RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Village Museum Turns 80

The Village Museum in Bucharest turns 80 years old, and is one of the most popular sites in Romania for locals and foreign tourists alike.

The Village Museum Turns 80
The Village Museum Turns 80

, 17.05.2016, 13:13

In 1936, a bit of ancestral village life took root in Bucharest, with the creation of the Village Museum, one of the first of its kind in Romania and in the world. On May 10th, it was officially inaugurated in a ceremony attended by the countrys leaders, including King Carol II, alongside the most important figures in politics, culture and religion. On May 17th, the museum opened to the public. This emblematic site was the result of intense theoretical and field research, as well as experiments for a decade in over 600 localities in rural Romania between the world wars, which were coordinated by Professor Dimitrie Gusti, the founder of the Bucharest School of Sociology.



In the 80 years since its inception, the museum, bearing its creators name, the number of old households brought to the capital city from all over the country went from 29 to 370. The museums collections amount to 60,000 traditional objects, in addition to those inside the households. It was intended to be a sociological museum, with the mission to acquaint visitors with village realities, as lived by the Romanian peasant. Which is why the museum itself is organized like a typical village, with roads, houses, homestead buildings, wells, plazas and technical installations.



On this 80th anniversary, President Klaus Iohannis granted the Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum the Cultural Merit Order in rank of Grand Officer. With this decoration, the Romanian state expressed its appreciation for a museum that has meant so much for Romanian culture and research, one that is also beloved by Romanians everywhere. It has half a million visitors annually. This village in the middle of Bucharest has a solid position as one of the main tourist attractions in Romania, said President Klaus Iohannis:



Behind this reputation there is a huge volume of work to safeguard and bring to the museum some of the most representative traditional constructions and installations, keeping them safe from the ravages of time, continually expanding the open air museum, cultivating traditions, traditional crafts and art, organizing programs and exhibitions for all categories of visitors. I congratulate you for this, and wish you many happy returns.”



For its 80th anniversary, throughout this week the Museum is running a schedule of events under the high patronage of the presidency: an international colloquium, book presentations, a traditional crafts fair and interactive traditional workshops. Add to that a National Traditional Costume Day, traditional music and jazz recitals, and a day dedicated to foreign friends, run in partnership with diplomatic missions in Romania.


(Translated by C. Cotoiu)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Source: NATO)
Today in the News Tuesday, 05 November 2024

NATO must stay united

NATO will work with the winner of the US elections, whoever that person may be and will do its best to stay united, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte...

NATO must stay united
Maia Sandu (Photo: presedinte.md)
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Moldova stays on path to Europe

Moldova’s pro-European president Maia Sandu won a new  4-year term in Sunday’s second round run-off, with over 55% of the votes cast in the...

Moldova stays on path to Europe
The head of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Toni Grebla
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Election campaigns in Romania

    The campaign for the general election in Romania started last week, at midnight on Thursday, and will end on 30 November. During this...

Election campaigns in Romania
November 1 - National Radio Day
Today in the News Friday, 01 November 2024

Radio Romania 96

Radio Romania has celebrated 96 years since it first entered the listeners houses from Romania and abroad. On November 1 1928 the Romanians were able...

Radio Romania 96
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Romanians’ concerns

Romanians and Austrians are the most satisfied with their lives among the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Europe, but the former are significantly...

Romanians’ concerns
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Republic of Moldova, crucial final

On November 3, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have to choose, for the position of head of state, between the pro-European Maia Sandu, the...

Republic of Moldova, crucial final
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Drones, a security issue

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has placed under decisional transparency a bill that improves airspace security measures. The bill, which...

Drones, a security issue
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has rejected the referral of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) in relation to the so-called...

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company