Brukenthal Museum

This is an outstanding museum based around the collection of Samuel von Brukenthal, an 18th century governor of Sibiu who sponsored major cultural projects in an effort to make Sibiu a centre of intellectualism. (His legacy includes both a school on Piata Huet and the museum that carries his name). Built between 1778 and 1788 as a private house, the modern day museum is home to over 1000 works of art by artists as diverse as Van Mieris, Carriera, da Cadore, Raoux and Titian, and often includes modern works commissioned from local artists especially for the museum. Other exhibitions not to be missed include the Transylvanian sculptures in stone, print works, stamps, carpets and the Gothic exhibition: the latter is the first permanent exhibition to explore the roots of the phenomenon in the visual arts of the late 18th and 19th centuries, emphasizing literary sources and the historical context of the Neo-Gothic reaction to the enlightenment. To be honest, there is not a duff collection in the entire building, and you really should allow yourself enough time to have the luxury of being able to see it all.