In one place you see the oldest house in town and the cathedral of Oltenia; the museum has 4.7 on Google from almost 470 reviews.
About the place
Casa Băniei was the residence of the bans, the governors of Oltenia, in Craiova. The present building, in the Brâncoveanu style, was put up by Constantin Brâncoveanu in 1699 on the site of an older house, part of whose cellars survive. It later served as the town administration, a bishop's residence and an archive, and restoration began in 1933. Today it houses the Ethnography Section of the Oltenia Museum, with the exhibitions 'The Making of Bread' and 'The Rhythms of Life' on the crafts and customs of Oltenia.
In the same park stands the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Demetrius. The church rebuilt by Matei Basarab in 1651 was pulled down in 1889, and the new one was built to a design by the French architect André Lecomte du Noüy, who also did the paintings; it was reopened for worship in 1933.
Good to know
- The museum is closed on Mondays; it opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9 to 17.
- Visit the cathedral between services; if a service is on, go in quietly.
- The Oltenia Museum's other sections, history and archaeology (Strada Madona Dudu) and natural sciences (Strada Popa Șapcă), are a few hundred metres away.
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9–17 |
| Wednesday | 9–17 |
| Thursday | 9–17 |
| Friday | 9–17 |
| Saturday | 9–17 |
| Sunday | 9–17 |
Hours may change on public holidays. Check before you go.