Crematoriul Cenușa, Historic crematorium in Tineretului Park, Romania
The Crematoriul Cenusa is a building in Tineretului Park designed by architect Duiliu Marcu and constructed between 1925 and 1928. Its chapel spans roughly 200 square meters and features Belgian marble, with two sculptures named Sorrow and Hope positioned on either side of the main staircase.
Construction took place between 1925 and 1928, making it the first crematorium in a predominantly Orthodox Christian Balkan nation. Its opening represented a major moment in Romanian religious and social history.
The building blends Byzantine, Syrian, and Egyptian design elements, reflecting how international styles influenced Romanian architecture in the early 1900s. These influences are visible in the decorative details and overall forms that visitors can observe throughout the interior.
The site now serves only as a columbarium for storing funeral urns, as cremation activities stopped in 2002 due to environmental regulations. Visitors should note that the building has limited access hours and is located within an urban park.
Between 1928 and 2002, the facility performed roughly 60,000 cremations despite significant opposition from the Romanian Orthodox Church. This high number reveals that cremation gradually gained acceptance in society, even against religious resistance.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
