The Baroque era shaped the current configuration of this ensemble. After the end of the Principality, the Habsburg administration changed the status of this palace for the second time according to their occupation strategy. This is the moment when the ensemble was split into two major parts, west and east, distanced from each other by the width of a street. Thus, we note the definitive disappearance of a “piece” from the initial ensemble, the inner courtyard situated in the middle of the old palace structure. The new western wing was assigned to the reinstated Catholic bishopric, while the eastern wing was used for the needs of the empire’s army. The princely image of the palace was indefinitely lost due to the military appearance, in clear conflict with the elegance of the Renaissance style. The provincial Baroque took over the fortress along with the imperial army.

To begin with, the Arsenal occupied all buildings that made up the eastern wing; it was only much later, following the ample reconstruction of 1817-1823, that the Artillery Barracks were also installed here.  The new changes were not always for the better. For instance, the Diet Hall and thePrincely Tabla Hall were reconfigured, the grand staircase lost its width, and the lively merchant shops located on the outer side of the current museum building underwent total modification.  Prince Gabriel Bethlen’s former stables suffered a similar fate and were demolished.

Meanwhile, envision an ensemble of buildings arranged in a square shape. The northern side, which includes our museum, was extended beyond the former eastern side. Thus, a new eastern wing appeared, with a new function as the headquarters for artillery officers, and, evidently, a new inner courtyard was created by closing off this eastern side with the southern side which was also extended.

Other typical elements that help us recognize the presence of the Baroque style in this palace are the corridors with open arcades, present in the area of the new courtyard used by the army.