Bánffy Palace, built between 1774 and 1785 by Count György Bánffy, governor of Transylvania, dominates the eastern side of Piața Unirii. The architect, Johann Eberhard Blaumann, designed a baroque facade with classical pretensions: a Corinthian portico, an ornate balustrade with twelve statues, and a grand interior courtyard.
Today the palace houses the Art Museum, but it deserves attention on its own. The carved doorway, the courtyard, and the grand staircase are open to anyone visiting the museum. Concerts and chamber music recitals are held in the inner courtyard in summer.