Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum celebrates 90 years since its official inauguration on May 10, 2026, marking nearly a century of preserving and showcasing Romania’s rural heritage. Opened in 1936 during the reign of King Carol II of Romania, the museum quickly became one of Europe’s most important open-air museums.
Founded by renowned sociologist Dimitrie Gusti, the institution was envisioned not simply as an ethnographic collection, but as a living social museum dedicated to the everyday life, traditions, and identity of the Romanian village.
Over the past nine decades, the museum has evolved into an internationally recognized cultural landmark while continuing to preserve the authentic spirit of Romania’s rural communities. Today, the museum combines traditional heritage with modern technologies, including virtual tours, mobile applications, artificial intelligence tools, and advanced restoration laboratories designed to protect centuries-old cultural assets.
According to museum director Paula Popoiu, the institution remains “young” through its modern cultural programs, applied research projects, and innovative approaches to preserving Romanian identity in the contemporary world.
A Cultural Landmark Built Through Research
The official inauguration ceremony held on May 10, 1936 brought together major figures of the era, including King Carol II of Romania, Patriarch Miron Cristea, diplomats, politicians, and leading Romanian intellectuals.
The museum was created through the extensive field research carried out by the Bucharest Sociological School led by Dimitrie Gusti. For nearly a decade, teams of students and specialists traveled across Romania documenting rural life, traditions, architecture, and customs. Supported by Prince Carol Royal Cultural Foundation, their work laid the foundation for what would become one of Romania’s most important cultural institutions.
Special Anniversary Events: May 10–17, 2026
To celebrate its 90th anniversary, the museum will host a week-long cultural program between May 10 and May 17, 2026, under the patronage of the President of Romania and Margareta of Romania.
Visitors will be able to explore exhibitions created in collaboration with artists Ileana Oancea, Cătălin Oancea, and Mircia Dumitrescu, alongside photography exhibitions dedicated to the historic monographic campaigns conducted a century ago in Rușețu.
The anniversary program will also feature folk ensembles, traditional craftsmen, and representatives of rural communities from Șanț, Jurilovca, Sârbii-Măgura, and Lumina.
The official opening ceremony of the Village Museum Days will take place on May 10 at the Dumitra Stage starting at 11:00 AM.
Organizers invite visitors to discover Romania’s living traditions and cultural heritage through a unique celebration dedicated to history, identity, and the spirit of the Romanian village.
Free admission will be available on May 10, 2026.