Palatul Culturii (Palace of Culture), Iasi (must see)

Palatul Culturii (Palace of Culture) is one of Romania’s major historical and cultural landmarks. Built between 1906 and 1925 on the site of the former Princely Court of Moldavia, it first served administrative and judicial functions. Designed by architect I. D. Berindey in Neo-Gothic style, the palace combines medieval references with early twentieth-century civic ambition. Its tower, pointed arches, decorative stonework, and large façades give the building a strong presence.

The palace stands on ground closely linked to Moldavia’s rulers. Archaeological excavations revealed remains of the medieval Princely Court, including walls and earlier structures, some of which can still be seen today. The 55-meter Clock Tower contains large clock faces decorated with stained glass signs of the Zodiac, as well as a carillon that plays “Hora Unirii,” a song associated with the union of the Romanian principalities.

The building was planned with 365 rooms, one for each day of the year, but today it has 298 rooms spread across more than 34,000 square meters. Some interiors also hide unusual technical details. In several ornate ceilings, inventor Henri Coandă used bois-ciment, a patented fire-resistant material made from cement and wood fibers to imitate carved oak. During WWII, it served as barracks for German and later Soviet troops.

Today, the palace houses a large museum complex with four main museums: History, Ethnography, Art, and Science and Technology. Visitors can see archaeological finds, costumes, art, scientific instruments, and a mammoth skull about 350,000 years old. The Hall of Honour features mosaics, stained glass, and a skylight once intended for an indoor greenhouse.