The butchers”™ guild is one of the oldest craftsmen's organiz ations of Tîrgu- Mureș. The first document that mentions it is a diploma given by prince Ladislau Bánfy in 1493 acknowledging its privileges. It also played a rather important part in the evolution of the city. In the first half of the 17th century, its members contributed to the construction of the fortress by erecting a bastion; they would later also defend it. In 1876 many buildings in the town”™s center were destroyed by a fire, prompting the lauching of an intense campaign to build new edifices. It was under these circumstances that the seat of the Butchers”™ Association at 13 Trandafirilor Square was built. The building was erected in 1888 by Sóos Pál following the design of architect Nagy Gyözö. It is U-shaped, with a central body and a two-storeyed left wing. The slaughter house and butcher's shop were on the ground floor, and on the top floor there were various halls and annexes. The architectural style chosen for the building is the neo-classicism which is especially obvious on the facade. The principle of symmetry and balanced shapes, with no excessive decorations, was successfully applied to the building. The façade is divided into three vertical registers: the central axis, slightly prominent, and the two identical lateral parts. On the central axis, on the ground floor, there is a semi-circular passageway that leads to the interior yard. The entrance is flanked by two engaged Doric columns. Corresponding to these, on the first storey there are two columns with composite caps. The central window is rectangular and has an elaborate and richly decorated framing. It is flanked by two Ionic columns supporting an arched gable, decorated with a mascaron. The triangular gable on the roof is inscribed with the year the building was erected. There are three semi-circular openings on the sides, both on the ground floor and on the top floor. The ones on the ground floor are simple, their only decorative element being the keystones. The ones on the top floor, however, are placed in a more decorated background made up of panels sculpted in relief, Ionic columns and friezes made up of balusters attached to the wall. The arched gable that crowns the central window can also be seen on the lateral ones.

Bibliography:

Ioan Eugen Man, Considerații privind evoluția urbană în perioada de trecere spre orașul modern, in vol. „Tîrgu-Mureș, oraș al artelor”, published by the Tîrgu-Mureș City Hall in cooperation with the "Vatra" review, pp. 58-59.