Romania is full of traditional architecture open-air museums that help us not only to better imagine how our ancestors lived, but also to understand the many extraordinary innovations that shaped the world as we know it. We explored the traditional houses from the Banat Village Museum, the ASTRA Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization in Sibiu, and the Fishermen's Village Museum in Tulcea, and we followed the routes of România Atractivă to discover their real-life counterparts — still standing today. See what they look like, what makes them special, and what they teach us about our past, in the article below.

The households in the villages of Harghita County are built from traditional materials abundant in rural areas, such as wood and stone. The architectural style varies according to the owner's taste and preference, the houses are representative of the local cultural values, while they are alos being simple and functional. The houses’ simple shapes, decorative elements, and steep shingle-covered roofs are common throughout the region. Doors, windows, and balconies are often adorned with painted designs and carved wooden ornaments. We found such a house on the Traditional Architecture Villages Route, as well as at the ASTRA Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization in Sibiu.

Periprava is one of the most remote villages in Romania, making it a true "time capsule." Its traditionally built houses still preserve the spirit and identity of the place. Likely dating back to the interwar period, most of the village's homes are constructed from readily available natural materials like reed and adobe. We found a similar house on the Cultural Landscape Route of the Danube Delta, as well as at the Fishermen’s Village Museum in Tulcea.

In Colțești (Rimetea), a village surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, traditional houses are not just structures of stone and wood but living chronicles of history and local traditions. The village's streets reveal a fascinating architectural story, with each house offering something unique. The homes are harmoniously arranged along the road, often enclosed by wooden fences, with gates that seem to tell stories etched in time. Houses with "earthen ovens" reflect the craftsmanship of skilled artisans, while timber-framed houses stand as testaments to the 18th and 19th centuries. Meanwhile, those built after 1870, with stone walls and eclectic-style facades, featuring double-pitched roofs and chamfered gables, dominate the traditional architectural landscape today. We found such houses on the Traditional Architecture Villages Route, as well as at the ASTRA Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization in Sibiu.

Charlottenburg, with its symmetrical architectural beauty and rich history, offers a glimpse into the diverse cultural past of the Banat region and stands as a testament to the resilience of its community. A visit to this village provides a unique experience of Romania’s heritage, in a setting where past and present blend harmoniously. A true gem of the Banat region, the commune of Bogda, located in northern Timiș County, reveals its beauty and history through its picturesque villages, including Charlottenburg, Altringen, Buzad, Comeat, and Sintar. We found such traditional houses on the Traditional Architecture Villages Route, as well as at the Banat Village Museum in Timișoara.