The history of the ASTRA Museum, a museum in full air, began over a century ago, with the ambition of organizing an ethnographic collection in Sibiu. A simple stroll through its 96 hectares reveals to visitors a picture of rural life in Transylvania and Romania, materialized by over 400 houses, domestic annexes and technical installations. This landscape is enlivened by craft workshops, museum events, fairs and traditional music and dance festivals organized here, thanks to which folk creation retains its authenticity, while adapting to today's pace of life.

Over the years, young people from Spain, Brazil, Croatia, Lithuania, the USA, France, Belgium and Romania have taken part in volunteer programs. All activities were carried out under the careful coordination of ASTRA museum specialists. At the same time, the hands-on experience was supported by educational moments that allowed participants to interact with local traditions and customs through practical demonstrations by folk craftsmen.

Volunteers will join the museum's large family of restorers and participate under their guidance in restoration operations (both planned and emergency work). With over 400 houses and installations to maintain, with thatched, shingled or reeded roofs, and various wooden construction elements, as well as floors, handrails, stages, play areas, spaces for themed workshops and over 20,000 ethnographic objects (mainly made of wood), the team of restorers will be present Monday to Friday in the museum, punctually, to ensure that the monuments are in order and that visitors can wander safely around our great museum.

On the program (teams of volunteers will be organized according to the type of carpentry work involved and will work under the coordination of ASTRA museum heritage specialists):

- Restoration of vernacular architecture

- Reconstruction of ethnographic heritage (monuments and movable cultural assets)

- Joinery, carpentry, shingle and other workshops: wood cleaning, wood drying, biological damage control, fireproofing, dimensional stabilization, water repellency, additive removal, special treatment methods, consolidation, restoration and reconstitution of form, chromatic reintegration, finishing operations.

You'll be using tools such as axes, hammers, chisels, knives, wedges, rulers, saws, chainsaws, etc. We'll take into account the training and learning interests of volunteers!

The rhythm of the work is planned as follows:

7.30- 10.00- work in the workshops

10.00-10.30- breakfast with the restorers

10.30-14.30- work in the museum

14.30-15.00- lunch at the Diana Inn/Restaurant

15.00-20.00- Free time.

Dinner at Auberge Diana/ Restaurant

Working as a team, you will always be supervised by a restaurateur.

Accommodation is provided in the museum hostel called Diana for 6 people in 3 mixed rooms, with shared bathroom facilities. Toilets and showers are shared.

There's a fridge and kitchenette where volunteers can heat up food/prepare tea whenever they like.

Lunch (after 2pm) and dinner (around 7pm) will be prepared directly by the museum restaurant. (Very important: the menu is fixed, not à la carte). Breakfast will be taken with the restorers at 10:00 a.m. during their break (or upon waking, according to their preference). Coffee and tea can be prepared at the hostel at any time. If they're out of town on the weekend, volunteers can take their meals with them from the restaurant.

Saturdays and Sundays are off. There's no work at the museum. You can choose to occupy their time as you wish. On request, the museum's volunteer manager will organize themed excursions in the surrounding area, or rent out bicycles. Alternatively, there are a variety of ways to spend your free time in the afternoons and at weekends. The museum is located 3 km from the town of Sibiu, close to the zoo, the mountain resort of PăltiniÈ and other villages with vernacular architecture. You can walk, cycle, take a boat or streetcar on request. You can also take a guided tour of the museum and city of Sibiu.

During the summer months, numerous festivals, plays and concerts are held in the city. You can also take part in events at the ASTRA Museum.

No specific skills are required to take part.

In the days following your pre-registration, the International Relations Department will contact you by e-mail to arrange a telephone conversation.

This will enable us to get to know you better and give you more details about the workcamp (organization, arrival arrangements, etc.).

You can ask us any questions you may have, and let us know what you need to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

You will then receive a roadmap summarizing all useful information about the site.

• Access

Meet us on June 9, 2025 at the third entrance to the museum, near theAuberge Diana.

To get there, you can fly into Bucharest, then take the bus or train to Sibiu. Sibiu also has an airport.

We recommend, however, that you take the responsible route, by bus, train or carpool.

Once in Sibiu, bus 13 will take you to the museum for the meeting point.