ASTRA National Museum Complex, National open-air museum in Dumbrava Forest, Sibiu, Romania
The ASTRA National Museum Complex is an open-air museum set in a forested area south of central Sibiu, where over 300 historical buildings gathered from across Romania have been relocated and arranged. The structures are connected by walking paths that wind through the woodland, making the whole site accessible on foot.
The complex was founded in 1905 by the ASTRA cultural organization, which had set out to safeguard Romanian heritage. After 1990, the grounds were notably expanded and new buildings and collections were added.
The complex brings together traditional houses, mills, and workshops from all regions of Romania, making it easy to notice regional differences in building style at a glance. The variety of woodworking techniques and roof shapes, which change from one village to the next, is especially noticeable.
The site covers a large area, so sturdy footwear and enough time are both worth planning for before arriving. There are places to eat inside historical buildings on the grounds, and a visit works best in dry weather when the paths are easy to walk.
Within the grounds there is a collection assembled by the explorer Franz Binder, made up of Egyptian and Asian objects he brought back from his 19th-century expeditions. This is one of the few African and Asian ethnography collections preserved inside a Romanian museum.
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