Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House)
About Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House)
The Theodor Pallady Museum is housed in Melik House, one of the oldest merchants' houses preserved in Bucharest, built in the second half of the 18th century. It takes its name from its most important owner, Iacob Melik, a supporter of the 1848 revolutionary movement and author of the work "L'Orient devant l'Occident". He renovated the house in the second half of the 19th century and kept traditional features: the upstairs veranda, the interior wooden staircase and the roof with wide eaves. The building is a listed historic monument (LMI code B-II-m-A-19723).
The museum is a branch of the National Museum of Art of Romania (MNAR) and holds the collection of Serafina and Gheorghe Răut, donated to the state in the late 1960s together with their own art collection. The ensemble shows how Romanian intellectuals of the interwar period built their collections.
What to see
The collection has a core of canvases by the painter Theodor Pallady and over 800 drawings and engravings from his Paris period. Alongside them are French, Dutch, English and Spanish paintings from the 16th to 19th centuries, small antique and Renaissance sculpture, textiles, furniture, oriental ceramics and other decorative art.
The house is worth seeing in its own right: the glazed upstairs veranda with its wooden ceiling, the wooden staircase and the garden around the building.
Good to know
The museum is temporarily closed, for an indefinite period. Until it reopens, the house can only be seen from the street, through the fence.
Information verified on 26 October 2026.
- Theodor Pallady's canvases and the more than 800 drawings and engravings from his Paris period.
- The upstairs veranda with large windows and a wooden ceiling, a traditional feature kept from the old house.
- The interior wooden staircase and the wide-eaved roof of the merchant's house.
- The Răut collection: European painting of the 16th–19th centuries, small antique and Renaissance sculpture, oriental ceramics.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the museum is in the Armenian Quarter, about 1 km from the Universitate area, on Strada Spătarului, a quiet side street. Parking is on the surrounding streets.
Public transport: the nearest metro station is Universitate (M2), about 1 km on foot; bus and tram lines also stop in the area.
- Where to park
Parking is on the surrounding streets, in the paid parking zone. In the city centre the spaces fill up quickly on weekdays.
- Fees & discounts
Full ticket: 16 lei for adults, 4 lei for students and schoolchildren, 8 lei for pensioners. Admission is free on the first Wednesday of the month, on 1 December, on 15 January and for the categories exempted under the MNAR tariffs (children under 18 during school holidays, students and pupils of the fine arts, members of the Visual Artists' Union and others). Combined ticket MNAR + Art Collections Museum + Zambaccian + Pallady: 120 lei. Guided tour in Romanian: 150 lei per hour for 1–10 people; in English or French: 250 lei per hour for 1–10 people; guided tours must be booked at least 7 days ahead.
- Rules
Photos for strictly personal use can be taken with a phone or camera, without flash or tripod. Artworks must not be touched. No booking is needed for a visit without a guide; guided tours are booked in advance.
- Facilities
online tickets · guided tours by appointment (Romanian, English, French)
Frequently asked questions about Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House)
- How much is a ticket to Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House)?
- A ticket to Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House) costs 16 lei (students 4 lei, pensioners 8 lei). Full ticket: 16 lei for adults, 4 lei for students and schoolchildren, 8 lei for pensioners. Admission is free on the first Wednesday of the month, on 1 December, on 15 January and for the categories exempted under the MNAR tariffs (children under 18 during school holidays, students and pupils of the fine arts, members of the Visual Artists' Union and others). Combined ticket MNAR + Art Collections Museum + Zambaccian + Pallady: 120 lei. Guided tour in Romanian: 150 lei per hour for 1–10 people; in English or French: 250 lei per hour for 1–10 people; guided tours must be booked at least 7 days ahead.
- How long does a visit to Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House) take?
- A visit to Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House) takes about ½ – 1 hours (small house with intimate rooms).
- Can you visit Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House) with kids?
- Yes, Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House) is suitable for children (small museum with a garden).
- Where can I park at Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House)?
- There is paid parking at Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House) (on the surrounding streets). Parking is on the surrounding streets, in the paid parking zone. In the city centre the spaces fill up quickly on weekdays.
- How do I get to Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House)?
- Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House) is located at Strada Spătarului 22, București. By car: the museum is in the Armenian Quarter, about 1 km from the Universitate area, on Strada Spătarului, a quiet side street. Parking is on the surrounding streets. Public transport: the nearest metro station is Universitate (M2), about 1 km on foot; bus and tram lines also stop in the area.
- When is the best time to visit Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House)?
- The best season for Theodor Pallady Museum (Melik House): All year round (temporarily closed).
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