The Memorial Matthias Corvinus House is known as the oldest lay building in Cluj-Napoca, well preserved and having many functions along the time.

Built around XIV-XV th centuries in gothic style, it never belonged though to the Corvin family. Matthias Corvin, the son of Iancu of Hunedoara (great voivode of Transilvania and governor of Hungary), was born here by chance, when his
pregnant mother sought shelter at the inn that functioned in the building. Since Matthias was born and spent a few of his first months of life here, the house was declared “The Memorial Matthias Corvinus House”.

Along the time, the outer walls were altered with Renaissance elements. There are wine cellars at the basement of the entire building. Until recently, the stands for the wine barrels were still in place.

The municipality of Cluj bought the building in 1740. Since then it served as a military casern and ammunition depot, which caused an explosion in the northern part of the building. Later, at the beginning of the XX th century, the House hosted the Ethnographic Museum with the exhibition of the plans of the statue of Matthias Corvin in the center of the town.

Since 1950, the owner of the building is The Design and Fine Arts University. The institution organizes here many temporary exhibitions for its students and professors, which do not however affect the building. The walls were painted and the foundation was preserved and there were installed fans and a heating system.