The National Museum of the Romanian Peasant — Attraction in Bucharest

Unusual museum, badly laid out but with some hidden treasures. Almost no signs for the museum on surrounding streets, we came from the west and had some trouble finding the entrance on the east side. The main gallery has a small collection of wooden crosses and carved doors, plus an entire wooden peasant's cottage bought in 1909. The space is too large for the few exhibits, and they're is no information on English. Many of the pieces and photos have no information at all, but my impression was that this gallery is largely devoted to the museum's original founder, rather than to Romanian Peasant culture. Most of the info panels are quotations from a publication of his from 1936. I did not find the man interesting enough to justify so many photos of him and quotations by him, but I admit that I don't speak the language. The exhibition continues on the ground floor, with an entry that is inside the cafeteria and also has no signposts. Here there is another big gallery that is under filled, but on the walls are some superb tapestries mixing traditional techniques with modern themes, and also a room full of beautiful traditional girls' blouses. These two galleries were worth the visit on their own. The ladies who met us in each gallery were extremely helpful, keen to help us get the most out of the visit, and they really added to our enjoyment of the exhibit. Overall, a poorly laid out and abysmally signposted museum which has some hidden treasures and staff who make up for the lack of competence of the...

Would give zero stars if I could.

It has such potential but isn't being used to its fullest potential.

I was very interested to learn about peasant culture as a foreigner but sadly this didn't happen.

My first barrier was I don't speak romanian. The descriptions were only in Romanian I understand we are coming to you but this doesn't make it inclusive for those from other countries. Most museums I visit have at least English french Italian etc.

The museum was empty of visitors and pretty empty of items. Just a couple of rooms open. What we could explore was very limited and we quickly left after about 10 minutes max . Very disappointing. Complete waste of time.

Artefacts which looked interesting seem to have been lacking any overarching narrative to tie them all together or any explanation of their significance.

What we could make out appeared to be discussing the museum founder extensively for some reason and possibly wealthier peasants. No sense of social hardships or the difficulties of peasant life.

Lots of pictures of the museum etc

To top it all off very unfriendly and unwelcoming staff(Responses on here seem quite hostile come to mention it).

Added: Responses to critical reviews seem detached from reality or blatant untruths.

Such a shame. left deflated.

Visit the village...

O rusine si mare tristete nationala. Am vizitat muzeul pe Martie 13. La intrare, undeva "ascunsa", casieria cu o angajata care parea a fi deranjata si foarte nemultumita de prezenta noastra. Nu ni s-a oferit nici o informatie despre muzeu, nici macar o indrumare a la "incepeti pe aici". Si mai suparator, nici o indicatie care sa comunice absenta colectiei permanente a muzeului! La ora actuala, precum am inteles mai tirziu, muzeul este in "lucrari" - care nici nu se vad, nici nu se aud (nu se lucra cind am fost acolo). In varianta actuala, muzeul nu arata decit expozitii temporare in 2 camere (+ o sala care gazduieste o casa). Bineinteles, ni se spune mai tirziu de alte doua expozitii temporare la care se ajunge pe afara, pe linga restaurantul din spate, la o usa pe linga alta usa, etc. (lipsa semnelor directionale nu mai mira)... Din nefericire, aici la cea de-a doua expozitie temporara, persoana care este anjagata sa pazeasca, este la telefon, neintrerupind conversatia la vederea noastra. A fost o incursiune in nepasarea comunista care isi intinde sechelele la zeci de ani dupa... Aceeasi indiferenta, acelasi plictis (exemplificat foarte bine de angajatele de paza care stau in grup sa vorbeasca si sa isi plinga plictisul in vazul si auzul vizitatorilor). De ce? De ce nu putem sa avem macar un dram de mindrie si sa o aratam prin ceea ce facem, cum ne purtam si cum dam mai departe? Daca Directorul Muzeului ar citi asta (si ar trebui sa citeasca) ar intelege ca este timpul sa reformeze toata dezamagirea asta care copleseste vizitatorul (nu mai spun de Samurcas, fondatorul muzeului care probabil se intoarce in mormint la vederea acestei lipse de grija a valorii cladite cu atita truda si dragoste). E timpul sa ne trezim si sa cerem institutiilor "de stat" sa isi faca datoria fata de noi, fata de tara care trebuie sa fie corecta, cu mindrie si cu grija de a da mai departe.

Multumesc persoanei care a raspuns recenziei mele si apreciez comentariul in legatura cu budgetul de la stat. Din nefericire, probleme ridicate nu se leaga exclusiv de budget. Pe website-ul muzeului trebuie scris mare si clar - Colectia Permanenta a Muzeului NU SE POATE VIZIONA. Aceasta precizare nu exista, precum nu exista nici in muzeu (macar la intrare, sau macar la casierie, unde ar trebui sa se comunice acest fapt). Si apoi, comportamentul angajatilor nu se poate scuza prin lipsa bugetului de stat. Ci mai degraba prin statul pe loc. Eu stiu ca se poate mult mai bine. Si ca suntem in stare de mult mai bine. Dar aceasta motivatie, chiar daca nu exista in angajati, trebuie "impusa" si educata. Va doresc aceasta putere de a inspira aceasta raspundere in fiecare din angajatii dvs. Ei trebuie sa va reprezinte chiar daca pazesc sau cureaza expozitiile muzeului...