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Targu Mures is situated in the heart of Transylvania in picturesque surroundings, one hour north of Sighisoara. The river Mures flows through the city and its surrounding hills are covered in ash and oak forests. Romanians and Hungarians both make up the population of 163,270 inhabitants. The area of Mures county is often refered to as the land of Szekely. After the invasion of the Tartars during the 13th century, it became the market for the Szekely's who settled the area. The city was first documented in Papal letters dated 1323 as Szekelyvarashely and the Latin, 'Novum Forum Sicolorum'.

The year 1616, the city was chartered as a royal town by the Duke of Transylvania establishing it as an independent royal town; hereafter referred to as Targu Mures, in Romanian, Marosvasarhely, in Hungarian, and Neumarkt am Mieresch in German, which translate as "Market on the Mures".

The City of Targu Mures centers around Piata Trandafirilor, the "Rose Market". At the northern end of the piata lies the magnificent Orthodox Cathedral. The Cathedral had its southern facade restored and until recently was obscured by scaffolding. However, having completed restoration and with the scaffolding removed it reveals a beautiful copper edifice that looks over the piata and the statue of Avram Iancu.

In 1602 a fortification was built north of the present city center, which houses the distinguished Hungarian Reformed church, was built in pentagonal layout comprises seven bastions, of which five continue to bear the guild's name that by tradition, supported and defended them.

As with all citadels of the time, it was constructed to house the town's inhabitants during times of war. Today, the citadel and church remain, however, townspeople congregate to celebrate more joyous occasions such as the annual beer and wine festivals held in June and October respectively.

On the southern end of Piata Tradafirailor in successive order is the "Primaria", town hall; the Prefecture and the majestic Palace of Culture with its Secessionist-style, colored roof.

The Prefecture built at the turn of the century was designed to give a modern, urban feel to the city at the beginning of the twentieth century. Constructed during 1905 to 1907 it has served as the town's hall for over 55 years before housing the Prefecture. The most distinctive aspect of the Prefecture is its sixty-meter tower, initially designed as a fire-tower. In front of the Prefecture sits a statue of "Romulus & Remus", presented to the city in 1924 by the Italian state as a reminder of its Latin origin.

The Palace of Culture is one of the most representative examples of a Transylvanian building. Construction began in 1911 and was completed in 1913, in the style and manner of the Lechnerien school.

The Palace is impressive not only for its majolica roof, the mosaics and relieves on the exterior facade, but also it is home to the "Hall of Mirrors," stained-glass windows, which are located on the second floor and gaze over the Prefecture. In addition to hosting the "Hall of Mirrors," today the Palace of Culture houses the Tourist Information Bureau on the ground floor, as well as the Mures Philharmonic, which performs every Thursday in its concert hall, except during summer.