“Welcome to Mărțișor” the voice of Tudor Arghezi echoes through the walls. The Muzeul Tudor Arghezi stands before us. It is a place of history and memories. The museum is in the house where the poet lived. He was one of Romania’s great innovators of poetic language.
Tudor Arghezi lived here from 1930. The house became known as Mărțișor. In his will, Arghezi wanted his house to become a memorial museum. This wish was fulfilled in 1974.
Let’s step inside the Muzeul Tudor Arghezi. The building has a ground floor and an upper floor. There are 18 rooms plus other spaces. The house is simple and unpretentious. Here, you can see furniture from Arghezi’s time. You’ll also find books art and original documents. These belonged to Tudor Arghezi who lived from 1880 to 1967.
In the courtyard stands the printing press for Bilete de Papagal. Volumes documents and family images are displayed here. You can also watch a documentary called Prisaca. It was made by Paul Anghel in 1956. It is subtitled in English.
Mărțișor is famous for its orchard. The museum organizes literary workshops. These are for kindergartens schools and families. These workshops take place from September 15 to June 15 each school year.
Arghezi acquired the land in 1926. He began building the house with help from Jahanes a Swede. The house was designed by architect George Matei Cantacuzino. Arghezi and his wife Paraschiva moved here in 1930. Only three of the 20 rooms were finished at that time.
Between 1935 and 1937 the annex was built. This became Arghezi’s printing house. He worked here with his son Baruțu. They printed books and magazines. In 1948 Arghezi’s property was nationalized. Arghezi gave up his property. He did so under the condition that it would become a memorial house after his death.
Seven years after his death the Muzeul Tudor Arghezi opened on May 20 1974. Since 2006 it has been a memorial museum. It is under the management of the National Museum of Romanian Literature.
Arghezi’s daughter Mitzura Domnica was the honorary director of the museum for a long time. The museum was on the upper floor. The ground floor belonged to the heirs. Traian Radu a close friend of Mitzura Arghezi remained an heir.
In the garden where the first house and apiary were the tombs of the Arghezi family are now located.
Inside the Muzeul Tudor Arghezi you will find the writer’s study. It holds most of his library. There are thousands of books. You can also see a radio from the 1930s a table and a bed. Above the bed is a large wooden icon. It is over 150 years old.
In another room are medals and decorations. These were given to Arghezi by the Romanian state. They recognized his work. He also received the European Gottfried von Herder Prize on April 30 1965. He was the first Romanian writer to receive this award.
Also displayed are a landscape by Francisc Șirato portraits by R Maniu and a landscape by Nicolae Dărăscu. The writer’s bust by sculptor Oscar Han is also here. As is an Expression Head by A. Băieșan and a portrait of Tinca by Lucia Demetriade-Bălăcescu.
Another room served as Arghezi’s laboratory. It contains an Atwater Kent radio. Arghezi bought it in 1927. The display cases in this room hold medals with Arghezi’s image and his personal belongings. Next door is the room of his two children. It still has their furniture toys and school tablets.
In the living room you’ll see a gramophone and a samovar. Paintings and portraits by famous painters adorn the walls. In another room are hundreds of books a tape recorder from 1956 and a century-old cupboard. A photo shows Arghezi at 82 years old. There are also maps of his travels in Europe.
The building next to the house has an exhibition. It displays Arghezi’s poetry prose manuscripts and documents. You can also see magazines he edited and images from the history of Mărțișor. The Muzeul Tudor Arghezi offers a glimpse into the life and work of a literary giant. A visit here is a journey through Romanian literary history.