World War One Sites - The NETWORLD Database

Mausoleum of Marasesti, Vrancea County, Romania

Among the most important monuments in Europe is the the Mausoleum of the Heroes of Marasesti, a monument built in memory of the heroes who fought at Marasesti battle in the First World War when, although numerically inferior, the Romanian troops managed to reject the German attack. The price of this victory was the death of 480 officers, and of more than 21,000 Romanian soldiers. The soldiers fallen on that day were buried in the vineyards of the landlord Ulise Negropontes, and in 1924 they were be re-buried in the crypt of the monument of the future. In the 163 crypts (154 individual crypts and 9 common crypts) of the 18 corridors of the monument are buried 5,073 soldiers and officers.

Between 1923 and 1938, the mausoleum was built according to the plans of the architects George Cristinel and Constantin Pomponiu.

The construction works began on September 28, 1924, and resumed after 12 years, in 1936. The Mausoleum of Marasesti is a massive construction structured as a pyramid in steps, with an irregular octagonal contour. The top is round like and resembles a turret. It is surrounded by several symmetrical terraces over a length of 60 meters. Over the top there is a cross over 3 meters high, placed on a socket decorated with four eagles. The Dome of Glory was decorated with a stone-cut frieze by the sculptors Ion Jalea and Corneliu Medrea, and feature battle scenes from the summer of 1917.

The museum located near the Mausoleum is a modern construction, built in 1987, in order to house a Marasesti battle museum. The epic story of the great battle of the First World War is represented by a photo documentary exhibition, by military costumes, by weapons and armament from the endowment of the Romanian army of that period, objects belonging to Ecaterina Teodoroiu and General Eremia Grigorescu.

 

http://www.muzeulvrancei.ro/mausolee/mausoleul-marasesti/

http://www.romanianmonasteries.org/ro/romania/mausoleul-de-la-marasesti

Romania, South-East Region, Vrancea County

Type of WWI-heritage

  • War monument

Dimensions

area: 1,600 sqm, height: 30 m

State of repair/preservation

In 2009, Mausoleum consolidation and restoration works were launched, according to the Project "The Romanian Army's Glory Road during the First World War", which was selected within the framework of the Regional Operational Program.

Historical WWI Context

The mausoleum was built in memory of the heroes fallen in the battles of Marasesti during the First World War (1916-1918). The Battle of Marasesti was the result of a series of complex military actions on the Romanian Front during July 24 – August, 1917 in the region of Vrancea. The battle resulted in the failure of the German offensive and in the stabilization of the front in the area until the end of the conflagration. In terms of duration, proportions and intensity, it was the greatest battle that took place on the Romanian front during the First World War. Source: https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C4%83t%C4%83lia_de_la_M%C4%83r%C4%83%C8%99e%C8%99ti

A history of Romania's participation in World War One can be found on the following website: http://www.marelerazboi.ro/  (in Romanian only)

State of legal protection

This is an objective included in the List of Historic Monuments, classified as historical monuments type A (VN-IV-m-A-06631), according to the Order of the Minister of Culture no. 2.828/2015

Owner

Marasesti Town Hall

Opening

The monument can be visited throughout the entire year between 9.00 and 17.00.

Entrance Fee

ADULTS: 8 RON (1.8 EUROS), CHILDREN: 2 RON (0.45 EUROS) (Source: information obtained directly from the owner via telephone, in November 2017)

Information regarding cities, villages, other touristic attractions (non-WWI) nearby

Accomodation

Nearby accommodation can be found in Focsani (20 km away): https://www.turistinfo.ro/focsani/cazare-hoteluri-vile-pensiuni-focsani.html 

Public Transport

Bucharest - Ploiesti - Buzau - Focsani - Tecuci - Barlad - Vaslui railway line (https://www.cfrcalatori.ro/) . Marasesti  Rail Station.

There are regular minibuses through which the town is connected with Focsani, Tecuci, and Adjud (according to the information provided by the Town Hall).

Location

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