Serbian Orthodox Church and Union Square
unique facade, small towers, beautiful bells and icons.
Built in C18th in the Baroque style.
unique facade, small towers, beautiful bells and icons.
Built in C18th in the Baroque style.
Timisoara is in Western Romania, near the borders with Hungary and Serbia, and 600 km from Bucharest. The Carpathian Mountains (where my in-laws came from) lie to the north. The Timiș, Bega and Poganiș Riversflow through the county and the city was named for the River Timis. From a small fort-town in Castrum Temesiensis, first recorded in 1212, Timişoara in the C14th became a fortress. The town was sacked by the Tatars, but its citadel was rebuilt and used as the residence of Charles I of Hungary(1309–42)
In the Middle Ages the area was conquered by the Turks and remained in their hands until the Austrians took it in 1716, thus the many fortifications on Liberty Square. After a 1718 treaty, the region was governed from Vienna and colonised with non-Magyars, mostly Swabian Germans. The city withstood a siege by Hungarian revolutionaries in 1848. Occupied by Serbia in 1919, it was allotted by the Treaty of Trianon (1920) to Romania.
Banat Village Museum, opened 1967
Includes Village Civic Centre, Alley of Ethnicities and the Living Museum.
Fabric Synagogue, Neo-Moorish
opened c1840
Romania's 3rd largest city became a European Capital of Culture for 2021. After the win was announced, the mayor noted that the budget for the project would be €48.5 million: €20 m from Local Councils, €5 m from the County Council, €1.5 m from the European Commission, and the rest from the State. The money went to Multi-plexity, Palace of Culture, Arta Cinema, Dacia Cultural Centre, Studio Art Hub, Art Theatre Hall, Fratelia Community Cultural Centre, Freidorf Community Centre and Iosefin Water Tower Cultural Centre.
Timișoara is part of one of the most ambitious cultural projects of the European Union, helping EU-nations to learn about each other’s cultures. And this cultural city has several tertiary institutions, state opera, philharmonic orchestra, ballet and library. There are parks along the navigable Bega Canal and Rose Park is very romantic . The National Theatre of Timișoara is undergoing restoration.
The modern city represents a unique mix of architectural styles and cultural traditions. A principal building is the heroic Roman Catholic Cathedral (1736–73). Near the cathedral there is a monument dedicated to those killed during the 1989 revolution. There is also Memorial Museum of Revolution whose exhibits there are uniforms, historical documents, newspapers, library, revolutionaries’ personal belongings and historical films.
The modern city represents a unique mix of architectural styles and cultural traditions. A principal building is the heroic Roman Catholic Cathedral (1736–73). Near the cathedral there is a monument dedicated to those killed during the 1989 revolution. There is also Memorial Museum of Revolution whose exhibits there are uniforms, historical documents, newspapers, library, revolutionaries’ personal belongings and historical films.
The Orthodox Serbian Cathedral (1748, restored 1791), opposite Victory Square, became the spiritual centre for Serbs and Romanians. This imposing Baroque building has a unique facade, small towers, bells and icons.
Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral (1936-46) was built in Victory Square with green and red tiles, arranged in a mosaic design. A monument dedicated to those who died during the 1989 Revolution is in front of the cathedral. The Cathedral is home to many art religious objects, including old Romanian icon paintings.
Opened 1774
An interesting cultural institution is Banat Village Museum. It is a massive cultural open air complex; its main exhibits are farm buildings c100 years old. Beautiful pottery and wooden cabins were moved to the museum from around the city, so that exciting activities could include folk events.
Romanian National Opera, opened 1875
Burned down in 1880 and rebuilt in 1882
Burned in 1920 and rebuilt in 1923
The Roman Catholic Cathedral (1736-54) was built in Union Square by Fisher von Erlach, a fine example of Viennese Baroque style. The main altar was done by Michael Angelo Unterberger, director of Fine Arts Academy in Vienna. The Opera House (1875) was designed by Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer who designed concert halls in Budapest, Vienna and Odessa. The frescoes in the concert hall were inspired by Romanian history and folk tales. Joseph Strauss began as Musical Director in Timisoara. The city claims to have had the first public water supply in Romania, the first to have street lighting in Europe and one of the first in the world to have horse-drawn trams. The nickname “Little Vienna” seemed appropriate.
The St Catherine of Alexandria Church has a long, remarkable history. In the crypt of this medieval church, King Charles Robert of Anjou's wife Catherine was buried in the C13th. The church was owned by Franciscan monks until it was demolished after 1723, and the new church of St Catherine was built in the Baroque style. From 1887-9 the church was rebuilt, though this time adapted to the Neo-classical style, while retaining Baroque elements.
Romanian Orthodox Cathedral
built 1936-41
filled with stunning religious objects and paintings
The Chamber of Commerce (1850) worked out of various city buildings. But in 1930 they began building the palace that became the new headquarters of the Chamber. The Chamber of Commerce & Industry was designed by Laszlo Szekely. Downstairs there is space provided for shops, while offices are located on the first floor and the council chamber and the other 3 floors are residential. The palace has great decorative elements, including a great triangular gable roof.
built 1936-41
filled with stunning religious objects and paintings
The Chamber of Commerce (1850) worked out of various city buildings. But in 1930 they began building the palace that became the new headquarters of the Chamber. The Chamber of Commerce & Industry was designed by Laszlo Szekely. Downstairs there is space provided for shops, while offices are located on the first floor and the council chamber and the other 3 floors are residential. The palace has great decorative elements, including a great triangular gable roof.
Emperor Franz Joseph I (1830-1916) ruled that Jews across the Austro-Hungarian Empire were to be freed and issued an edict allowing them to own land and hold any job. Fabric is a historical district, well known for its factories, thus becoming the most populated district in the C19th. It was becoming a multicultural neighbourhood, and the building of the Fabric Synagogue 1895-99 was historical - the combination of Neo-Moorish architectural styles with a HUGE floor that seated 3000! The square building, with many towers and cupolas, was connected to the exterior walls through deep semi-circular arches. In 2001 the Jewish Community transferred it to the Timisoara Philharmonic Society for their first concert, held in 2005.
Timișoara is also a commercial centre and has developed industrially since WW2, including electric motors and electrical apparatus, textiles, farm equipment, chemicals. There are 2 timber centres, vineyards and wineries.
Note Bucharest (in the south) and Timisoara (in the west)
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Anti-government demonstrations erupted in Dec 1989 and sparked a revolution, toppling Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu from power and executing him. Luckily many of the old Baroque buildings still make Timisoara special.