It is the site of the 'Pitești Phenomenon', considered the most violent programme of 're-education' through torture in the Eastern Bloc, and the building has been a listed monument since 2023.
About the place
The prison was designed by the architect C. Duțulescu and built between 1938 and 1941 on the edge of town; the first political prisoners arrived in 1942. Between 1949 and 1951 several hundred students were tortured here by fellow prisoners led by Eugen Țurcanu, to make them renounce their faith and friends and become torturers themselves. The prison operated until 1977; the building then passed to a construction company and, after 1990, to private firms that turned it into offices.
The Pitești Prison Memorial Foundation, set up in 2011, has installed permanent and temporary exhibitions, artworks, a bookshop and the Ascension chapel, in the former Room 4 Hospital. Another wing holds the Museum of Communism for Children, opened in 2022. The former prison was listed as a historic monument in July 2023.
Good to know
- The memorial is open Thursday to Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00; it is closed Monday to Wednesday.
- Children under 12 are not admitted to the memorial because of its subject; they can visit the Museum of Communism for Children in the same building.
- Guided tours are given in Romanian and English; groups of more than 10 should book on +40 734 365 102.
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 11–18 |
| Friday | 11–18 |
| Saturday | 11–18 |
| Sunday | 11–18 |
Hours may change on public holidays. Check before you go.