The palace is a category A listed monument, and the National Gallery upstairs shows five centuries of art in 15 rooms, with works by Grigorescu, Andreescu, Luchian and Tonitza.
About the place
The palace was designed by the German architect Johann Eberhard Blaumann for György Bánffy, later governor of Transylvania. Four wings surround an inner courtyard, with arcades on the ground floor and columns above, and the façade facing the square carries the family coat of arms held by griffins and statues of ancient gods carved by Anton Schuchbauer.
The Art Museum, founded in 1951, moved in in 1962 and opened to the public in 1965. The National Gallery fills 15 rooms upstairs with 138 paintings and 15 sculptures: Transylvanian icons, the Gothic altarpiece from Jimbor, 18th- and 19th-century portraits and works by Theodor Aman, Nicolae Grigorescu, Ion Andreescu, Ștefan Luchian, Nicolae Tonitza and Theodor Pallady.
Good to know
- The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; last entry to the rooms is at 16:30.
- Tickets can also be bought online at bilete.macluj.ro.
- The museum offers guided tours and workshops; book them ahead by phone or e-mail.
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 10–17 |
| Thursday | 10–17 |
| Friday | 10–17 |
| Saturday | 10–17 |
| Sunday | 10–17 |
Hours may change on public holidays. Check before you go.