The former Maternity Home was initially a miner's residence built in 1879. You can just recognize the date inscribed on the arch even if excessively blurred by numerous subsequent paintings. After the nationalization in 1948, it became a maternity home, and after 1990, social housing.

The Former Maternity Home illustrates the blend of local traditional architecture and the influences of urban cultured architecture in Transylvania, a phenomenon frequently observed in Roșia Montană's historic center and sporadically in other areas of the locality. Its main facade facing the street is notable for its classicizing decor of pilasters and the arched gate, offering an image inspired by urban cultured architecture. Behind this facade lies a structure typical of local popular architecture, with a compact volume and a high roof, accessible from the porch - locally called "târnaț" - developed on two sides.

The facade facing the public space is defined by the asymmetric positioning of the pilasters framing five windows, four for the rooms facing the street and one for the end of the porch. Decorative elements, such as fluted pilasters and the frieze with relief arabesques, emphasize the subtle integration of cultured elements into traditional architecture. On its eastern facade, the cultured-inspired decoration is only partially present, highlighting the contrast between the urban and rural appearance of the building.

The progressive unfolding of cultured-inspired ornamentation is in line with the general character of the construction and the specific architecture of Roșia Montană. While the facades facing the street show urban influences, those facing the plot are in the rural tradition, with the characteristic porch.

The building is currently in an advanced state of degradation due to lack of maintenance and improper interventions. However, in 2022, a renovation process began, and the hope is that upon completion, the building will regain its beauty and become accessible to the public to the greatest extent possible.

You have listened to the content dedicated to the Former Maternity Home in Roșia Montană.

The UNESCO tour of Rosia Montana is a project implemented by the non-governmental organization ‘Rosia Montana in Patrimoniul Mondial’. The audio-tour is co-financed by Romania’s Administration for National Cultural Funds. We based our story telling on local anecdotes and the works listed on the bibliography on our website. We encourage you to follow the trail that we prepared for you via our website. This will ensure that you discover all objects and their stories of Rosia Montana. Have a pleasant journey and ‘drum bun’ as we say here.