It is the finest building in Calafat and the town's only museum.
About the place
The palace was built between 1905 and 1907 by Ștefan Marincu, a wealthy local man who was mayor of Calafat from 1911 to 1914. He built it in memory of his daughter Mărioara, who died of tuberculosis at 13. The plans are by the French architect Paul Gottereau, the work was supervised by Constantin Rogalski and the craftsmen were Italian. The building has 50 rooms on three levels, marble brought from Italy and large mirrors. The entrance stairs are guarded by a stone lion on each side.
In his will, Marincu left the house to the town. From 1926 it was a girls' boarding school, then a school, offices and a pioneers' house. It has been a museum since the late 1960s and was restored in 2001–2003. The museum has Romanian paintings and graphics, with works by Nicolae Grigorescu, Theodor Pallady and Henri Catargi, sculpture and a collection of local folk art: costumes, rugs, tools and household objects. The building also houses the Bulgarian Cultural Centre.
Good to know
- Opening hours differ between sources; call the museum before you go, on +40 251 232 521.
- Combine the visit with St Nicholas Church, about 200 m to the north.
- The fountains and the square in front of the Town Hall are a minute's walk away.
Opening hours
Opening hours are not confirmed. Check the venue's website before you go.