Muzeul Național "Brukenthal"

The museum is absolutely stunning. The building itself is gorgeous and you can really see the Baroque and Rococo style in the furniture and interior design. Inside, you’ll find impressive masterpieces by great artists such as Nicolae Grigorescu and Ștefan Luchian, alongside fascinating pieces from Samuel von Brukenthal’s own collection — it’s a wonderful way to see his passions and interests come to life. The staff are incredibly kind and helpful, always ready to offer guidance or answer questions. Even the garden and courtyard are beautiful and worth spending time in. Overall, it was an outstanding experience, a true highlight of Sibiu that I recommend.

The museum is really big covering most of Brukental's Palace, but I can assure you that won't get bored at all. The collection covered here is top-notch, and for an insanely small entrance fee, you have a lot of art and sculptures (if you can access the lapidarium) to enjoy.

We only visited the European Art Gallery, which is a very lavish display of Baroque art, statues and everyday objects from that period of time. It is a must for any admirer of the fine arts and also for the cat lovers, since you’ll find its mascots, Antonello and Donatello, roaming all over the interior garden 😄

The Brukenthal Palace represents one of the Baroque treasures of Central Europe. The construction of this imposing edifice had no other purpose, from the very beginning, than the creation of a propitious background for the conservation of an art collection and of antiquities having an inestimable value.

The most notable aspect of this museum is its second floor, which houses a remarkable collection. However, the overall experience was somewhat disappointing. Unfortunately, there was a lack of information provided about the majority of the pieces, and the organization of the exhibits seemed disjointed, transitioning abruptly between religious artifacts, contemporary art, and 17th-century relics. Additionally, the museum staff was rather intrusive, following us closely throughout our visit and engaging in distracting conversations among themselves.

For Romania nice paintings from Cranach, Bruegel, Rubens, Jordaens and Italian masters. Also many Romanian paintings. There are more paintings than expected if you look at the facade of the building, a former Palace. For one ticket one can visit the European and Romanian collection. I was less satisfied with the personel. I was taking pictures when a lady asked me if I had paid for my camera. I didn't because at the ticket counter there was no mentioning of a photo tax. See proof of my photos. Looking at the website it is for professional photography. My camera is a compact camera with a small sensor. Nowhere near a professional camera like a DSLR or other full frame or 4/3 inch. It would cost RON 500, €100!. One can take pictures with a smartphone though. I advised the lady at the ticket booth to draw one line, because it is ridiculous that you can't take pictures. Old times persist in this museum.

Impressive museum with impressive paintings and different exhibits. They have 2 exhibitions: European and Romanian, for each one you have to pay a different entrance fee. I was disappointed about the staff (one person, not all of them). She ask me to don’t take pictures. I’ve visited a lot of museums and I’ve never seen this kind of attitude before, but this is only in my country. Most of the museums don’t have this policy, but on the contrary being happy when people are taking pictures and sharing them on social media, because they know this will help them to get more visibility and be promoted by tourists. Unfortunately we still have this communism mindset. 🫤 But I still took pictures 🤘

Despite the challenges facing the Brukenthal Museum, it remains a vital cultural institution in Transilvania and serves as a testament to the region's rich cultural heritage. With its extensive collection of artworks and historical artifacts, it plays a vital role in preserving and sharing the cultural and artistic heritage of not only Transilvania but also Europe. In recent years, the museum has taken steps to address some of the challenges it faces. The museum has undergone renovations and restoration work to address issues with the building's preservation, including the restoration of the Baroque-style architecture and interior furnishings. Additionally, initiatives have been introduced to expand the museum's collection and programs to attract more visitors and to provide a more engaging visitor experience. However, more work needs to be done to ensure the museum is accessible to all visitors, especially elderly and disabled visitors. The museum should also consider introducing adequate facilities for comfortable visitor experiences, such as rest areas and drinking fountains. In conclusion, the Brukenthal Museum is a valuable and essential institution that holds significant historical and cultural significance for Transilvania and the wider Europe. As such, it is essential to ensure that the museum receives the necessary support it needs to address the challenges it faces. Through these initiatives, the museum can continue serving its role as a source of knowledge, cultural preservation, and artistic excellence for generations to come.