Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square)
About Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square)
Piața Trandafirilor, Roses Square, is the central square of Târgu Mureș: a long promenade of about 550 metres, 40–80 metres wide, with a park in the middle and a road on each side. The place appears in documents from 1596 as the town's "market". It was later called Széchenyi (from 1860) and King Ferdinand (1920–1940), and received its present name in 1964. Hungarians call it Rózsák tere, and in everyday speech it is also known as Főtér, the "Main Square".
At one end of the square stands the Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension of the Lord, consecrated in 1934, with the equestrian statue of Avram Iancu in front of it, unveiled in 1978. From the square it is easy to reach the Palace of Culture, the medieval Citadel and the Teleki-Bolyai Library.
What you can see
The central park is crossed by paths with flower beds and benches. Here you will find the Flower Clock, made in the 1960s and now a symbol of the city, planted every year with a different floral design, and the statue of Gábor Bethlen, put up in 2020. Along the sides stand the façades of historic buildings: the Apollo Palace, built in 1820–1822 for Count Sámuel Teleki; the Toldalagi Palace, a Baroque building of the 18th century, now the ethnography department of the museum; the tower of the Franciscan church, the only part left of the monastery demolished in 1971; and the Roman Catholic church of St John the Baptist, a Baroque church built between 1728 and 1764. The northern part of the square is protected as a historic ensemble.
A good route is a walk along the path from the cathedral to the other end of the square, with a stop at the Flower Clock; in the evening, the buildings and the park are lit up.
The Christmas market
The Târgu Mureș Christmas market is usually held from the end of November or the beginning of December until January, in Piața Teatrului (Theatre Square), around the big fir tree next to the Flower Clock. It has stalls of local craftspeople and producers, a food area, concerts at weekends, carols sung by children from kindergartens and schools, meetings with Santa Claus and the Santa Bus, and the festive lights are switched on at the opening. For the 2026 edition the town hall has announced the opening on 27 November and the closing on 27 December, daily from 11:00 to 21:00, with the festive lights switched on on 5 December.
Good to know
The square is open at any time and can be visited free of charge. The roads along the sides of the park are open to traffic, but during events (Zilele Târgumureșene, parades, religious processions, the Christmas market) traffic is restricted or temporarily closed. The statue of Avram Iancu is being restored, and the area around it may be fenced off.
- The Flower Clock in the central park, the symbol of the city, replanted every year with a different design.
- The equestrian statue of Avram Iancu, in front of the Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension of the Lord.
- The historic façades along the sides: the Apollo Palace, the Toldalagi Palace, the tower of the Franciscan church.
- The Christmas market and the festive lights in December, in Piața Teatrului, next to the tree at the Flower Clock.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the square is right in the centre of Târgu Mureș. From the town's railway station it is ~2 km (~3 minutes), from Transilvania airport ~18 km (~20 minutes), from Cluj-Napoca ~110 km (~1 h 25 min) and from Sibiu ~125 km (~2 h 20 min). The roads along the sides of the park are open to traffic; the easiest way is to leave the car in a nearby car park and continue on foot.
Public transport: there is an urban bus stop in the square, and from the railway station the centre can also be reached on foot, in about 25 minutes (~2 km).
- Where to park
Around the square you park on the street, paid by zone, or in nearby public car parks. Spaces fill up quickly at weekends and during events, when some of the streets are also closed.
- Fees & discounts
The square is a public space with free access, and there is no charge.
- Rules
The square is a public space: photography is free. The statues and the flower clock must not be climbed or touched, and the flower beds must not be trodden on. On event days, areas fenced off or occupied by a stage may be closed to access.
- Facilities
Park with paths, flowers and benches · terraces, cafés and restaurants along the sides of the square · bus stop in the square
Frequently asked questions about Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square)
How much is a ticket to Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square)?
Admission to Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square) is free (public square, free access). More under “Fees & discounts”
What are the opening hours of Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square)?
Opening hours at Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square): daily open 24 hours. More under “Opening hours”
How long does a visit to Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square) take?
A visit to Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square) takes about 45 min (without museums and buildings).
Can you visit Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square) with kids?
Yes, Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square) is suitable for children (park with paths and flowers).
Where can I park at Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square)?
There is paid parking at Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square) (on the street, around the square). More under “Where to park”
How do I get to Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square)?
Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square) is located at Piața Trandafirilor, Târgu Mureș, Mureș County. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square)?
The best season for Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square): All year round (Christmas market in winter).
Reviews
Other attractions nearby
The closest attractions to Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square), sorted by distance.
