Targu Mures, Romania is known as the city of roses and enjoys both Romanian and Hungarian culture. It has been inhabited since Neolithic times and was first documented in 1322. In the 16th century, it became an important cultural and education center, with the first school appearing in 1492. Today, its central Roses Square is lined with cafes, churches, and monuments, and its top attraction is the Culture Palace museum.

1. DIFFERENT BUT
TOGETHER
4 EPAL KAVALAS - GREECE

2. Targu-Mures

3. • Named literally for a 'market' on the Mures River and known
as the city of roses, Targu Mures, enjoys the best of both
Romanian and Hungarian cultures. Numerous vestiges attest
the presence of Neolithic cultures and those of the Bronze
and Metal Ages in this area. Archaeological diggings have
brought to light Roman relics in the surrounding towns.

5. The town was first documented as 'Novum Forum Sicolorum' (The New Market of
the Seklars) in 1322. Beginning with the 16th century, Targu Mures excels as an
important cultural and education centre.
The first school appears in 1492. In 1786, the first printing shop is established and in
1802 count Teleki Samuel, chancellor of Transylvania, lays the foundations of the
documentary library that bears his name to this day.
The city received a major boost to its social and economic life in 1754 when it
became the seat of the supreme court of justice of the Principality of Transylvania.

6. • During medieval times, guilds, made up of groups of craftsmen, played an
important role in the evolution of the town.
• Artisan guilds had their privileges recognized since 1493.
• In 1620, members of the guilds took part in the building of the town
fortress. Two of the most important guilds were the shoemakers and
tanners ones.
• In 1800, the shoemakers' guild had the most members, namely 254. The
guild system lasted until 1872.

7. • Targu Mures became a modern town in the second half of the 19th
century, along with the expansion of the railway line.
• Today its centrally located Piata Trandafirilor (Roses Square) is lined with
modern streetside cafes and restaurants, churches, and monuments.
• Targu Mures' top attraction is located at the south end of the square: the
Culture Palace (Palatul Culturii), a flamboyant early 20th-century city hall
with an outstanding stained-glass hall, housing some of main local
museums.

8. Apollo Palace
(Palatul Apollo)
• Address: Piata Trandafirilor 5Apollo Palace was built between 1820 and 1822 at
the initiative of count Teleki Sámue.
• The building was initially decorated in the late Baroque style and had only two
stories.
• The façade was modified in early 1900s, the only remaining Baroque elements are
the reinforced vaults with double arcs.
• The ground floor was used for retail activities while the first floor was used as
living quarters.
• On the second floor there was a large meeting hall, a restaurant and a café.
• At the beginning of the 20th century the palace served as a venue for numerous
shows and events. In 1923 Apollo Palace was sold to a new owner who decided to
transform the balroom into apartments (1925 - 1927).
• The façade was also remodeled at that time in an eclectic style specific to the early
20th century.
• Today Apollo Palace is home to the local Art School.

10. The Old Prefecture
(Cladirea Vechii Prefecturi)
• Address: Str. Bolyai 5The former seat of the Prefecture has been in
use since 1711.
• After its owner was condemned for treason, the house was
confiscated and became the property of the County (Mures
County).
• Construction works to expand the building started in 1744 under
the supervision of judge Dóza Mihai.
• The neighboring plots of land were bought during the 19th century
so that the construction could be further expanded.
• The lateral wings were erected between 1824 and 1838, and the
back wing between 1842 and 1843.
• The ground floor served throughout the years as a prison and on
the top floor as an assembly hall.
• Currently, these spaces are used as workshops by the artists of
Targu Mures.

13. Palffy House
(Casa Palffy)
• Address: Str. Bolyai 12The first elements of Baroque
architecture appeared, in Targu Mures, in the second half
of the 17th century.
• The Pálffy House, built around 1640, reflects an
evolutionary stage that surpasses typical Renaissance
architectural elements such as those of the oldest buildings
of Targu Mures, the Köpeczi and Nagy Szabó houses.
• The edifice was built by judge Tolnai János and sold to the
Pálffy family in 1885, hence the name by which the building
is known today.
• The building was renovated in 2006 and today it hosts the
newly established Music School of the University of
Theatrical Arts of Targu Mures.

15. St. Michael Wooden Orthodox Church
(Biserica din Lemn Sf. Arhanghel Mihai)
• Address: Str. Saguna 13 AThe oldest Orthodox Church
in Targu Mures harmoniously combines Romanian rural
architectural style with Baroque influences.
• The church was built between 1793 and 1794 with the
help of trader Hagi Stoian Constandin, who bought and
donated the land, obtained all needed building permits
and personally financed the works.
• Orthodox and Greek-Catholics found themselves in
need of building separate places of worship. Thus, two
churches were built in the same period, right next to
each other.

17. Teleki Library
(Bibiloteca Teleki)
• Address: Str. Bolyai 17
Open: Tue. – Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission charge
• The Teleki Library, founded at the end of the 18th century by
Sámuel Teleki, chancellor of Transylvania, contains a large collection
of first editions and important manuscripts documenting
Transylvanian history, as well as mathematical and scientific works.
• Count Sámuel Teleki, closely connected to the Mures area through
his origins and the fact that he spent part of his life at his personal
residence in Dumbravioara (a village only a few kilometers outside
of Targu Mures), had established here the first city library by making
his 40,000 books – some of which were unique editions published
by famous European printing houses – available to the public.
More important collections were added in time, amounting to over
250,000 tomes today.

19. Targu Mures Medieval Fortress
(Cetatea medievala)
• In 1492 Prince Stefan Bathory ordered for a castle-fortress to be erected around the Franciscan
monastery and church. A few of the original elements have been preserved, among them wall
fragments on the Southern and Western sides, the tower on the Southern wing, attached to the
furriers' bastion, and ruins of the South-Western tower, included nowadays in the tanners' bastion.
The structure of these towers and the fact that they are square-shaped are indicative of a medieval
type military architecture.
• Six bastions were added during the reign of Gabriel Bethlen (1613 – 1629). The furriers' bastion,
erected in 1628, was divided into four levels, the vast interior space allowing for several craftsmen's
guilds to function here. In addition to the furriers' guild after which the bastion was named, the
locksmiths' and goldsmiths' guilds also had their headquarters here. Each bastion has firing holes
for cannons on lower levels and for hand-held weapons in the walls of the first and second floors.
• The erection of surrounding curtain walls took until the second half of the 17th century. The inside
of the walls are provided with archways supported by posts that sustain the guard path that is on
the same level as the firing holes. There may have been defense ditches on the outside which were
covered in time as they were not used. The fact that Transylvania lost its status of autonomous
principality and became part of the Hapsburg Empire entailed a series of changes in what concerns
military architecture. Modern, Vauban type fortresses were built in many Transylvanian towns such
as Alba-Iulia, Oradea, Timisoara. The political changes in the principality were not without
consequence to the fortress of Targu Mures. The houses inside the fortress were demolished to
make place for the military headquarters and bakery. Following the restorations of 1962 – 1965, the
walls and bastions reclaimed their initial form.