Cluj-Napoca. What to visit in the capital of Transylvania? Large shopping centers. Banffy Palace, aka National Museum of Art

Cluj-Napoca is one of oldest cities countries. It is one of the main economic and cultural centers of Romania, located in the northwestern part of the country, in the center historical province Transylvania.

The double name of the city reflects its rich history, confirms the age and imprints of several successive cultures and civilizations.

"Napoca" was the name of a Danish and then a Roman city that stood here in ancient times, first mentioned in 108 AD. and then fell into desolation during the great migration of peoples.

"Cluj" is a Latin term that later replaced the term "Napoca". It comes from "Clasium", since the city was closed, sandwiched among the mountains. According to other sources, when the Hungarians settled here, the city, newly created in the 11th century, was named Kolozsvar, from which the simplified and Romanized form of Cluj gradually arose.

The first mention of the city dates back to 1213. As a fortified Dacian settlement, Napoca is mentioned in the writings of Ptolemy.

From the top of the hill opens a beautiful panorama. In the center of the city rises several old churches built in the Gothic style, and next to them - Orthodox churches. They serve as a reminder of the mixed ethnic composition of the inhabitants. This is also evidenced by many features of city life.

In the 15th century, the city became a prosperous economic and cultural center, and in the 19th century it was the administrative center of Transylvania.

On December 16, 1974, on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1850th anniversary of the first documentary evidence of the municipality, the city was named Cluj-Napoca. Cluj-Napoca and Cluj County is one of the most interesting tourist areas countries.

Here, tourists can see many ancient monuments: redoubts, monasteries and Gothic churches, which represent all European styles - from Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance to modernism.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Michael is impressive, the construction of which began in 1350 and lasted 200 years.

One of the Gothic churches was founded in 1486 by Matthew Corvinus, the Hungarian king and the Austrian emperor. The equestrian statue of the monarch flaunts in the city square.

The University, the National Theatre, the Museum of Art, the Historical Museum, the Ethnographic Museum - all these are monuments of architecture. Cluj-Napoca is also famous for its botanical garden, the largest in Romania.

The centrally located Reformed Church is famous for its organ and Renaissance sculptures, among which the composition "Saint George Slaying the Dragon" stands out.

The symbol of the city of Cluj-Napoca is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Michael, the construction of which began in 1350 and lasted almost two centuries. The altar, built around 1390, is the oldest part of the cathedral.

A little north of the central square, on Corvina Street, is the House of Matei Corvina - the oldest storey building in Cluj-Napoca. The house was built in the Gothic style with a transition to the Renaissance style. The future king of Hungary was born here.

One of the most attractive places in the city is the botanical garden. It was founded in 1872 and is the largest in Romania and one of the most famous in southeastern Europe. Here you can see the sections corresponding to the zones of Romania.

Useful information for tourists about Cluj-Napoca in Romania - geographical location, tourism infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

Cluj-Napoca is the largest city in Transylvania and one of the leading economic, cultural and educational centers in Romania. Located on the Somesh River in the northwestern part of the country. Getting there is more convenient by air There is an international airport eight kilometers from the city.

Machine-building, chemical and printing industries operate in the city. Of the food industry, cheese making is especially developed, there is a porcelain and faience production, furniture and shoe factories. Emerson and Bosch companies operate in the city. In general, the development of industry provides the inhabitants of Cluj-Napoca with a high standard of living.

The history of the place has more than 21 centuries. Even in the writings of Ptolemy it is mentioned as a fortified settlement of the Dacians. Emperor Trajan, who conquered Dacia in 101-105, founded a base of Roman legionnaires here called Napoca. Transylvania has always been a territory that attracted invaders and, soon after the collapse of Rome, it became part of Hungary. The Hungarians gave the settlement the name Kolozsvar. From him came the name Cluj. As a city, it was first mentioned in 1213. By the 15th century, it had already become a thriving economic center. The history of the city is a reflection of the rich history of Transylvania - with the heritage of several cultures and civilizations. The double name of the city, which he received in 1974, is a confirmation of this.

The city is called the Romanian Oxford or Cambridge of Romania - it is home to the largest and oldest university countries - Babes Boyai University of Cluj, other educational and academic institutions, as well as branches of the main universities of Romania. Students make up over a quarter of the city's population. And in 2015, Cluj-Napoca was awarded the status of "European Youth Capital - 2015". This annual brand is awarded following the results of an international competition for the promotion of new ideas and innovative projects in the field of youth policy development.

Few cities manage such a harmonious connection of the university city, industrial center and an old place rich in historical and architectural sights like Cluj-Napoca. The modern city in fact carefully preserves its historical roots. Most of the sights are concentrated in the historical center, which is best explored on foot. It is worth paying attention to the house of Matthias Korvin, the Hungarian king - the oldest storey building in the city, built in the Gothic style with Renaissance elements.

On one of the central squares there is a beautiful ancient building 16th century cathedral surrounded by fountains. There you can also see a majestic equestrian statue, or rather, a multi-figure composition dedicated to the same Hungarian king, Matthias Korvin. The square is a place beloved by the townspeople also because it hosts mass city events, concerts, and in winter they flood the skating rink.

The Catholic Church of St. Michael is located on another square. It is famous for its construction that lasted two centuries, as well as the neo-Gothic clock tower, the highest in Romania.

For lovers of antiquity, redoubts, bastions, the Franciscan monastery, palaces and houses in all architectural styles from gothic, renaissance and baroque to eclecticism. You can admire the panorama of the city from Chetetsuya Hill. Climbing the hill requires some physical preparation, but the fantastic view of the city is worth it. Behind one you can see the ancient fortress, located on a hill.

The city is full of museums, theaters, cinema complexes, cultural and entertainment centers and parks. One of the most attractive places is the botanical garden, the largest in the country. It presents the flora of all climatic zones of Romania, a beautiful rose garden, greenhouses with collections tropical plants and a charming Japanese garden.

Cluj-Napoca, aka Kolozsvár in Hungarian, aka Kloisenburg in Yiddish, is the second largest city after Bucharest, often appearing on the Internet as the “capital of Transylvania.” It really was so in the middle of the nineteenth century, but not all cats have a carnival. It was founded in the worn out second century AD, rose to the rank of the capital of the Dacian province, then was lost in time and surfaced already in the Middle Ages as part of Hungary. The Romanians liked it so much that the Austro-Hungarians could not resist and presented it. What you won't do for a good man with a gun. Since then, December 1 is celebrated in Romania as the Day of the Unification of Romania with Transylvania. It was a brief digression into history, and now on business.

There are as many as four bus stations in Cluj, which creates a real mess, but you will most likely end up at Autogara Fany (Fany is not after the Social Revolutionary, that's the name of the bus company). There is only one railway station, which pleases, and everything is clear with it. From Bucharest by train 9-10 hours, from Brasov - about 7. Yes, we still have wood-burning trains, but what did you think?

You can fly to Cluj from many places from Romania, Europe, and there is even a direct flight from Tel Aviv. Not from Russia.

Attractions:

Church of St. Michael (Biserica Sfantul Mihail) - such a healthy Catholic Church, By appearance- brother (iha? / Sister?) of the Black Church in. It was built in the 14th-15th centuries, when the authorities didn't put much pressure on deadlines. There are Italian, German, selfish and other motives. Sometimes it looks closed, but you pull the door, otherwise if it weren’t for the aunt who darted inside, we wouldn’t have guessed that it was open.

On the square next to the church there is a monument to Matthias the First, who notably ruled Hungary in the 15th century, drove the Turks, took Vienna, but at the same time was a progressive monarch and a far-sighted politician in every possible way. After him, the Hungarians did not come up with anything special, except for goulash and, but for this Thanks a lot. If anyone reaches the castle of Corvina, then you should know that Matthias' grandfather was granted for services to the fatherland, so that the apple did not fall far from the apple tree.

Assumption Cathedral (Catedrala Adormirea Maicii Domnului). Despite the relative newness, the cathedral was built in the twenties of the twentieth century, the building makes an impressive impression both outside and inside. The cathedral was erected in honor of the annexation of Transylvania to Romania in 1916. Inside it is dark and solemn, on Sundays a bunch of people take communion and listen to sermons (but this is a common thing for Romania). A huge iron chandelier under the ceiling is a gift from King Karol the First, the one who built it. True, he died before the cathedral began to be built, but let's not quibble.

Nearby stands a monument to Avram Jank, a revolutionary and fighter against the Hungarian government, the very thing that remained after Matthias. Here is such a light sculptural trolling.

The Franciscan church with a monastery is one of the oldest buildings in Cluj, built already in the 12th-13th centuries in the Romanesque style, then it was refurbished in the Gothic style, in the 18th century it was remade under the Baroque and already at the end of the 20th the whole salad was qualitatively restored. Inside, curly, gothic smells, but very weakly. For lovers of French curls - this is it.

If someone terribly wants more churches of all denominations and types - they are! But we had enough of the first two and another Biserica Studenților ASCOR, maramures-style, aka wooden gothic, in the student district. Enough about churches.

In pursuit of culture, you can visit the Cluj National Theater Cluj-Napoca National Theatre, Ethnographical museum Muzeul etnografic al Transilvaniei (they say it's good) and the Pharmaceutical Museum Muzeul de Farmaciei, I don't know how it is now with English on the tour, but they give out printouts, if anything. Opening hours are like in pharmacies - you need to check. 🙂

Due to the fact that there are a lot of students in Cluj, you can hang out there quite well. We were in three bars: Enigma and Joben Bistro - cool steampunk pubs, Joben cooler, but in Enigma we liked ceazar salad more. 🙂 Go there and there, you won't regret it, the prices are ridiculous anyway.

CLUJ-NAPOCA - a city on the se-ve-ro-for-pas-de-Rou-we-nii, the administrative center of jou-de-ca (county-yes) Cluj.

The population is 302.6 thousand people (2008; the 2nd largest city in the country after Bucharest). It is located on the Transylvanian Plateau, at the eastern spurs of the Bihor mountain range, on the Someshul-Mik River (Danube basin). Highway junction, railroad station. international Airport Somemes.

At the turn of the 1st-2nd centuries, during the Roman conquest of Dacia by the emperor Trajan, at the place of po-se-le-nia da-kov Na-po-ka (mention-mi-moose Pto-le-me-em) military camp was established. In the 1st half of the 2nd century, under the emperor Hadrian, the settlement received the status of a municipality (Municirium Aelium Hadrianum Napoca), in the 2nd half of the 2nd century, under the emperor Marcus Aurelius - a Roman colony. In the III century, for a short time, the capital of the province of Dacia and the residence of the procurator. In 271 or 272, after the attacks of the Germanic and Carp tribes, it was abandoned by the Romans.

In the subsequent period, the fortified settlement that existed on this site was called Kulus (hence the Romanian name Cluj). From the 11th-12th centuries, under the rule of Hungary, it received the Hungarian name Kolozsvâr (Kolozsvâr). In 1178-1180s, Hungarian Székelys (seklers) and Saxons were resettled in this area by the Hungarian kings. They actually rebuilt a new city, which later received the German name Klausenburg (Klausenburg). Developed rapidly after 1241.

Since 1270, the center of the Transylvanian bishopric. In 1316, under the Hungarian king Charles I, Robert received the status of civitas, since 1405 a free royal city. Birthplace of the Hungarian King Matthias Hunyadi. Since 1541 in the Principality of Transylvania, which recognized the suzerainty of the Turkish Sultan. In 1545-1570, the bulk of the German population left the city. In 1687, together with Transylvania, it was occupied by the troops of the Gabs-burgs, windows-cha-tel-no-re-went under their authority according to the decision of Kar-lo-vits-ko-go con-gres-sa 1698 -1699 years.

In the years 1790-1848 and 1861-1867 the capital of the Transylvanian Principality of the Habsburgs. After the creation in 1867 of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy as part of the Kingdom of Hungary. According to the Trianon Peace Treaty of 1920, he went to Romania. In 1940, according to the 2nd Vienna Arbitration (see the article Vienna Arbitrations of 1938, 1940), transferred to Hungary. In March 1944, it was occupied by German troops, and in October 1944 it was liberated by the Red Army. According to the Paris-sky peace before-go-in-frames of 1947, it was included in Romania. Cultural Center Hungarian national minority in Romania. Modern name since 1974.

The central part of Cluj-Napoca, the cultural and historical capital of the region of Transylvania, has preserved many monuments of gothic, renaissance and baroque architecture. On the main Unirius Square (Unification Square) - the Gothic Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Michael (1349-1487, neo-Gothic north tower- 1837-1862; in the interior - the Gothic chapel of Schleinig, murals - 1451-1481, Gothic sacristy with a portal in the Renaissance style - 1528, altar panel F. A. Maulberch - 1748-1750; in front of the cathedral - an equestrian statue of Matthias Hunyadi, 1902, sculptor J. Fadrus), a baroque palace of the Hungarian aristocratic Banfi family (1774-1785, architect I. E. Blauman).

Near the main square is the so-called Corvin House (1st half of the 15th century, the oldest residential building in Cluj-Napoca), where Matthias Hunyadi was born. On the neighboring A. Jancu Square - the Orthodox Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin in the neo-Byzantine style (1923-1933), the ec-lec-tic Palace of Justice (1898-1902, architect V. Gyula) and the building National Theater named after L. Blaga (1904-1906, architects F. Felner, G. Gelmer), a statue of the leader of the Romanian national movement A. Jancu. Unirii and A. Iancu squares are connected by Y. Maniu street, known as the “mirror street” (eclectic buildings of the 19th century located on both sides of it have symmetrical facades).

The fortifications of Cluj-Napoca (XIII-XVII centuries) with gates, towers, bastions (including the Tailors' Bastion, XV century, 1629) have been preserved; a late Gothic parish house (1477), a Renaissance house of Volphard-Kakas with sculptural decoration (late 16th century), a fortress on the left bank of the Someshul-Mik River (1715).

Among the churches are Gothic Reformation (1486-1516), Baroque Jesuit Holy Trinity (1718-1724) and Greek Catholic Preobrazhenskaya (1801-1803, architect J. Leder), Orthodox Holy Trinity (1795-1796), Evangelical (1816-1829), neo-Gothic Roman Catholic Apostles Peter and Paul (1844-1848), reformist Art Nouveau (1913-1914, architect K. Kosh).

Monasteries of Catholic orders: Benedictines in the Mainestour area (founded in 1060) with the Church of Calvary (the temple of Calvary, 1077-1095, restored in 1263, 1470-1508), Dominicans (later Franciscans; 1428-1529, partially rebuilt in XVIII century; main church - 1260-1290; Gothic cloister - 1442).

Among the buildings of the late XVIII - mid-XX century: the Teleki Palace (1790-1795, architect Leder), the classicist palace of Toldaldzhi-Korda (1801-1807, architect K. Justi), the house of Mauksh-Khints ( former building pharmacies, 1820s), city hall (1843-1846, architect A. Kagerbauer), neo-Gothic Seki Palace (1893), synagogue (1886-1887), neo-Renaissance building of the Babeš-Bolyai University (end of the 19th century), Institute of Physics and Chemistry in the style of functionalism (1939, architect D. Marcu). Among the monuments: the equestrian statue of St. George (1373, masters M. and D. Kolozhvari; installed in 1900-1904).

In the vicinity of Cluj-Napoca - the baroque palace of Banfi in the village of Bontsida, Nikulsky Monastery (XVIII century).

Illustration:

Cluj-on-on-on. View of the central part of the city. BRE archive.

Only when I saw Cluj-Napoca in the photographs, I realized: this is the city in which I will live. Seven years after that moment and five years since the first trip, I managed to realize this dream, and I did not regret a single day. Cluj-Napoca is the second largest city in Romania, it is developing dynamically and has a very active cultural life.

On the other hand, it conquers with its peaceful atmosphere. Walking along its streets and looking at the details of buildings, you don’t want to rush anywhere, and in some places time seems to have stopped.

Note the double name of the city. "Napoca" is the name of an ancient Roman military settlement. In the Middle Ages, the city that arose in its place received the name "Cluj" derived from Latin. The Hungarian name of the city is "Kolozsvár", and as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire it bore the German name "Klausenburg". After the annexation of Transylvania to Romania, the city again became known as Cluj, and the second name returned to it already in the 1970s.

How to get there?

The fastest and relatively cheap way is a flight with transfers. A little cheaper, but many times longer it will be possible to get by bus (it will also not do without transfers).

The only “direct” option to Cluj-Napoca from Russian cities is to go by car, but you will have to spend about two days on the way. It will take a long time and at the same time it will be very expensive to travel by train.

By plane

There are currently no direct flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Cluj-Napoca, but there are many options with transfers of different price categories.

From Moscow:

• Company LOT offers daily departures from Sheremetyevo Airport with transfers in Warsaw. The advantage of this option is the cost. Sometimes I managed to find round-trip tickets for 150 EUR, but on average I have to count on at least 170 EUR. The disadvantages of this option include the duration of transfers (about 12-15 hours), moreover, in most options they are night.
• Company Lufthansa there are convenient daily options with departures from Domodedovo and through. Performed jointly with a subsidiary Air Dolomites. There are both morning and evening flights, comfortable in terms of the duration of the transfer: one and a half to two hours. Please note that these tickets cost more. Prices start from 240 EUR. Sometimes Lufthansa's cheapest options are flights with two transfers ( and ). Once I decided to use it and bitterly regretted my decision: the flight takes a whole day and is terribly tiring, so it’s better not to save money.
• You can also fly from Vnukovo; these are flights Turkish Airlines through The duration of connections is 2-3 hours, and the cost of a round-trip ticket is 220-230 EUR. It seemed to me that the most unpleasant moment of these flights was the return flight to Vnukovo around three in the morning. However, there are options with more long transfers with optimal arrival time. You can search for the option that suits you on well-known aggregator sites or, for example,.

From Saint-Petersburg:

• Company flights LOT via Warsaw - these are the options with the lowest prices from the Northern capital. However, they will cost those departing more than from Moscow (at least 200 EUR), and the transfers will be even longer (about 20 hours).
• Company flight Lufthansa via Munich will cost from 270 EUR for a round trip ticket. More choice of departure times is available for options with two transfers (in Munich and Frankfurt am Main), however, due to its length, this is not the most convenient option.

Independent dockings

Thanks to the flights of low-cost airlines, you can save on a flight to Cluj-Napoca, but in this case, the connections will be independent (that is, the airline is not responsible for them):

• The only option available for both Moscow and St. Petersburg is a flight through the company WizzAir. With a successful combination of circumstances, a round-trip flight from Moscow to Budapest will cost 60-70 EUR. WizzAir has recently started operating flights from St. Petersburg, so for now the minimum cost is about 80 EUR. From the Hungarian capital, you can fly to Cluj-Napoca round-trip for 40 EUR. The problem with these tickets is the infrequent departures. From St. Petersburg they are available on Sunday and Wednesday, and from Budapest to Cluj-Napoca on Monday and Thursday, so such a flight is possible only if you spend the night in Budapest.
• When departing from Moscow, two more flight options are available. company « Victory» to () or Bratislava, and then flights WizzAir to Cluj-Napoca. At early booking you can find tickets from Moscow to these cities within 120 EUR. Then the total cost of a flight from Moscow to Cluj-Napoca will be about 160 EUR. When planning such a route, you should keep in mind that there are flights from Milan to Cluj-Napoca every day, and from Bratislava only on Wednesdays and Sundays.

How to get from the airport to the city center

Cluj-Napoca International Airport named after Avram Iancu Cluj (Aeroportul Internațional Avram Iancu Cluj) is located close to the city - 9 kilometers east of the central part of the city.

To get to the city, you can build the following routes:

• Public transport. The airport and the historical center are connected by bus number 8 and trolleybus number 5. Both options can be reached in half an hour, the bus interval is 20-25 minutes, and the trolleybus is 15. Transport runs from 05:00 to 22:00-23:00, and a ticket bought from a machine costs only 0.44 EUR. My advice: drive from the airport better by bus, and back by trolley bus. The fact is that the bus goes to the final stop Piața Mihai Viteazul, located in the center. The trolleybus goes further to the station, so to get to the center you need to get off earlier, at the Central stop, which can be difficult out of habit, and there is a risk of missing a stop. On the other hand, for a trolleybus final stop is the airport, and the bus only makes a stop there, heading further east.
• Taxi. If you arrived at night, you have a lot of luggage and there are several of you, it makes sense to take a taxi. A trip to the center of Cluj-Napoca according to the meter should be 5-6 EUR. It is better to discuss the price before the trip and demonstrate to the taxi driver knowledge of the tariffs, as they often charge tourists double, and sometimes even triple the cost. The trip to the center will take 15-20 minutes.
• Rented car. Both international and Romanian companies offer their services at the airport. See the list of companies and contact information on the airport website or. From my own experience, I can advise you to make a reservation as early as possible for a trip in the summer, because sometimes there are not enough cars for everyone in the parking lots of rent-a-car companies at the airport.

By train

From Moscow

Traveling from Moscow to Cluj-Napoca exclusively by rail, in my opinion, is a bad idea. This route provides for at least two train changes: in Chisinau and in Iasi. The total travel time will exceed 40 hours, the ticket will cost at least 120 EUR and this is only in one direction.

The same can be said about northern capital. Therefore, I suggest you use a much more convenient way - the Romanian regional rail service.

From Bucharest

It is convenient to get to Cluj-Napoca by arriving at (read more about flight options in). Trains depart from Gara du Nord station. Available on this direction, three of which are night. They will take you to Cluj-Napoca in 9-10 hours, and the ticket will cost approximately 20 EUR.

How to get from the station to the city center

Cluj-Napoca main railway station ( Gara Cluj-Napoca) is an interesting building in the best traditions of Austro-Hungarian railway station architecture (it reminds me of the Keleti station in Budapest). It is located just two kilometers north of the city center. Personally, I prefer to walk, it will take 25-30 minutes.

However, the station has good transport accessibility: from the center it can be reached by trolleybuses No. 3, 4 or 5, as well as bus No. 9. A taxi to the station costs about 2 EUR.

By bus

From Moscow

If you are afraid to fly by plane, then the bus route from Moscow to Cluj-Napoca is best option. Unlike the railway communication, using buses, you will have to change only once - in Chisinau. From Moscow, several carriers organize departures from the bus station near the Teply Stan metro station or the Shchelkovsky bus station. Most of them arrive in Chisinau on North Bus Station, buses to Cluj-Napoca depart from the Southwest Bus Station.

The total travel time will be about 40 hours, a few more hours will have to be spent on a transfer (depending on the schedule). For a one-way ticket, you will have to pay about 70 EUR, which is much cheaper compared to the train.

I traveled from Chisinau to Cluj-Napoca and back several times and encountered several carriers. The main problem with Romanian buses is being late. On own experience I can recommend using the services of the carrier Ledianta tur (about 12 hours on the way, the ticket costs 17.5 EUR).

From Bucharest

From the Romanian Capital Region bus service comparable in price and duration of the trip with the railway. However, it is slightly different for the better: the fastest and cheapest option by bus is 8.5 hours and 19 EUR for a one-way ticket. In my opinion, when it comes to traveling in Transylvania, the bus is much more convenient than the train.

How to get from the train stations to the city center

Cluj-Napoca's main bus stations are Autogara BETA and Autogara Fany located in the same location at strada Giordano Bruno, 1-3. The difference between them is only in the serviced companies (Autogara Fany only works with the company of the same name). Bus stations are located 0.5 km north of the railway. You can walk to them from the center in half an hour.

You can also take the trolleybuses mentioned above to the railway station and walk a little, or better, take bus number 31 from the center to the Giordano Bruno stop, located near the bus stations.

By car

From Moscow

When traveling to Cluj-Napoca, Muscovites will have to spend about 24 hours on the road, excluding overnight stays. In my opinion, optimal route runs through Kyiv, it is just convenient to spend the night there. Along the way, you will have to cross two borders, which can greatly increase the travel time.

An alternative option is to travel through Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. This route is much longer, requires a Schengen visa, and has to pay for vignettes in Slovakia (10 EUR) and Hungary (from 9.5 EUR to 19 EUR).

In Romania, you will need to buy a vignette. For a week, its cost will be 3 EUR. The most convenient ways to purchase a vignette are gas stations (Rompetrol, Petrom and OMV) or a special website.

From Saint-Petersburg

This journey will take about 28 hours, excluding overnight stays and border crossings. The option through Belarus will be the cheapest, but there are two nuances that need to be taken into account: the passage of three borders and the quality of the roads.

When choosing a route through the territory of the European Union, you will have to apply for a Schengen visa and pay not only the Romanian vignette, but also the Slovak (10 EUR) and Hungarian (from 9.5 EUR to 19 EUR). But in this case, you will have to go through only two borders and it is more convenient to drive a car here.

Clue:

Cluj-Napoca - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Yekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season? When is the best time to go?

Cluj-Napoca in summer

The main advantage of summer is the weather: about +20 °С and very rarely hot. You can fully enjoy walking along the streets of the city and numerous parks, as well as walking along the river. In the summer months, some museums are open longer, and besides, you can catch interesting events on open air.

Among the minuses - a large number of tourists and a high probability of rain in June and July.

Cluj-Napoca in autumn

Autumn is a great time to travel, thanks to the harvest of vegetables and fruits, especially grapes. In addition, in the parks of Cluj-Napoca, foliage begins to turn beautifully golden.

The temperature in autumn is about +10 °C, and rains are rare.

Cluj-Napoca in spring

Spring is mine favorite time year in Cluj-Napoca. Flowering trees in parks and flower beds give the city a special charm. I definitely recommend coming at the end of May to celebrate the City Day (for more details, see the "Holidays" section).

In spring, the air temperature is about +10 °С, as in autumn, but by April the probability of rain is high.

Cluj-Napoca in winter

The temperature in winter averages from 0 to -5 °C, and precipitation is extremely rare. The highlight of this season is the Christmas celebrations, when the city, thanks to decorations, turns into a fairy tale. In addition, you can buy excellent souvenirs at the fairs.

Clue:

Cluj-Napoca - monthly weather

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

Accommodation in the city can be found for every taste: there are numerous guest houses and apartments, hotels with different numbers of stars, as well as several hostels. It is convenient to choose and book accommodation at. You can see the prices for apartments, and compare the cost of rooms in hotels by. With regard to the territorial distribution of housing options, several zones can be distinguished:

I would not recommend settling outside these areas. Of course, by choosing an option far from the center, you can save a little, but it will take a long time to walk to the sights or get there by transport. In addition, the infrastructure necessary for tourists is not so well developed in these areas. Although, if your plans include trips to the surrounding area, it makes sense to settle north of the historic center near the train stations (shown on the map).

You can read about housing prices and other expenses in Cluj-Napoca in the next section.

What are the prices for holidays?

Holiday prices in Cluj-Napoca are lower than in, but higher than in other Transylvanian cities. However, public transport and taxis in Cluj-Napoca are expensive by Romanian standards.

Accommodation

The cost of double rooms starts from 20 EUR. At this price, guest house rooms are available in areas remote from the center.

In the center, apartments or accommodation in a guest house will cost 25-35 EUR. Prices for double rooms in three-star hotels start from 35 EUR. A place in a common room in a hostel in the center will cost 12-14 EUR.

Nutrition

One dish per inexpensive cafe- this is about 4-5 EUR, a cup of coffee or a glass of beer costs about 1.3-1.5 EUR. Cooking your own food will cost a little less. Like other Romanian cities, Cluj-Napoca has low food prices in supermarkets and markets. This is especially true for vegetables and fruits, as well as dairy products.

Main attractions. What to see

Cluj-Napoca will be of great interest to architecture lovers due to its incredible concentration beautiful buildings. Historical Center was actively built up with monumental representative buildings during the 18th and 19th centuries, so that there are houses on every street that claim to be palaces. Thanks to the long construction period, you can meet buildings of various styles on the streets - from Gothic to socialist realism.

To get to know the history of the city better, I advise you to join a free tour on English language Cluj Guided Tours. Every day at 18:00 the group gathers near the monument to Matiyash Korvin.

Top 5

Central Square / Piata Unirii

The area, which is decorated with the Catholic Church of St. Michael (more about it in the "Churches" section) and the monument to Matthias Korvin can be called the heart of the city. It is from here that I recommend starting your acquaintance with the city.

The place is also notable for the fact that Christmas and Easter markets are held here, as well as city celebrations.

Banffy Palace / Palatul Bánffy / Bánffy-palota

This luxurious Baroque building, built at the end of the 18th century by the German architect Blaumann, is another decoration of the Central Square. The palace was built for the noble family of Banfi, who played a significant role in the history of Transylvania in general, and Cluj-Napoca in particular. First of all, my attention was attracted by the statues of ancient gods that adorn the facade.

Now the palace houses the National Museum of Art (more about it in the "Museums" section).

House of Matthias Corwin / Casa Matia / Mátyás király szülőháza

Inconspicuous at first glance, the building is one of the oldest in Cluj-Napoca. It was built in the distant XV century and became famous as the birthplace of the famous Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus from the Transylvanian Hunyadi family. It was during his reign that the Kingdom of Hungary experienced a period of prosperity.

By the way, the monument to the king is installed on the Central Square of Cluj-Napoca. You can visit the memorial house from 10:00 to 16:00.

Tailors' Bastion and Firemen's Tower / Bastionul Croitorilor, Turnul Pompierilor

In the Middle Ages, the territory of the historical center was protected by massive fortifications. However, at the end of the 19th century, most of the elements of the medieval fortress were demolished as unnecessary.

One bastion and one tower have survived to this day. Their visit is a great chance to touch medieval history cities.

National Opera and Theater / Opera Naţională Română, Teatrul Naţional Lucian Blaga

In Cluj-Napoca, very intense and interesting theatrical life. Of course, you can fully enjoy it if you know Romanian or Hungarian, but you can visit the opera or ballet. This is worth doing if only for the sake of a luxurious neo-baroque hall. The Opera and Theater building itself also deserves attention. It is the work of the renowned Austrian architect duo Felner and Helmer, who have designed theaters throughout Central Europe. In Cluj-Napoca, they built a building to house the Hungarian Opera, but after the annexation of Transylvania to Romania, they changed their purpose.

The Hungarian theater and opera function in the city even now, but in a different building.

Beaches. Which is better

In Cluj-Napoca, you can walk along the Someșul Mic river, but there is no beach holiday as such.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

Due to its location at the crossroads of different cultural influences, in Cluj-Napoca you can find churches of different faiths: Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant. In addition, there is also a Uniate church and a synagogue. First of all, I recommend visiting:

Museums. Which are worth a visit

There are several interesting museums in Cluj-Napoca that you should visit to get to know the Transylvanian culture better:

parks

There are many parks in Cluj-Napoca:

tourist streets

In my opinion, all the streets of the historical center are worthy of the title of tourist. Each of them has interesting buildings, cozy cafes and inviting shops.

Of particular interest to travelers is Mathias Corvin Street (str. Matei Corvin), famous for trade in handicrafts, such as jewelry, wooden utensils, knitted clothes.

What to see in 1 day

Cluj-Napoca is an interesting city full of beautiful buildings, so you should start getting to know it in one day from the very morning. I suggest you the following itinerary:

• 18:00-20:00. Having examined the remains of medieval fortifications, we go for a walk along the streets of the historical center, enjoying the views of its buildings.
• 20:00-22:00. After dinner, I advise you to complete your acquaintance with the city with a walk along the embankment.

What to see in the surroundings

Salina Turda

The most fascinating attraction in the vicinity of Cluj-Napoca is salt mine in the city of Turda, located in 35 kilometers south of the city. The former mine has now been converted into entertainment center. Entrance to it costs 6.6 EUR, plus separate entertainment is additionally paid. For example, a Ferris wheel ride costs 1 EUR and a boat ride 3.3 EUR.

How to get there: The best way to get there is by renting a car. An alternative is to take a bus to Turda city (about 45 minutes), then walk (about an hour) or take city bus 17 (15-20 minutes).

Food. What to try

Cuisine in Cluj-Napoca was formed at the junction of Romanian and Hungarian culinary traditions. Therefore, in local restaurants you can order both goulash and mititei.

What to try

The main local dish that you should definitely try is Cluj cabbage (varza a la Cluj) . It is sauerkraut baked with minced meat. There are various varieties of cabbage, such as the fresh cabbage casserole (then called varza dulce a la Cluj).

Traditional Romanian mamylga in local restaurants they cook with cheese and sour cream ( mămăligă cu brânză şi smântână ).

On the streets of Cluj-Napoca they sell what has become a classic for Hungarian cities kürtőskalács (kürtőskalács) , although it was originally of Transylvanian origin.

Kürtőskalács is a sweet, cylindrical pastry baked over an open fire. In my opinion, it is impossible to imagine a walk through the winter Cluj-Napoca without eating kurteskalach.

Where to buy groceries

As in other Romanian cities, you can buy homemade wine and cuica in the markets in Cluj-Napoca.

Apart from food market, at Mihai Viteazul Square it is convenient to buy products for self-cooking in the Billa supermarket chain.

When I first moved to Cluj-Napoca, local friends vying with each other recommended me a small cafe Kaja Tanya (str. Inocentiu Micu Klein, 11). As it turned out, not in vain, and now I myself take all the visiting guests to this place! This place has a very homely atmosphere and incredible delicious food. In addition, prices here are among the lowest in the center; lunch for two will cost 12 EUR. Their menu changes every day, so you can always try something new.

For a quick bite, I recommend going to Souper (Bulevardul Eroilor, 3). Very tasty soups and sandwiches are prepared here, and soups are offered every day different. A portion of soup costs 2-3 EUR.

Budget

• Kaja Tanya (str. Inocentiu Micu Klein, 11),
• Nomad Gastropub (str. Baba Novac, 19),
• Pasta Nostra (str. Petőfi Sandor, 4),
• La Piadina (str. Vasile Goldiș, 1).

Intermediate level

• Samsara Foodhouse (str. Ștefan Ludwig Roth, 5),
• Matei Corvin (str. Matei Corvin, 3),
• Roata (str. Alexandru Ciurea, 6),
• Camino (str. Iuliu Maniu, 19).

Expensive

• Cabinet de Vin & Cocotte (Bulevardul Eroilor, 5),
• VIA Restaurant (str. Inocențiu Micu Klein, 6),
• Baracca (str. Napoca, 8A),
• Fragment (str. Splaiul Independentei).

Holidays

Day of the city

The brightest and most memorable city holiday is this. It is celebrated for four days in the second half of May (Thursday to Sunday, dates are subject to change). These days the city is changing, and events are held on every corner. The holiday program includes concerts, performances, exhibitions, sports competitions and others. interesting events. Days of the city in Cluj-Napoca, in my opinion, will not leave anyone indifferent! Therefore, I recommend coming to Cluj-Napoca at the end of May.

Other events

In the summer, Cluj-Napoca hosts the largest electronic music festivals in the country, attracting thousands of people from all over the world to the city:

Safety. What to watch out for

Cluj-Napoca is a very calm city. According to statistics, this is one of the safest cities in Romania, and in my experience, without problems and discomfort, you can walk around the center at any time of the day, including single girls. I do not recommend walking at night along the outskirts of the city, as well as in the vicinity of the railway and bus stations.

Unlike other Romanian cities, the chance of becoming a victim of pickpockets in Cluj-Napoca is not at all great, but you should not lose your vigilance. I advise you to watch your things and do not leave them in a parked car. Also, to avoid cheating, use only official taxis.

Things to do

First of all, Cluj-Napoca is great for studying architecture, so I advise you to walk the streets as much as possible and carefully look at the buildings.

Secondly, the city has an interesting cultural life, so, in my opinion, it is worth paying attention to the local opera and galleries.

There are also many parks where you can relax from the bustle of the city.

My favorite activity is cycling, Cluj-Napoca is great for long rides.

Shopping and shops

Large shopping centers

Attracts attention in the city center Department store(str. Regele Ferdinand, 22-26). It emerged in the late 1970s as a classic Soviet-style department store and over the years has evolved into a modern shopping center as well as a city landmark and meeting place for locals. You should go shopping here for inexpensive clothes of Romanian brands, you can also find interesting souvenirs and accessories.

To combine shopping with entertainment, I recommend going to one of the large shopping centers further from the center. For example, Julius Mall(str. Alexandru Vaida Voevod, 53B). On foot you can walk to it from the center in an hour or 15-20 minutes by bus.

This complex houses more than two hundred shops, among which popular international brands predominate, but there are also shops of clothing, jewelry and cosmetics from Romanian manufacturers. There is also a large cinema, food court and cafe, and in winter there is also a skating rink.

On the eastern outskirts of Cluj-Napoca is located the largest shopping center in Transylvania (aka Polus Center; str. Iancu, 492-500). It is positioned not only as a trade, but also as Entertainment Center.

After shopping, you can go karting or playrooms (for children there is Happy Park, for teenagers and adults - Game World). Locals come here on the weekend for the whole day, so to avoid the crowds, it's better to choose another day for yourself.

small local points

On central streets you can find small shops and shops of local designers and artisans. Their greatest concentration is on Matthias (Matea) Corvin Street (str. Matei Corvin), which has already been mentioned in the “Tourist Streets” section.

On Centralth marketon Piata Mihai Viteazul worth going for farm products. For example, here you can safely buy fruits, vegetables, as well as uniquely delicious dairy products. The market is open every day.

Bars. Where to go

Finding a great bar in the center of Cluj-Napoca is not a problem; it is more difficult to make a choice, because there are a huge number of interesting establishments within a kilometer radius.

Most bars are open until 00:00 on weekdays and until 02:00-03:00 on weekends.

• you can drink good beer in a sincere atmosphere in numerous pubs (I recommend Flying Circus or Che Guevara Social Pub).
• a little further from the center is a place that is definitely worth a visit for wine lovers. This The Office Wine Bar. There is a large wine list with excellent local wines.
• very friendly and informal atmosphere in Shto College Bar, besides, the prices here are slightly lower than in other establishments in the center.

In general, the pricing policy of local bars is liberal - a glass of beer or a shot will cost 1.5 EUR, and cocktails - from 2.5 EUR.

Clubs and nightlife

Most clubs are open until the morning on weekends, in the summer parties and concerts are also held on weekdays, but the main activity falls on the period from Thursday to Saturday.

There is usually no face control and dress code, some events have a small entrance fee (2-3 EUR). Prices for alcohol in clubs are on average 10-20% higher than in bars.

In my opinion the best night club Cluj-Napoca is After Eight Cocktail Club. It does not have a specific musical focus, and the most diverse events are organized there (from electronic music concerts to ethnic parties).

Very popular with locals Diesel Club. DJs perform here every weekend. However, in my opinion, this club is unreasonably expensive.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Like other Transylvanian cities, Cluj-Napoca is famous primarily for handicrafts. For authentic handicrafts, head to Matei Corvin Street, where there is a large concentration of artisan shops.

Personally, I like local knitwear with ethnic patterns and jewelry the most. Prices here are about the same, but vary depending on the product from 2 EUR to 20 EUR.

Interesting jewelry from local designers can be purchased at Oranjerie (str. Vasile Goldiș, 1). Ethnic Transylvanian motifs are used in the creation of jewelry, prices for products start from 3 EUR.

How to move around the city

The historic center of Cluj-Napoca is small, so you can move around the city on foot. In addition, all sights and infrastructure facilities (for example, railway stations) are located within walking distance from the city center. At the same time, Cluj-Napoca has a cheap taxi and developed public transport.

In the city, passengers are served by buses, trolleybuses and trams. The suburbs of Cluj-Napoca are connected by buses and fixed-route taxis.

Cost and fare

Tickets for different types of transport within the city are the same and differ only in the number of possible trips:

• a travel card for one trip is bought from a machine, it costs 0.44 EUR during the day and 0.66 EUR at night;
• a ticket for two trips can be bought at a kiosk, its cost is approximately 0.88 EUR.
• if you issue an electronic card at a kiosk (costs 0.66 EUR), you will be able to buy a ticket for half an hour (0.44 EUR) or an hour (0.88 EUR) with the possibility of transfers, as well as a ticket for 24 hours (2.85 EUR ) or 72 hours (5 EUR).

Ticket prices in suburban transport depend on the distance and range from 0.66 EUR to 1.53 EUR per trip.

Detailed information about public transport can be found on the website.

Taxi. What features exist

Taxis in Cluj-Napoca are inexpensive, but in order not to pay double the price, you need to be careful. The base fare for landing is 0.45 EUR and the same amount per kilometer. Sometimes, in the struggle for a client, some firms offer lower rates (the list of firms and their prices can be found on the Taximetre website).

Taxis can be found at stands throughout the city or called by phone. In the vast majority of cases, taxis can only be paid in cash.

What is important to remember

The main rule is to choose a taxi of officially registered companies. The name of such a company should be written on the door. By the way, sometimes the fare per kilometer is written on the side door (if not, it is better to check it with the driver before the start of the trip).

Private drivers are a danger. On their cars you can find the inscription taxi, but if there is no company name, it is better not to use their services. Another distinguishing feature is their active sales of their services at the airport and train station. By taking such a taxi, at best, you risk paying double the price.

Another important point- counter. It must be in working order. When you get in the car, show the driver that you know exactly where to go (or that you are determined to track the car's movements on the map). When working with tourists, local taxi drivers are sometimes tempted to do a few laps.

From my experience, I can advise you to use the services of:

Trams

There are three tram lines in Cluj-Napoca (No. 100, 101, 102). All of them connect the districts of the city from east to west and vice versa. I attached the map above in the "How to get around the city" section.

Particularly interesting is the route number 102, which connects almost the entire city in the direction from east to west. I often use it as an alternative to the tourist bus, showing the city around to people I know.

The main advantage of trams: for the most part they are new and comfortable, so riding them is a real pleasure.

Trolleybuses

The city's transport system includes seven trolleybus lines (look for them also in the picture in the section above).

Most of them run from east to west in the southern part of the city, passing through the center. By trolleybus number 5 you can get to the airport, and by trolleybuses number 3, 4 - to the railway station.

Controllers in public transport arrange checks frequently.

Buses

Buses are the most developed and widespread transport in Cluj-Napoca. There are 25 bus lines in the city, a dozen more connect Cluj-Napoca with the suburbs (they have the letter M in their number).

By bus number 9 it is convenient to get to the railway station, and by bus number 31 - to the bus. Bus number 8 can be used as an alternative to trolleybus number 5, getting to the airport.

Buses, unfortunately, are not as new as trams, but in my experience they are still convenient to use.

Transport rental

Car rental

In Cluj-Napoca, both international and Romanian companies present their services. International companies (Sixt, Europcar) have offices located at the airport, you can familiarize yourself with their prices and offers in advance.

If you are planning to rent a car while already in the city center, pay attention to the company (str. Sindicatelor, 9-13): their office is located near the center and in my experience they have the lowest prices (25 EUR per day) and significant rental discounts on long term. If you want to rent a car in Cluj-Napoca and return it in another Romanian city, please contact the company or Autonom .

Bicycle rental

The city operates a city centralized bicycle rental system, allowing one hour of bicycle use free of charge. But for this you need to register in the system, which makes using the Сlujbike pointless for a short trip.

I prefer Down Town Rent a Bike (their office is centrally located on str. David Ferenc, 13). A whole day of rent will cost 7.7 EUR here.

Street parking in the city is divided into zones. In the city center, one hour of parking will cost 0.44 EUR, outside the center - half the price. You can pay using the parking meter.

In my opinion, it is better to use the parking lot at Piaţa Lucian Blaga. Here parking for more than 8 hours (up to 24 hours) will cost 2.63 EUR.

A liter of gasoline will cost about 1 EUR in Cluj-Napoca.

Cluj-Napoca - holidays with children

It seems to me that Cluj-Napoca is not the most interesting city for a trip with children. First of all, it is notable for its history and culture, so older children are more likely to be interested. In general, children may enjoy the Botanical Garden (see the Parks section) and Ethnographic park(see section "Museums").

Another fascinating place for children is the Zoological Museum (Muzeul Zoologic, str. Clinicilor, 5-7), where you can see several collections of different animal species. Opening hours and visiting: The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday - from 10:00 to 16:00, on weekends - from 10:00 to 14:00. An entrance ticket for adults will cost 1.3 EUR, for children - 0.66 EUR.