The building served as the official headquarters of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza from 1859 to 1862.
During World War I, the mansion briefly housed the seat of the Romanian government and King Ferdinand I after the fall of Bucharest.
The mansion was originally constructed in the early 19th century for the Catargiu family before becoming a princely residence.
It is one of the few surviving aristocratic residences in Iași that retains its original internal layout and decorative stucco work.
The collection includes the original silverware and porcelain services used during the princely banquets of the 1860s.
The building survived the Allied bombings of World War II, which destroyed several adjacent historic properties on the street.
The Union Museum, housed in the former Princiary Residence, is a 19th-century neoclassical building that served as the temporary residence of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza during the unification of the Romanian Principalities. The residence functions as a historic house museum, displaying original furniture, period art, and personal belongings of the ruling couple. It features ornate reception rooms, including the Throne Room and the ballroom, preserved to reflect the lifestyle of the mid-19th-century Romanian elite. The museum focuses on the administrative and symbolic role of Iași as the de facto capital during the formation of the modern Romanian state. It is managed by the Moldova National Museum Complex in Iași. The structure stands on Strada Alexandru Lăpușneanu, a historic thoroughfare known for its legacy as the city's primary aristocratic promenade.
The central grand staircase and the ornate mirror in the main reception salon.
Combine your visit with the nearby Metropolitan Cathedral, located within walking distance.
Ask the curators about the specific symbolism hidden in the neoclassical moldings of the ballroom.
Check for temporary historical exhibitions in the basement galleries before heading to the upper floors.
Avoid rushing through the ground floor, as the most detailed historical documentation is found in the entry-level exhibits.
Closed on Mondays.
Photography is usually permitted without flash; avoid touching the antique velvet upholstery.
