Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Romania Palatul Administrativ in Satu Mare
AO Edited

Palatul Administrativ in Satu Mare

This Brutalist building was once the tallest in Romania.

Satu Mare, Romania

Added By
Suzanne Hendriks
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
A view of the Palatul administrativ building.   historynerdxl / Atlas Obscura User
Another view of the Administrative Palace in Satu Mare.   historynerdxl / Atlas Obscura User
A view from the town square next to Palatul administrativ.   historynerdxl / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The city slogan for the trilingual Transylvanian town of Satu Mare is "More than you think." The town's population is a mix of Germans, Hungarians, and Romanians, and the local architecture boasts some epic Brutalist beauty. The building is still in use, hosting the city council and city hall. 

This prime example of socialist Brutalist architecture in Satu Mare is the Administrative Palace. The building stands a proud 97 meters tall in the center of the Transylvanian town of Satu Mare. From the top you can see all the way to Hungary.

The three smaller towers alongside the high tower are meant to represent the three cultures of Satu Mare: the Romanians, the Hungarians, and the Germans. The high tower itself is meant to represent their unity.

It was designed by architect Nicolae Porumbescu and he was assisted by local Ludovic Gyüre. About 1,000 construction workers worked on it for over a decade between 1972 and 1984. For a short while, the Administrative Palace was the tallest building in Romania, and it remains the highest building in the region.

Related Tags

Architecture Brutalism
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights

Discover Romania's Medieval Castles & Culture.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

historynerdxl

Published

March 10, 2025

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Palatul Administrativ in Satu Mare
Piața 25 Octombrie 1
Satu Mare
Romania
47.788835, 22.873282
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Szatmárcseke Calvinist Cemetery

Szatmárcseke, Hungary

miles away

The Merry Cemetery

Săpânța, Romania

miles away

Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance

Sighetu Marmației, Romania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Romania

Romania

Europe

Places 73
Stories 5

Nearby Places

Szatmárcseke Calvinist Cemetery

Szatmárcseke, Hungary

miles away

The Merry Cemetery

Săpânța, Romania

miles away

Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance

Sighetu Marmației, Romania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Romania

Romania

Europe

Places 73
Stories 5

Related Places

  • Ponds at Barbican Estate.

    London, England

    The Barbican Estate

    This sprawling, Brutalist estate feels like a city within a city.

  • Piazza degli Olmi

    Matera, Italy

    Piazza degli Olmi

    A unique urban square characterized by raw concrete structures and bold geometric forms.

  • Lit in the evening.

    Tashkent, Uzbekistan

    Hotel Uzbekistan

    Once a luxurious flagship of the Soviet Union, this Brutalist structure remains a landmark of Tashkent’s communist past.

  • Mantua, Italy

    Cartiera Burgo (Burgo Paper Mill)

    The "floating factory" was a highlight in the career of the Italian architect known for his unusual use of reinforced concrete.

  • Detail of Breuer’s concrete patterns

    New Haven, Connecticut

    Pirelli Building

    After decades of neglect, a brutalist icon is getting new life as an eco-friendly hotel.

  • Banská Bystrica, Slovakia

    Múzeum Slovenského Národného Povstania (Museum of the Slovak National Uprising)

    A monument to the bloody fight against fascism in Slovakia during World War II.

  • Isthmia, Greece

    Isthmia Prime Hotel

    A closer look at this somewhat faded hotel by the Corinth Canal reveals the architectural undertones of a genius.

  • Sewoon Sangga’s northern facade, which was recently redesigned.

    Seoul, South Korea

    Sewoon Sangga (Sewoon Plaza)

    Its humdrum facade only adds to its electrifying appeal: a rooftop with panoramic views of a shapeshifting metropolis.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

See Fewer Ads


Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Puzzles
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.