Discover the Țării Crișurilor Museum in Oradea: A Fascinating Journey through the Region’s History and Culture

The Țării Crișurilor Museum in Oradea is a cultural gem worth exploring, offering a captivating journey into the history and traditions of the Crișana region. For first-time visitors, it is important to know that the museum hosts a valuable collection of exhibits, each with its own story to tell.

With a museum collection of 450,000 objects, the Țării Crișurilor Museum impresses archaeology, history, and art enthusiasts, as well as curious visitors who walk through its doors.

Let’s explore together three important reasons why this museum is a must-visit!

Art and History Collection

The Țării Crișurilor Museum is renowned for its diverse and valuable collection of art and historical artifacts. Among the most important items are icons, religious objects, traditional furniture, folk costumes, and pottery. These exhibits offer a fascinating perspective on the traditions and craftsmanship of the people of Crișana over time. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions featuring contemporary artists and relevant cultural events.

Ethnography Section

One of the most impressive sections of the museum is the ethnography department, which showcases the daily life of the people from the Crișana region. Here, visitors can see authentic reconstructions of traditional homes, rustic furniture, folk musical instruments, and specific household items. Visiting this section feels like traveling back in time to a world full of traditions and captivating stories.

Cultural and Educational Events

The Țării Crișurilor Museum regularly organizes cultural and educational events designed to bring the public closer to the region’s history and culture. These events include lectures, creative workshops, concerts, and themed exhibitions. Participating in these activities gives you the opportunity to interact with experts in the field and enrich your knowledge of Crișana in an interactive and engaging way.

Since the Țării Crișurilor Museum recently benefited from European funding, effectively used through the project “MAJOR REPAIRS AND INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE NEW HEADQUARTERS – ȚĂRII CRIȘURILOR MUSEUM – COURTYARD ARRANGEMENT AND SPECIAL MUSEUM FITTINGS”, SMIS Code 116702, Priority Axis 5 – IMPROVING THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND PRESERVING, PROTECTING AND VALORIZING CULTURAL HERITAGE; Funding Contract No. 651/11.12.2017, with BIHOR COUNTY COUNCIL as the project beneficiary, it is worth highlighting a few key points.

The general objective of the project was to stimulate local development and enhance local cultural heritage by restoring and promoting the Țării Crișurilor Museum as a cultural heritage site in Oradea.

This overarching goal aligns the project with the specific objective of investment priority 5.1 – Conservation, protection, promotion, and development of natural and cultural heritage, as well as stimulating local development through the preservation and valorization of cultural heritage and identity.

The project is also consistent with the Sectoral Strategy in the Field of Culture and National Heritage 2014–2020. According to this document, the following main action directions were identified for the medium and long term (2017–2018), and the implementation of this project aligns with them: developing spaces for proper exhibition and storage of collections and existing heritage, modernizing technical facilities, and increasing awareness among local authorities and communities about the significance of museums in contemporary society.

Given that the valorization of tourism potential was identified as a strategic objective of Bihor County, the project’s general objective meets the priorities outlined in the Bihor County Sustainable Development Strategy 2014–2020. The project supports the enhancement of cultural heritage and is identified in this strategic document under Measure 3.2.2: Preservation and promotion of built heritage sites, sub-code T.3.2.2.6.

The specific objectives of the project included:

– Interior works and installations for the historical monument building housing the Țării Crișurilor Museum in Oradea.

– Arranging the public space in the museum’s courtyard by rehabilitating the main access gate (as part of the historical monument), clearing and landscaping green spaces, constructing an amphitheater, setting up a waiting area, repairing the fountain, paving pathways (including installing tactile paving for the visually impaired), creating parking areas, restoring the perimeter fence, restoring the guard cabin, vertical systematization, creating external utility networks, installing architectural lighting, and furnishing the outdoor area with urban furniture.

– Increasing the number of annual visitors to 30,000 starting from the first year after project completion, as a result of the restoration and promotion of the cultural heritage site. These specific objectives contribute to achieving the common and specific output indicators of the program for this investment priority, including: – Restored cultural heritage sites; – Increased number of projected visits to supported cultural and natural heritage sites and attractions. The project will significantly contribute to the specific objective of this investment priority—stimulating local development through the conservation, protection, and valorization of cultural heritage and identity—by enhancing the historical, artistic, natural, and ethnographic heritage of outstanding value held by the museum. Unfortunately, this heritage is not yet well known to the general public, and there has not been sufficient and effective promotion of the Țării Crișurilor Museum.

The project will highlight the museum’s exceptional exhibits and increase the number of tourists visiting the museum. Additionally, regarding the exterior area, several spatial adjustments will be made to meet minimum requirements for functionality, safety, and accessibility. This will greatly contribute to enhancing the cultural awareness of both tourists and the general population.

The building is located within the city limits of Oradea, at 1A Armatei Române Street, Bihor County, and is part of the Urban Ensemble – Oradea Historic Center. The project included:

– Interior interventions for furnishing existing rooms with props and special museum structures (non-structural elements), as well as arranging exhibition halls in Building A1 and permanent exhibitions in Building A, first floor and Lapidarium. Three sections will be arranged and equipped: THE NATURAL SCIENCES SECTION (Building A), THE HISTORY SECTION (Building A), and THE ART SECTION (Building A1).

– Exterior arrangements including the rehabilitation of the perimeter fence, restoration of the guard cabin, and landscaping while preserving and highlighting the existing layout.

Contact: 1/A Armatei Române Street, Postal code: 410087, Oradea, Bihor County Secretariat phone: +40259 706101 Fax: +40259 479918 E-mail: contact@mtariicrisurilor.ro Visiting hours: MONDAY – CLOSED TUESDAY–SUNDAY: April 1 – October 31: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM November 1 – March 31: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Vivarium visiting hours: April 1 – October 31: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM November 1 – March 31: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM Last admission: 30 minutes before closing time. Please note that visiting all exhibitions takes at least one hour. Ticket prices for permanent exhibitions: Adults: 15 lei/person Children over 4 years old, pupils, students, pensioners: 5 lei Ticket prices for temporary exhibitions: Adults: 10 lei/person Children over 4 years old, pupils, students, pensioners: 5 lei Vivarium ticket prices: Adults: 15 lei/person Children over 4 years old, pupils, students, pensioners: 10 lei Guided tour fee for the Țării Crișurilor Museum (groups of at least 15): Adults: +10 lei/ticket Pupils, students, pensioners: +5 lei/ticket Note: There are no guided tours at the Vivarium. Free admission to all exhibitions for children under 4, children from social care institutions, war veterans, persons with disabilities, and current and retired museum staff from the national network. Booking guided tours: Tuesday–Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM: 0771 740 400 Booking educational activities: 0772 081 499 Museum library hours: Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Saturday & Sunday: Closed Whether you are passionate about art, history, or simply wish to explore a new cultural destination, the Țării Crișurilor Museum in Oradea will delight you and offer a memorable experience. CONTACT DETAILS: PROJECT MANAGER Name: Mihai Palcu Position: Head of Investments Office – Technical Department – BIHOR COUNTY COUNCIL Phone: +40259 417950 Fax: +40259 410182 Email: directia_teh@cjbihor.ro Beneficiary contact details: Address: Oradea, 5 Traian Park Phone: +40259 410181 Fax: +40259 410182 Email: registratura@cjbihor.ro