection.
Casa Băniei is Craiova’s oldest civil building and was rebuilt in 1699 by Constantin Brâncoveanu. At Casa Băniei, the ethnography section of the Muzeul Olteniei presents traditional Romanian cultural creations from the cultural-historical region of Oltenia. In contrast to the art museum’s focus on works of art, the emphasis here is on the region’s traditional cultural creations.
Craiova’s religious architecture can also be explored through specific buildings and dates. Sf. Dumitru Church is Craiova’s oldest place of worship and a tourist attraction. Sf. Nicolae-Brândușa Church is a historic monument of religious architecture dating from the 18th century. The architectural complex of Sfânta-Treime Church lies in central Craiova; it also dates from the 18th century. Madona Dudu Bishop’s Cathedral, also called the Cathedral of the Mother of God, was built between 1750 and 1756 in the Brâncovenesc style.
Gardens and City Walks
The Botanical Garden of the University of Craiova was founded in 1952. Its layout includes systematic sections, areas devoted to the floristic provinces of the world and Romania, areas for cultivated plants, a nursery, a rose garden, greenhouses and ornamental plant areas. The garden therefore offers a range of points of reference, from systematic and geographical classifications to horticultural themes.
English Park is in central Craiova and was laid out as an English garden during the interwar period. Its design includes low shrubs, flowerbeds and a fountain. Unlike the Botanical Garden’s thematic layout, the emphasis here is on the garden style and specific design features. For a city walk, Calea Unirii can lead through parks and gardens to the old centre. This route offers a way to include both green urban spaces and the old centre in the same walk.
Cultural Events and Collections
Târgul meșterilor populari takes place annually in the second ten days of October, with representative craftspeople from across Romania taking part. Dates and programme may change. The Shakespeare Festival follows a different schedule: it takes place every two years in April and May, although specific dates and programmes vary. The events therefore differ in their timing and frequency: the crafts fair is an annual October event, while the festival is a biennial spring event. Check the specific dates and programmes before travelling.
The archive of the Museum of the Book and Romanian Exile “Cenaclul de la Neuilly” offers another way to explore cultural history. It contains manuscripts, excerpts, legal and administrative documents, written records, handwritten notes and correspondence relating to creative activity in French exile under the supervision of cultural patron Leonid Mămăligă. Unlike the art collection and architecture, the focus here is on written records and activity in French exile.
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For the broader travel overview: Dolj.
