"ASTRA" Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization, Open-air folk museum in Dumbrava Sibiului, Romania
The ASTRA Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization is an open-air museum in Sibiu featuring more than 300 authentic rural buildings transferred from villages across Romania. The buildings stand among forests and meadows, connected by walking paths that guide visitors through different regions and time periods.
The museum began in 1963, continuing a preservation effort that started around 1905 to document Romanian rural heritage. Over the decades, authentic buildings were relocated from their original villages to this site to protect them from being lost.
The museum displays traditional structures including houses, churches, workshops, and mills representing different regions and ethnic communities across Romania. These authentic buildings let visitors experience the craftsmanship and daily rhythms that shaped rural life across the country.
The site covers a large area, so comfortable walking shoes and weatherproof clothing are helpful for a full visit. Most visitors spend several hours exploring the buildings and learning about different crafts and ways of living on display.
The museum houses the largest collection of working mills in Romania, each demonstrating different grain processing techniques and water management methods. Some mills still operate and visitors can watch craftspeople using traditional skills to complete their work.
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