The Romanian capital and the historic region of Transylvania (Transylvania) are home to some of the most impressive museums dedicated to Romanian folklore. Each presents unique aspects of the rich folk culture of this fascinating country.

The National Village Museum (Muzeul Național al Satului) in Bucharest is one of the oldest and largest open-air museums in Europe. Founded in 1936, it occupies an impressive area of 10 hectares on Lake Herăstrău. It's a real gem for lovers of folk architecture - the museum has more than 300 authentic buildings relocated from different regions of Romania. Walking among the traditional huts, churches, windmills and craftsmen's workshops, you can take a fascinating journey through the Romanian countryside from the 18th to the 20th century. Of particular interest are wooden churches from Maramureş and traditional farms from the Moldavian region. The museum holds regular craft demonstrations, where you can observe traditional techniques of pottery making, weaving or wood carving.

In contrast to the sprawling open-air museum, The National Museum of the Romanian Peasant offers a more condensed but equally fascinating exhibition. Housed in an imposing neo-Romanian building dating back to 1912, the museum was honored in 1996 with the prestigious European Museum of the Year award. Its collection includes thousands of artifacts - from traditional folk costumes to everyday objects to impressive icons painted on glass. A unique part of the exhibition is the 'Hall of Crosses' - a collection of hand-carved grave crosses that bear witness to folk spirituality and artistry. The museum is also famous for its reconstructions of traditional interiors of peasant houses, which allow you to feel the atmosphere of the old Romanian countryside.

Moving to Transylvania, it is impossible to miss the 'Astra' museum complex in Sibiu, which is the largest open-air museum in Southeast Europe. It extends over an area of 96 hectares around a picturesque lake in the Dumbrava forest. The museum displays more than 400 objects of folk architecture, including unique constructions related to traditional crafts and rural industry. Particularly fascinating are the water-powered workshops - mills, mills, and sawmills, which bear witness to the ingenuity of the old Romanian villagers. 'Astra' is not just a display of buildings - it's a living museum, with regular folklore festivals, craft demonstrations and workshops for visitors. It's worth planning a visit during one of the events to experience authentic Romanian folklore in action.

Complementing your visit to Transylvania should be the Ethnographical Museum of Transylvania in Cluj-Napoca. Founded in 1922, it is one of the oldest ethnographic museums in Romania. Its collection includes more than 50,000 artifacts, including an impressive collection of traditional folk costumes, ceramics, furniture and agricultural tools. The museum consists of two parts - an exhibition in the historic Reduta Palace and an open-air museum in Hoia Park. The open-air museum collects 33 objects of folk architecture characteristic of Transylvania, including unique wooden churches and secler gates richly decorated with woodcarving. Of particular interest is the collection of painted dowry chests, which were an important part of wedding traditions in the region.

Beyond the major tourist destinations, Romania hides real museum gems that often escape the attention of the average tourist. However, these lesser-known establishments offer an extremely authentic look at local folklore and traditions.

The picturesque town of Curtea de Argeș, the former capital of Wallachia, is home to the intimate but extremely richly collected Municipal Museum of Ethnography and Folklore. Located in the historic center of the city, the museum displays a fascinating collection of artifacts related to daily life, rituals and crafts of the Argeș region. Particularly impressive is the collection of traditional folk costumes, which feature rich embroidery and unique designs characteristic of southern Romania. The museum is also famous for its collection of ceramics from the nearby pottery center of Horezu, a UNESCO Intangible Heritage Site. Ceramics from Horezu, decorated with distinctive rooster, star and spiral motifs, are one of the most recognizable elements of Romanian folk crafts. Unlike larger museums, here you can count on an intimate atmosphere and personal contact with the curators, who passionately share their knowledge of local traditions.

Moving to the north of the country, in picturesque Bukovina, visit the remarkable Museum of Wooden Spoons (The Museum of Wooden Spoons) in Câmpulung Moldovenesc. This is the only place of its kind in Europe, and perhaps the world, devoted entirely to one seemingly mundane object. The collection includes more than 3,000 wooden spoons from various regions of Romania and beyond. Each spoon is a small work of art, telling the story of the region from which it comes - through the patterns, carving technique and wood used. Especially fascinating are the love spoons (linguri de dragoste), richly decorated and given as a token of affection to a loved one. The museum shows how much can be learned about a region's culture and traditions by examining one seemingly simple everyday object. It's a place that changes the perspective of looking at folk applied art.

Also in the same city is The Museum of Ethnography and Folk Art, which perfectly complements a visit to the Museum of Wooden Spoons. This establishment focuses on showcasing the rich traditions of Bukovina, a region famous for its painted monasteries and unique craftsmanship. The collection includes traditional costumes, ceramics, woodwork and unique Bukovina Easter eggs, decorated with batik technique. Particularly valuable is the exhibition devoted to traditional weaving and embroidery, which have reached an extraordinary artistic level in Bukovina. The museum also organizes workshops where you can learn traditional techniques for decorating Easter eggs or the basics of weaving.

In the Danube Delta region, in the city of Tulcea, there is the Museum of Ethnography and Folklore, which presents unique aspects of life in this fascinating ecosystem. The Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is not only a unique nature reserve, but also a place where a specific culture associated with living among the waters, fishing and exploiting the delta's natural resources has been formed over the centuries. The museum showcases traditional boats, fishing tools, reed weaving techniques and the unique folk costumes of communities living in the delta, including descendants of Zaporozhian Cossacks and Old Russian Believers who found refuge here from religious persecution. The exhibition shows how the natural environment shaped the material and immaterial culture of the region's inhabitants, creating unique traditions that have survived to this day.

In southwestern Romania, in the Oltenia region, is the fascinating Museum of Popular Architecture of Gorj (Museum of Popular Architecture of Gorj) in Curtișoara. The open-air museum is located around a historic boyar mansion (cula) dating back to the 18th century and showcases the traditional architecture and crafts of the Gorj region, known for its rich artistic traditions. More than 40 structures have been gathered on an area of 13 hectares, including the region's characteristic houses with porches supported by carved columns, craft workshops, water mills and windmills. The Gorj region is the homeland of Constantin Brâncuși, one of the most outstanding sculptors of the 20th century, whose work was deeply rooted in the local sculptural tradition. The museum also showcases the region's rich ceramic traditions, especially the distinctive red ceramics of Horez, and unique woodworking techniques.

In addition to the large museum complexes, Romania also offers smaller establishments, often overlooked by tourists, which nevertheless hide real ethnographic treasures and allow for a more intimate encounter with Romanian folklore.

One such place is the 'Nicolae Minovici' Folk Art Museum in Bucharest. Housed in an unusual Neo-Romanian-style villa designed by Nicolae Minovici himself in the early 20th century, the museum displays an impressive collection of folk art amassed by the Minovici family. Brothers Nicolae and Dumitru Minovici pioneered the appreciation and collection of Romanian folk art at a time when it was often undervalued by the elite. The collection includes more than 6,000 pieces, including unique icons painted on glass, traditional costumes, ceramics and folk furniture. Particularly valuable is the collection of wooden grave crosses from Maramureş, a unique example of folk sacred art. Unlike larger museums, here you can enjoy the exhibits in the authentic surroundings of a traditional Romanian home, which creates a unique, intimate atmosphere. The villa is a work of art in itself, combining elements of traditional Romanian architecture with early 20th century modernist solutions.

It's worth comparing this intimate museum with the gigantic 'Astra' complex in Sibiu. While 'Astra' offers a panoramic view of Romanian folk culture with the opportunity to walk among hundreds of objects on the sprawling grounds, the Minovici Museum allows for a closer, more detailed look at individual exhibits in an intimate setting. Ticket prices are comparable - both museums offer admission in a price range described as 'cheap,' but visiting the 'Astra' complex requires much more time due to its vast grounds.

Another hidden gem is the Câmpulung Museum of Ethnography and Folk Art, located in a historic building in the center of this picturesque town in the Muscel region. The museum showcases the unique traditions of the region, which is famous for making traditional folk costumes with exceptionally rich embroidery and distinctive ceramics. Of particular interest is the collection of traditional masks used during winter rituals and caroling. These colorful, often frightening animal masks were used in ritual dances meant to ensure fertility and prosperity in the coming year. The museum also displays a reconstruction of a traditional house interior from the Muscel region, with distinctive woven carpets (scoarțe) and hand-painted furniture. Unlike the National Village Museum in Bucharest, which displays architecture from all over the country, here you can focus on the specifics of one lesser-known region.

It's worth noting the differences between the various museums in terms of accessibility and infrastructure. While the large museums in Bucharest and Sibiu offer extensive tourist infrastructure, guides in multiple languages and modern amenities, the smaller establishments often operate in a more traditional manner. The Museum of Wooden Spoons in Câmpulung Moldovenesc or the Museum of Ethnography and Folklore in Tulcea boast a more personal approach to visitors, but are less likely to offer informational materials in languages other than Romanian. On the other hand, it is in these smaller museums that one can often find enthusiasts of local folklore enthusiastically sharing their knowledge.

In terms of exhibits, each of the museums described has its own specialty. The National Village Museum and the 'Astra' complex focus on architecture and the reconstruction of entire farms, while the Museum of the Romanian Peasant and the Minovici Museum emphasize movable exhibits - costumes, tools, everyday objects. The Museum of Wooden Spoons is unique in its narrow specialization, showing how deeply even a seemingly simple element of material culture can be explored.

Regardless of the museum you choose, each offers a fascinating journey into the depths of Romanian folk culture. From monumental open-air museums to intimate collections, from a broad cross-section of traditions from across the country to an in-depth look at regional specifics, Romania's ethnographic museums are a veritable treasure trove of knowledge about one of the richest folk traditions in Europe. For lovers of folklore, Romania remains a destination that still offers authentic cultural experiences and the opportunity to experience traditions that have already disappeared in many parts of Europe.