Hermes House

The Hermes House is the former House of the Small Artisans Association, built during 1865-1867 – today the main office of ”Franz Binder” Universal Ethnography Museum.

The archaeological researches over here led to the discovery of an old wooden house vestiges dating since the 12th century.

The house is built in neo-gothic style, bringing elegance and distinction to the architectural setting of the Small Square of Sibiu.

The name of the house comes from the Greek mythology, Hermes being the god of trade. The name represents a symbol, considering that, in the Middle Ages this was the place where the old merchants were trading.

The building has a historical importance due to the fact that it is located in the oldest central area of Sibiu City, but also because, in times past, personalities of the time used to live here: Saxon Aldermen, royal judges of the 17th – 18th century, fact proven by the three stone plates which refer to the owners of the old building, previous to the House of the Small Artisans Association.

Since 1993, the Hermes House accommodates the “Franz Binder” Universal Ethnography Museum, the first and only extra-European ethnography museum of Romania.