Redut - Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca)
History
The building originally consisted of three houses built in the 16th century, which were merged in the 18th century. At the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, the city’s most important inn, the White Horse Guesthouse, operated here. During the reign of Joseph II (1780–1792), the building was repurposed for military use. In 1794, the city regained control and carried out significant renovations led by Bavarian-born architect Joseph Leder. At that time, the guesthouse was expanded with a spacious ballroom, equivalent in height to two floors, complete with a gallery.
Between 1810 and 1812, Joseph Leder himself rented the inn and also designed the southern wing of the building. In the 19th century, the structure became known as the Redut and served as the center of the city elite’s balls. It hosted many significant cultural and historical events of the 19th century. For example, in 1848, the union of Hungary with Transylvania was proclaimed here. The Transylvanian Museum Association and the Hungarian Cultural Association of Transylvania were founded in this building, and in 1897, the first motion picture screening took place here.
In 1925, the building served as an officers' casino, and in 1958, the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania moved into the Redut, where it still operates to this day.
Style
Its striking Classical-style main façade is articulated with risalits and pilasters. Beneath the building lies a medieval cellar, and wall investigations have revealed Gothic and Renaissance-style framing elements. A distinctive feature is the small tower at the western end of the gabled roof, which is visible from a distance and has become a characteristic landmark. This is where the clock from the Monostor Gate, demolished in 1843, was placed.Famous residents
The Italian fencing master Gaetano Biasini ran a school in the Redut. His work helped popularize aristocratic fencing in the first half of the 19th century. Among his famous students were Sándor Bölöni Farkas, Count Ádám Kendeffy, Count Ferenc Béldi, Baron Lajos Jósika, and the younger Count Miklós Wesselényi. Franz Liszt performed twice in the building. Johannes Brahms and the virtuoso violinist Joseph Joachim also gave concerts here.Renovation
In 2017, extensive renovation and preservation work began on the Redut building, home to the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania. During the three-year restoration of this historically significant monument, the museum was closed to visitors. The project was funded by the Cluj County Council, the institution’s maintainer. The contractor was given three years to complete the full renovation: in 2017, 16% of the work was completed; in 2018, 58%; and the remaining 26% was finished in 2019. The project renewed the façade on Unirii (Memorandumului) Street as well as the roof structure. The total cost of the restoration was 800,000 lei. The Redut, once the site of important political and cultural events, has thus been restored to a worthy state to continue preserving its rich historical legacy.Present day
Today, the Redut building in Cluj-Napoca serves as the headquarters of the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania (Muzeul Etnografic al Transilvaniei). The museum hosts both temporary and permanent exhibitions, organizes scientific and cultural events, and houses its administrative offices here. Additionally, due to its monument status and historic atmosphere, the Redut building is occasionally used for concerts, performances, book launches, conferences, and other community events.
