National Museum
Brukenthal National Museum

Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Brukenthal National Museum is a national museum in Sibiu, Romania.
About Brukenthal National Museum
The Art Galleries & European Painting
Located within the Brukenthal Palace, the Art Galleries house approximately 1,200 works representing the main European schools of painting from the 15th to the 18th century. The collection is notable for its breadth, including significant holdings of Flemish and Italian paintings. Specific sub-collections within the museum's archives highlight works by masters such as Lucas Cranach the Elder, Adam Elsheimer, and Frans van Mieris the Elder, demonstrating the baron's sophisticated taste in Northern and Southern European art traditions.
The Brukenthal Library & Rare Manuscripts
Also situated inside the Brukenthal Palace is the Brukenthal Library, a vast repository comprising approximately 300,000 library units. This collection includes manuscripts, incunables, rare foreign books, and old Romanian-language books alongside contemporary publications and specialized magazines. A highlight of the library's holdings is the presence of highly illuminated 16th-century manuscripts, which serve as critical resources for scholars studying the history of the book and illumination in Central Europe.
Museums of History & Natural Sciences
The museum complex includes a Museum of History housed in a building considered the most important ensemble of non-religious architecture in the region. Additionally, the Museum of Natural History began to take shape in 1849 through the foundation of the Transylvanian Society of Natural Sciences. These sections complement the art collections by providing a comprehensive view of the region's historical development and natural environment, extending the museum's scope beyond fine arts into broader cultural and scientific preservation.
The Museum of Arms & Hunting Trophies
The Museum of Arms and Hunting Trophies reflects the evolution of weapons and hunting tools over time. A significant portion of this collection consists of trophies from the Witting and A. Spiess collections, with the latter comprising 1,058 items acquired in 1963. Opened to the public in 1966 in the Spiess House, the exhibition now contains over 1,500 units. The display includes traditional hunting procedures, contemporary engravings, and aspects of animal life, offering insight into historical hunting practices.
The Brukenthal Palace & Founder
The Brukenthal Palace, a large edifice in Hermannstadt (Sibiu), was constructed by Samuel von Brukenthal, who was born on 26 July 1721 in Leschkirch. The construction began a year after his election to a high office, and the building was designed from the very beginning to serve as a propitious background for conserving his art collection and antiquities of inestimable value. Today, the palace is recognized as one of the Baroque treasures of Central Europe and remains the primary location for the museum's European art galleries.
Modern Expansion & Facilities
The modern structure of the Brukenthal National Museum includes additional facilities such as the Gallery of National Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Museum of the History of Pharmacy. The institution also maintains restoration laboratories and operates a central museum shop within the palace, which offers the most comprehensive selection of publications and products. The museum actively engages the public through temporary exhibitions, virtual tours, and educational programs, ensuring the continued relevance of its historic collections.
What to see at Brukenthal National Museum
Start with Peisaj cu mănăstire pe deal by Christian Hülfgott Brand.
Peisaj cu mănăstire pe deal
Sultan însoțit de arcași (în registrul inventar: Pașă turc)
Femeia cu floarea de iasomie
Fecioara Maria cu Pruncul Isus (în Reg. Inv.: Maria cu copilul Isus)
Femeie vârstnică cu bijuterii
Regele Charles I Stuart al Angliei și soția sa Henrietta Maria de Franța (în Reg. Inv.: Carol I al Angliei și soția sa Henriette din Franța)
Plan your visit
Brukenthal National Museum
- Website
- www.brukenthalmuseum.ro
What's on
- All text and images on this site are protected by Romanian and international copyright laws. Unauthorized use is prohibited.1 Jan 2022 – 31 Dec 2026
- Simpozionul Internațional Anual „Ars et Historia” DetaliiFrom 28 Apr 2026
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- Congresul Societății Române de Apiterapie, Fitoterapie și Aromaterapie (SRAFA) DetaliiFrom 19 May 2026
- DetaliiFrom 22 May 2026
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