Discover Craiova: Art, Architecture and Gardens

If you are looking for a hotel in Craiova, you can plan your stay around the city’s cultural highlights: art collections, churches, green spaces and events each offer a different focus. Some places tell the story of architectural history, while others showcase art or regional culture. The recurring events also differ in their timing and frequency.

Art at the Jean Mihail Palace

The Craiova Art Museum is housed in the Jean Mihail Palace. The French architect Paul Gottereau designed the building, which was constructed between 1900 and 1907. The history of the building and the art collection therefore share the same cultural setting. The museum holds more than 4,000 works of art. The Romanian Art Gallery includes works by Constantin Brâncuși; individual exhibitions may change.

A look at Craiova’s heritage also leads to older buildings. Casa Băniei is the city’s oldest civilian building and was rebuilt in 1699 by Constantin Brâncoveanu. The Ethnography Section of the Muzeul Olteniei presents traditional Romanian cultural creations from the historic cultural region of Oltenia in the building. This focus differs from the art collection at the Jean Mihail Palace: here, the emphasis is on the cultural traditions of a particular region.

The archive of the Museum of the Book and Romanian Exile “Cenaclul de la Neuilly” offers another, more specialized perspective. It includes manuscripts, extracts, legal and administrative documents, written records, handwritten notes and correspondence. The documents relate to creative activity in French exile under the guidance of cultural patron Leonid Mămăligă. This adds a perspective on written records and exile to the art and ethnographic collections.

Churches and architectural history

The Sf. Dumitru Church is considered Craiova’s oldest place of worship and is a tourist attraction. The Sf. Nicolae-Brândușa Church is also part of the city’s religious architectural history: it is a historic monument of religious architecture dating from the 18th century. The Sfânta-Treime Church complex also dates from the 18th century and is located in central Craiova.

The Madona Dudu Bishop’s Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of the Mother of God, offers another historical landmark. It was built between 1750 and 1756 in the Brâncovenesc style. These buildings illustrate different aspects of religious architecture and history. If you would like to plan a city walk, you can follow Calea Unirii: the route passes through parks and gardens before reaching the old centre.

Gardens and urban green spaces

The Botanical Garden of the University of Craiova was founded in 1952. Its areas are organized according to various criteria, including systematic sectors, sectors dedicated to the floristic provinces of the world and Romania, and areas for cultivated plants. There is also a nursery, a rose garden, greenhouses and areas for ornamental plants. This layout makes the garden a topic in its own right, with botanical collections and plant areas as distinct points of interest.

English Park offers a different focus. The English-style garden in the city centre was laid out during the interwar period and features low shrubs, flower beds and a fountain. In contrast with the Botanical Garden, the focus here is on English garden design and its described features. Together with a walk along Calea Unirii, these green spaces create a distinct focus alongside the museums and historic buildings.

Events throughout the year

Recurring cultural events include the Târgul meșterilor populari. It takes place every year in the second decade of October, with leading craftspeople from across Romania taking part. The Shakespeare Festival follows a different schedule: it is held every two years in April and May. These two time frames provide a clear distinction for travel planning, but they are not interchangeable. Check the specific event dates and programmes before planning your trip.

The sights and cultural offerings provide a range of points of interest, without requiring you to limit your stay to just one focus.

Discover more destinations: Başcov, Vârtop, Coţofenii Din Faţă, Călăraşi, Podari, Bechet, Calafat, Pielești.

For the wider travel overview: Dolj.