New ‘Steampunk Transylvania’ Museum Opens in Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Transylvania, a region of central Romania, is forever associated with tales of vampires. But Cluj-Napoca, the area’s unofficial capital, is also a hotbed for steampunk. We’ve already taken our readers to Enigma Café and the city’s other steampunk-themed eateries, but now there’s another attraction that should solidify the region’s status as a must-see stop on any European steampunk tour.

Steampunk Transylvania, which opened June 18, is touted as Cluj-Napoca’s first steampunk museum, but it’s really one of the few steampunk museums anywhere (the other one that comes to mind is Steampunk HQ in Oamaru, New Zealand). The proprietors have also described it as “the weirdest place in Cluj” and “strangest museum in the country.”

“Our goal is to increase interest in this fantastic subgenre of science fiction,” they write on the website. “We would like to offer unforgettable and motivational experiences for the next generations and to offer everyone an out-of-home experience motivating people to dare to dream and to create.” Eventually they’d also like to organize a small steampunk festival.

Some exhibits will be permanent, but they’re also seeking items to buy or rent, mostly the latter, from artists around the world. The goal is to change the content every three or four months.

You can take a look at the current exhibits in the gallery below. Thanks to Botond Istvándi for allowing use of the photos, and a hat tip to Steampunk Librarian Mary Anne Ellis for alerting us to the museum’s opening.

Steampunk Transylvania is located at Str. Stefan Octavian Iosif no. 4 in Cluj-Napoca. It’s open Thursdays through Sundays from 12 noon to 9 p.m. Learn more on the website and Facebook page.