This Romanian city balances neo-classical buildings with 1960s architecture. Its active center draws young crowds, while local restaurants serve traditional stews and regional wines.
In Romania's Moldavia region near the Carpathian Mountains, Bacău is home to the George Bacovia Theater where you can watch contemporary Romanian plays, the Iulian Antonescu History Museum with its collection of 2,000-year-old Dacian artifacts, and the Victor Anestin Observatory where you can join weekly stargazing sessions. Visit in December to experience the Festival of Moldavian Winter Traditions, or come in spring to see thousands of roses blooming in the 19th-century Rose Park.
Getting to Bacău
The George Enescu International Airport connects Bacău with Bucharest and several European cities. The city's railway station serves as a major transit point on Romania's main railway line, linking to Bucharest, Suceava, and Iași. By road, you can reach Bacău via the DN2 (E85) highway or take the E574 route to Brașov in Transylvania.
Museums and Cultural Life
Explore ancient Dacian pottery and regional coins at the Iulian Antonescu History Museum. You can attend weekly concerts by the Mihail Jora Philharmonic Orchestra during their September-to-May season. The George Bacovia Theater runs productions of both Romanian and international plays, continuing a tradition that began in 1948. At the Victor Anestin Astronomical Observatory, you can join evening stargazing sessions and participate in astronomy workshops.
Green Spaces and Nature
The one-hectare Rose Park (Parcul Trandafirilor), dating from 1850, contains over 5,000 rose bushes and several rare Ginkgo biloba trees. In the 24-acre Cancicov Park in the city center, you'll find walking paths, tennis courts, and outdoor fitness equipment. At Șerbănești Lake, you can observe 147 bird species among the reed-covered islands and waters, including herons, egrets, and various waterfowl.
Medieval and Modern Architecture
The Precista Church, built in 1491, represents classic Moldovan architecture with its original stone and brick walls. Look for the 77-meter tower of the Catholic Cathedral in the city center, and visit the Church of St. Nicholas to see its neo-Classical western towers. Next to St. Nicholas, you can examine the remaining walls of a 16th-century church.
Jewish Heritage
Walk along Strada Mare and Strada Leca to see the buildings where Jewish merchants and industrialists ran their businesses throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. These streets were once filled with shops selling everything from household goods to industrial equipment. The community's new center at Erou Costel Marius Hasan Street documents the Jewish community's role in developing Bacău's economy and culture.
