According to ALLCITYCODES.COM, Timisoara is a major city in northwestern Romania in an area known as the Banat. The city is not too far from the Hungarian border, until 1920 the city was even part of the Hungarian Empire. The city is located on the river Bega which connects the city to the Danube. The first permanent habitation probably took place by the Romans who built a fortress there. The city of Timisoara was built on this fortress in the early thirteenth century. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the city had its greatest heyday and several baroque palaces were built. The city owes its nickname to this period; little Vienna.
After the abolition of the dual monarchy, the city became part of Romania. After the Second World War, the city was behind the Iron Curtain and from 1965 was ruled with a heavy hand by Nicolae Ceausescu. In 1989, the revolution started in Timisoara that would eventually lead to the liberation of the country. A fact that the inhabitants are still very proud of. After the fall of communism, the city slowly started to recover. Today Timisoara is a beautiful city with many special buildings and beautiful baroque palaces.
Top 10 sights of Timisoara
#1. Orthodox Cathedral of Timisoara
The Orthodox Cathedral of Timisoara is one of the most beautiful and impressive in the country. The most special thing about the building is the architectural style of the cathedral, which is inspired by the Byzantine style, which is unique for this part of the world. The cathedral has a total of eleven towers, the highest of which is just over ninety meters high. The interior of the cathedral is richly decorated with frescoes, carvings and gold leaf.
#2. Museum of the Revolution
The Museum of the Revolution is the most important museum in Timisoara for most of the city’s inhabitants. After all, it was here where the revolution started, took shape and spread further across the country. In a former military building, there are several rooms with photos and videos that tell the story of the revolution. It is not the most modern or interactive museum in town, but the Museum of the Revolution is more than worth a visit. If only, but to learn more about this period.
#3. Piata Unirii
The Piata Unirii or Unity Square is the most beautiful square in the city. The square is home to some of the city’s most beautiful buildings. The most beautiful building on the square is the Bruck House, built in Szecesszió style. Other important sights on the square include the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, the Baroque Palace, the Monument of the Holy Trinity and the Roman Catholic Cathedral. The Piata Unirii is a large square with a total area of more than 16,000 square meters. The central part of the square is formed by a walled lawn.
#4. Communist Consumer Museum
The Communist Consumer Museum is not really a museum, but rather a collection of utensils from the city’s communist period. The “museum” is located in the basement of a café and can be visited for free. In four small rooms, which are crammed with stuff, you get a reasonable picture of life under the communist regime that ruled here for decades. At the top of the café you can also see various objects and works of art from this period.
#5. Piata Victoriai
Piata Victoriei, or Victory Square, is the city’s main square and played a major role in Romania’s modern history. Indeed, it was on this square that the uprising against the communist regime of Nicolae Ceausescu took shape and spread throughout the country. Before the uprising, the square was called Opera Square. The square is home to some of the city’s most beautiful buildings. Starting with the Timisoara Opera, the old Timisoara Hotel, Lloyd Palace, Löfler Palace and the Palace of the Chamber of Commerce. Opposite the opera is the city’s Orthodox church. The central part of the square is formed by a small park with some statues and fountains.
#6. Lulius Mall
Despite the fact that there are plenty of nice shops and boutiques in the historic center of Timisoara, the Lulius Mall is the place to shop. This shopping center has a total of more than two hundred shops, fourteen restaurants, a swimming pool, a playground, a supermarket and a cinema with ten screens. The Lucius Mall is located on the outskirts of the city and is quite easily accessible by public transport. Especially if you are staying in Timisoara for several days, a visit to the Lulius Mall is highly recommended.
#7. Bruck House
The recently restored Bruck House on Unirii Square in Timisoara is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The house first stands out because of the bold use of color, one half of the house is red, while the other half has a green / blue color. The house was built in the early twentieth century and is perhaps the finest example of the Art Nouveau or Szecesszió style in the city. The longer you look at the facade of the house, the more details you will see.
#8. Muzeul del Arta
The Muzeul del Arta is Timisoara’s most important art museum. The museum is located in a former baroque palace that officially opened its doors on January 1, 2006. The museum was created after several small museums merged. The main part of the museum’s collection includes about ninety works by the Romanian artist Corneliu Baba. There are also eight rooms with contemporary art. Each room has a different theme. Exhibitions and expositions are regularly held on the ground floor of the museum.
#9. Bastion Theresia
The Theresia Bastion is the largest preserved part of the fortifications of Timisoara. The bastion can be found on the edge of the historic center of the city next to a large traffic roundabout. Named after the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, the bastion was built to defend the outer borders of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As in Arad, the fortifications in Timisoara were built after the example of Vauban, but he never visited. Today, the former fortress houses several shops and restaurants.
#10. Bega Canal and Park
The Bega Canal can be found just outside the historic center of Timisoara. During the day, the park around the canal is a popular place for the residents of the city to escape the hectic pace of the city. In the evening and night the park turns out to be the entertainment area of Timisoara. Various discotheques, bars and clubs can be found on the banks. During the warm summer evenings in Timisoara, it is the place to be.
