Revolutiei Blvd

Arad, Arad, Romania

Named “Little Vienna” by historian Nicolae Iorga, Arad is an actual open-air museum, with more than 100 historical buildings part of the National Cultural Heritage. One of the most beautiful and representative buildings is Andrenyi Palace. The palace was built between 1880 and 1890 by a family of wealthy merchants from Ghioroc and was named after them. In 1936 Baron Andrényi started an iron products shop in Arad, called “The Golden Horse Comb”. In 1948 the palace became the Pioneers’ Palace, and in 1990 the Children’s Palace. The façade was built in a Romanesque style, with Baroque style elements. The U-shaped building has stucco ornaments, and the elongated sides surround a garden. The windows and doors, made of noble wood along the ceiling and the interior walls are richly decorated, the interior marble staircase made of marble, are are original and well preserved. After the nationalization, the Andrényi family lost everything, including the building that bears its name until present day. In order to make a living, the old baron had to carry sand in a cart. Karoly, his eldest son, had to work as a driver on an eductor-basin cleaner, and the youngest became an electrician. The Palace could host a fantastic hotel in the most central part of the city after its restoration.