Pitesti Prison Memorial, Southern Romania, Romania

5Ana B 5:00 PM May 6, 2018

...that was the moment when I realized how free we are, in fact...
If you have ever doubted your freedom, if you have ever thought you had the worst life, you should take part in a tour of the Pitesti Memorial. Experience is unique, the feelings you have when you visit those rooms are completely new. I did not know much about the Memorial, even though I live in the same city. One of the days that marked my life, in the best sense, was that one when I passed the threshold of this place. I cannot describe all the feelings I had when I was listening to the explanations of the guide. How people who have gone through 'reeducation' suffered just make you ask yourself, 'In what century has all happened?' And then the answer hits you: not even one has passed ... That was the moment when I realized how free we are, in fact. The Pitesti Memorial is the place where you find out new knowledge about the history of our country, but the most important thing is that you leave with a new perception of the moment you live.

5Alin M 5:00 PM Jul 25, 2019

If you're in Pitesti, you must not miss it.
First of all, it is only one of two former communist prisons in the country that is now a memorial and can be visited. It also happens to be the place in which one of the most barbaric actions in recent history took place: students were forced to torture other students, even their friends and colleagues, in order to provide the secret police with information that would lead to further arrests. It is also worth noticing that everything in here is the result of the work done by a private and small NGO. Therefore it's more impressive than most official museums, especially since it is very professional. They're also constantly working on improving English materials, which is a bonus. They do have guides though, and they speak English. I would also point out that it is free of charge, so a small donation goes a long way. The history of the place is incredible, it is, for me, by far the most interesting thing in the city, so if you're a tourist, it is an absolute must.