Haszmann Pál Museum, Cernat, Covasna

1. Machinery and some agricultural machinery

One of the most impressive parts of the museum is the extensive collection of agricultural machinery and tools, which illustrates the evolution of field work techniques in the Szekler area. From traditional wooden ploughs and harrows to the first mechanized implements brought to the villages of Covasna, each piece on display speaks of the ingenuity and adaptation of the rural community to change. On display in the museum courtyard are old tractors, threshing machines, threshing machines and various devices used in the households of yesteryear, many of which are functional thanks to careful restoration. This gives visitors a close-up look at how the land was worked in the past and how these tools shaped agricultural life in the region.

2. The traditional houses and gates

Inside the museum, traditional Saxon houses form a real museum village, where rural architecture is preserved in its authentic form. Each dwelling is brought from different villages in the area and carefully reconstructed, so that visitors can step inside century-old households. Painted furniture, terracotta stoves, household objects and carved wooden details faithfully recreate the atmosphere of a former Szekler home.

Equally impressive are Secler Gates, true symbols of local identity. Carved by hand, with traditional motifs and ancient inscriptions, these gates have for centuries marked the entrance to the entrance to the Szekler households and reflect respect for tradition and craftsmanship. In the museum you can admire many of these gates, restored or preserved in their original form, each with its own story and decorative style. The ensemble creates an authentic rural landscape that transports visitors into the cultural past of Szeklerland.

3. Museum of cast iron stoves

One of the museum's most fascinating attractions is the collection dedicated to cast iron stoves, unique for the diversity and age of the pieces on display. Here you can admire ornamental stoves made in Transylvanian workshops from the 18th to 20th centuries, each with impressive decorative details: fine reliefs, floral motifs, historical scenes or traditional symbols. Many of these stoves come from mansions, bourgeois houses or old households in the Ciuc and Covasna area and have been rescued, restored and showcased by the museum team.

The exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the evolution of cast-iron casting and how these pieces, once central elements of the home, combined functionality with aesthetics. Visitors can discover not only the beauty of the stoves, but also the stories of the people who used them, turning this section into a warm and characterful foray into the domestic life of the past.

4. Collections in the museum house

Inside the museum house, visitors are greeted by a rich collection that faithfully depicts the daily life of the Secler community centuries ago. The rooms are decorated in a traditional style, with painted furniture, hand-woven textiles, decorated ceramics and household objects reflecting local crafts. Each room retains the atmosphere of an authentic farmhouse: from the guest room, decorated with precious pieces, to the work room, where old tools and utensils tell the story of the simple but creative way of life of the local people.

The collection also includes old documents, photographs, letters, as well as personal belongings of the Haszmann family, providing a moving and profound context for the whole museum experience. Visitors discover not only objects, but also fragments of history, traditions and cultural identity, harmoniously integrated in a space that preserves the spirit of a bygone era.

5. Radio exhibition

Among the museum's pleasant surprises are exhibition of radios, a collection that introduces visitors to the evolution of communication technology from the first half of the 20th century to the post-war period. Massive wooden sets, elegant models with bakelite finishes, portable radios or rare devices from various European countries make up an impressive collection, restored and cared for with passion.

Each piece on display speaks of a time when radio was the main source of information, music and connection to the world. The explanatory labels and the thematic arrangement of the collection help visitors understand how the design, technology and functionality of these devices have changed over the decades. The exhibition is not only a tribute to the history of technology, but also a nostalgic foray into the modernization of everyday life.

6. Stonecutter's bordure and funerary monuments

Inside the museum, the stonemason's border is one of the most interesting traditional constructions on display. This type of shelter, partially buried in the ground to keep warm in winter and cool in summer, includes a pietrar - a rustic stone hearth used for cooking and heating. The hamlet illustrates the modest but ingenious lifestyle of rural communities of yesteryear, which relied on natural resources and simple architectural techniques handed down from generation to generation. Inside, household objects, old tools and minimal furnishings recreate the atmosphere of an old dwelling, giving visitors a glimpse into the way of life centuries ago.

There is also a collection of Secler funerary monuments, heritage pieces that reflect the traditions, beliefs and funerary aesthetics of the local community. Made of carved wood or stone, these monuments stand out for their specific motifs - from sun and plant symbols to stylized memorial inscriptions. They are a moving testimony to respect for ancestors, completing the museum landscape with a solemn and deeply cultural touch. Together, the stonestones and funerary monuments offer an authentic insight into the traditions of life and death in Szeklerland.