The Romanian city of Baia Mare, as one of Eurocities’ newest members, is leading the development of a range of innovative local projects focused on sustainable regeneration, health and economic growth for its residents.
Located in the heart of the Maramureș region, in the north of Romania, Baia Mare is focusing on preserving its rich cultural legacy and driving the administrative capacity it has strengthened in recent years. The city is implementing several ambitious, tech-centred heritage initiatives that are improving life for residents, boosting growth and tourism, and transforming the city landscape.
In 2026, Baia Mare is nominated in the ‘Cities that Inspire’ category of the national competition Destination of the Year 2026, alongside 250 other cities across Romania. It is a strong recognition of the city’s accelerated transformation and strategic direction.
“The nomination is neither an accident nor a branding exercise,” states Ioan Doru Dăncuș, Mayor of Baia Mare. “It is the result of a coherent effort in urban regeneration, heritage investment, modern infrastructure and sustainable development. Being recognised among over 250 Romanian cities confirms that Baia Mare is moving in a solid and credible direction.”
Urban regeneration in Baia Mare begins with the soul of the city: its landmarks. The city is currently overseeing a massive restoration project of its iconic performance spaces, most notably, the Municipal Theatre and the Dacia Cinema.
Preserving the past
The Municipal Theatre project, located within the protected medieval ‘Rivulus Dominarun’ zone is a flagship investment for the city. The project will modernise the venue into a multi-hall cultural club and return its former glory.
At the same time, the Dacia Cinema is being reborn. Once a symbolic landmark, the venue has deteriorated over time, but the city now aims to re-establish the cinema by turning it into a multifunctional space for entertainment, education, and community needs.
Urban regeneration is not just about renovated buildings and clean façades. It is about reclaiming the city’s identity.
“Urban regeneration is not just about renovated buildings and clean facades. It is about reclaiming the city’s identity and bringing back into public life the spaces that shaped our community,” explains Mayor Dăncuș.
“The Municipal Theatre and Cinema Dacia are not simple cultural infrastructure projects, they are interventions in collective memory. We restore the past responsibly and adapt it to present needs. Cities that know how to value their heritage are cities that can build their future coherently.”
Legacy reclaimed
However, what may be the city’s most eye-catching project is the restoration of Casa Pocol. This historic monument was once a symbol for the region’s gold-mining prosperity and is now receiving a significant funding lifeline. By the end of 2026 it will be transformed into a revamped cultural centre.
As Mayor Dăncuș explains, Casa Pocol represents a defining chapter in Baia Mare’s economic history. By restoring it, the city is sending a clear message: development does not mean demolition and replacement, but recovery and integration.
“Heritage is not an administrative burden, it is a strategic resource for cultural and economic growth,” he says. “Through this project, we aim to create a dynamic cultural venue capable of hosting major events that position Baia Mare firmly on the national cultural map, and, why not, on the international one.
“Our ambition is to transform Casa Pocol into a space where tradition meets contemporary creativity, generating visibility, tourism and new opportunities for the city.”
Green infrastructure and circular economy
Looking beyond the city’s cultural heritage, Baia Mare is also steadfast in its mission to instate a cutting-edge Intelligent Transport System (ITS) across the city. This work is financed through Romania’s national Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The innovative plan does not merely involve buying new buses; it is focused on building a ‘Smart City’ ecosystem, a digital system that brings everyone and everything closer.
We are connecting people, services and urban infrastructure into a digital ecosystem that optimises mobility and reduces environmental impact
The project includes several key elements, the first being to provide commuters with live data on vehicle locations, which translates to reduced wait times. The city is also replacing public transit stops with modular high-tech shelters that provide Wi-Fi hotspots, USB charging ports, e-ink information panels, and environmental sensors to monitor air quality.
In addition, each new stop includes tactile paving and advanced surveillance to ensure that this transition is safe and accessible for all citizens.
“We are connecting people, services and urban infrastructure into a digital ecosystem that optimises mobility and reduces environmental impact,” says Mayor Dăncuș.
Overall, in 2026, the municipality is managing its largest investment portfolio in recent years: nearly €220 million (approximately 1.1 billion Romanian lei), with more than 60 projects currently underway across key sectors.
Regional resilience
With the many sustainable projects taking place across the city’s urban areas, the local government remains firmly focused on ensuring the ambitious objectives of the European Green Deal are achieved.
The city is currently deploying an integrated network of Voluntary Waste Collection Centres and Digital Ecological Islands, backed by over Lei 87 million in combined funding.
Through the cutting-edge WeCollect digital platform, the city is installing 200 ‘Ecological Islands’ that are comprised of underground units and above-ground containers. This will enable the city to adopt a true ‘Pay-as-you-throw’ system.
Each household will receive an RFID card to access the bins. Real time sensors will transmit container fill levels, via 5G, optimising collection routes and reducing the carbon footprint of the municipal fleet.
The project extends further than the city limits to include the greater Baia Mare Urban Agglomeration, allowing it to process everything from hazardous materials to construction debris. This ensures that the city’s environmental goals are scaled for regional impact.
The Baia Mare model
The basis of the transformation taking place in Baia Mare lies in its Strategic Funding Literacy. By using national programmes to acquire increased funding, the city’s government is executing several once in a generation projects simultaneously.
The result of all these efforts and ambition is a city that has become resilient and unwavering in its mission to drive innovation, ensure a climate neutral and liveable city for its residents, and firmly establish itself as a driving force in the ever-evolving complex Europe.
Joining Eurocities and being nominated in the Destination of the Year competition are confirmations of Baia Mare’s administrative maturity
As Mayor Dăncuș makes clear: “2026 is a peak investment year for our city”. They are focused on “signed contracts, active construction sites, completed works and measurable results.”
“Joining Eurocities and being nominated in the Destination of the Year competition are confirmations of Baia Mare’s administrative maturity,” adds the mayor.
“Our model is built on three pillars: identity and heritage, investment and innovation, and respect for people. Our ambition is clear: a medium-sized city with large-scale projects, European vision and tangible impact on daily life.”
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All photos are copyright of City of Baia Mare.
