Sights in Târgu Mureş (Marosvásárhely)
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Culture Palace
By far Târgu Mureş' top attraction dominates the square's southwestern corner, the Culture Palace, the city's beloved landmark. Built in 1911-13, the secessionist-style building is unlike anything you'll find around Transylvania. Inside its glittering, tiled, steepled roofs are ornate hallways, colourful walls, giant mirrors imported from Venice, and an often-used concert hall (with a dramatic 4463-pipe organ). Not to mention several worthwhile museums (all included in the entry price).
The best is the Hall of Mirrors (Sala Oglinzi), with 12 stained-glass windows lining a 45m hallway - a tape in various languages explains the Székely fairy tales each portrays. The Art M…
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Teleki Library/Bolyai Museum
Heading halfway down Piaţa Trandafirilor, the side-street Str Bolyai leads east to the interesting Teleki Library/Bolyai Museum, a two-part museum that takes on two different angles to the city's past. More famous is Teleki Library, which includes 230,000 (and counting) rare books that stems from Samule Teleki's (Austrian chancellor to the city) donation to the city in 1802.
Modest chickenwire encases simple displays. The adjoining Bolyai Museum is dedicated to Târgu Mureş sons Farks and János, 19th century mathematicians and excellers in non-Euclidian geometry; if that's boring to you, father/son scalps and skull parts are displayed side by side.
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City Museum
A block northeast of Piaţa Trandafirilor, the huge Citadel dates from 1492, but was rebuilt in 1602. On its southern end, and accessed separately from the rest, is the Reform Church (1491), with the nicest grounds. Gates lead into the main area from either side, but easiest from the northeastern side. The most appealing attraction, in the 1492 gate tower on the western wall, is a small City Museum, with pottery fragments and old decrees.
There's a small information office near the northern gate; English-speaking staff can tell you if a concert or special exhibit is going on in the citadel.
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Weekend Park
Târgu Mureş sure loves the Weekend Park, 2.5km north of the centre. A bit scrappy, the complex is along a river-fed canal, with a couple of giant pools, a few kids' pools, beach volleyball area, and plenty of places for beer and meat. It's certainly where the action is on hot summer weekends. Take Str Revoluţiei north, then go left on Str Luntraşilor. You can also rent bungalows here, or pitch a tent.
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Ethnographic Museum
On the square's western side, just past adjoining Piaţa Teatrul, is the simple Ethnographic Museum, housed in the baroque Toldalagi Palace (1762). The collection of traditional fabrics, pots, looms and tools are dryly explained in English.
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Archaeological Museum
The Art Museum (2nd floor) houses many large late-19th and early 20th-century paintings; the Archaeological Museum explains Dacian pieces found in the region (English subtitles).
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Art Museum
The Art Museum houses many large late-19th and early 20th-century paintings; the Archaeological Museum (1st floor) explains Dacian pieces found in the region (English subtitles).
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D
Synagogue
A block west is an ornate and well-preserved Synagogue from 1900. Before WWII, 5500 Jews lived in Târgu Mureş, now only about 100 live here.
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Children's Library
The lovely Culture Palace houses a children's library filled with fanciful decorations and displays.
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