Wass Palace, Cluj-Napoca, palace
Wass Palace in Cluj-Napoca is a large historic building located at Piata Unirii in the heart of the city. The structure combines elements of Renaissance, classical, and rococo architecture throughout its facade and interior rooms with high ceilings and decorative details.
The building was constructed between the 15th and 16th centuries and originally belonged to the Hungarian noble family Gyulai. In the 18th century, the palace passed to the Wass family, who maintained it as their residence across several generations.
The palace served for decades as a gathering place for literary salons and cultural meetings hosted by the Wass family. Writers and intellectuals of the era came together within these rooms, making the building a center of intellectual life in the city.
The palace is centrally located at Piata Unirii and is easily accessible on foot, surrounded by cafes and shops nearby. The area is busy and offers a good setting to explore without requiring special preparation or prior arrangements.
In the 19th century, the ground floor housed a renowned photography studio run by the Dunky brothers, pioneers of reportage photography in the region. The building also served as residence for notable poets and travelers who were active in North America.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
