The city of Timisoara, Romania is a “little Vienna” that was not bitten by vampires. Timisoara. "Little Vienna" of Romania How to get from the station to the city center
city of parks and gardens
5 reasons why you should visit Timisoara:
1. Rose Park (especially in early summer)
2. Banata Provincial Museum
3. Roman Catholic Cathedral “St. Catherine"
4. Opera Square
5. Huniad Castle
The city is famous for its Baroque architecture. Local residents also call it “ Little Vienna" The oldest buildings of the historical center were erected in the 18th century. In terms of the abundance of greenery and the presence of parks, the city can be compared with the capital of Ukraine - picturesque Kyiv. Situated on a marshy plain that was once periodically flooded by two rivers - Timis and Bega - the city has grown over time into one of the most beautiful cities in Romania.
Steps in time
The Transylvanian city of Timisoara was mentioned for the first time in 1212, in the diploma of the Hungarian King Andrew II. The name of the city comes from the phrase "Castrul Temesiensis" ( fortress on Timis), an interesting fact, since the city is located on the Bega River. After a devastating raid by Tatar nomads at the beginning of the 14th century, the city even became the residence of the Hungarian king Carol Robert d'Anjou.
During the Middle Ages, Timisoara was an important commercial and military center of the province of Banata. But the one who contributed most to the prosperity of the city was Ianco de Hunedoara, who, by the grace of God and the will of the people, becomes voivode of Transylvania in 1441.
In its turbulent history, another important moment for the city was the great peasant uprising led by Gheorghe Doge.
Over the centuries, the city was stormed many times, but was captured only twice: by the Turks in 1552 and the Austrians in 1716, the year marking the beginning of the Austro-Hungarian occupation.
At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. The city experiences strong development in terms of industry, science and culture. It must be emphasized that in 1884, Timisoara became the first city lit by electricity in Europe(!).
And also, it is interesting to note that Timisoara was the city from where the chain reaction began in December 1989 anti-communist revolution.
At the beginning of the third millennium, Timisoara continues to rapidly develop as a modern European city. In 2005, the largest commercial complex in the country was opened in Timisoara.
The hospitality of local residents is universally recognized. They will definitely offer tourists to try the famous traditional sweet wines, or strong drinks made from plums and apricots.
Attractions:
Banata Provincial Museum(1872) - with its wealthy departments of history, natural history, painting and ethnography. It is one of the oldest museums in Romania.
Huniad Castle(XV century) – the former residence of the governor Iancu de Hunedoara, rising on a hill
Village Museum- stretches over tens of hectares of forest and meadows, in the favorite place of Timisoryans - the Green Forest.
Opera Square– the heart of Timisoara, the “zero kilometer” of the city, also recognized as the zero kilometer of the 1989 Revolution.
Rose Park- one of the symbols of the city. Situated on the banks of the Bega River, the park is one of the most romantic places in Timisoara. In the Rose Park, from spring to late autumn, numerous types of roses bloom, with different scents and in different colors.
Old Bastion- a surviving bastion built in 1773 with massive brick walls.
Orthodox Cathedral- with an original collection of icons and old furniture.
Roman Catholic Cathedral– built between 1737-1773 with elegant interior decoration in Baroque style.
National Theater(1872-1875)
House of Prince Eugene of Savoyavsky(1817)
Old Synagogue(XVIII century)
Orthodox Serbian Cathedral
Distances
Timisoara – Bucharest: 562 km
Timisoara – Cluj: 316 km
Timisoara – Iasi: 691 k
Timisoara – Constanta 758 km
Timisoara – Sibiu: 256 km
Timisoara – Brasov: 399 km
To book a tour of the city of Timisoara, a tour of the cities of Romania, to reserve a Russian-speaking tour guide and for other questions, write to: [email protected] or call on mobile. tel. 0040 721 977 663 - tour guide in Romania Constantin
Timisoara Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Romania and the main religious landmark of the city of Timisoara. In addition, this cathedral is considered one of the tallest Orthodox churches in the world.
The Cathedral in Timisoara was built in 1940, but due to the outbreak of war, finishing work dragged on for sixteen long years. The monumental architecture of the temple is striking - the cathedral has nine large pointed towers and four small ones, and the highest rises ninety-six meters above the ground. Up to 4,000 parishioners can be inside the temple at the same time.
But the cathedral impresses not only with its size. Its unusual architecture, which mixed Byzantine and traditional Moldavian styles, attracts the eye of every tourist with its beauty. The interior and exterior wall paintings were done by the famous artist Afanasy Demyan. And in the basements of the cathedral there is a rich collection of medieval religious art - many ancient icons of the sixteenth century and ancient Romanian manuscripts are presented here. The exhibition is always open to visitors and leaves few people indifferent.
Restaurant Casa Bunicii
Restaurant Casa Bunicii is a cozy restaurant in Timisoara that specializes in national cuisine and positions itself as a family establishment.
The name of the restaurant is translated into Russian as “grandmother’s house”, hence the idea of creating the restaurant as a family one. Here you will feel homely warmth and comfort. There are playgrounds for children, everything is done for their comfort.
The restaurant's menu is also close to homemade. The dishes are prepared using old traditional recipes, which perfectly reveal the individuality of Romanian cuisine. You will always find an excellent selection of soups and hot dishes. Signature baked goods also attract many visitors to the restaurant.
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Sabers Restaurant
Sabers Restaurant, opened in 2006 in Timisoara, is the only restaurant in the city that specializes in seafood.
As soon as you enter the restaurant, you plunge into the alluring atmosphere of the Mediterranean. It gives you a feeling of celebration and a great mood. During the warm season, a summer terrace is open where you can enjoy excellent cuisine in the fresh air. The restaurant also has a special smoking room.
The restaurant's menu offers a variety of fish and seafood dishes. Chef Teodoro Prete, thanks to his creative approach, creates stunning culinary masterpieces, playing with the combination of different ingredients. The chef's signature salads will not leave you indifferent. For those who are not fans of fish dishes, the restaurant is ready to offer meat and vegetarian dishes. The restaurant also has a good wine list.
Traian Vuia Airport, located in Timisoara close to the Serbian and Hungarian borders, is the second largest airport in Romania. From it you can go to the big cities of Italy, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Ukraine and others. The airport is located 12 kilometers from the city center, taxis and express trains go to it.
The first plane landed at this airport on July 17, 1935. In 1960, the airport was significantly restored, after which it acquired its current appearance. The airport's domestic terminal opened in 1964. In 2003, the airport was renamed in honor of the Romanian aircraft designer Traian Vuia, and in 2008 it received international status.
In 2011, the airport served more than 1.2 million passengers, which is an increase of 6 percent compared to 2010.
The most popular attractions in Timisoara with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Timisoara on our website.
Individual and group
An important economic center of western Romania, Timisoara was born in the 12th century. Under Habsburg rule for 2 centuries, the city is replete with Austrian-style architecture, with clean lines and majestic ornamentation. However, the further development of the city also predetermined a change in the tastes of architects, which led to the appearance in the city of interesting buildings in the Byzantine, Baroque and Art Nouveau styles.
As an important economic and tourist center of Romania, Timisoara offers its guests excellent shopping conditions (in the Banat area), an exciting cultural program and many attractions.
An ambitious project for an Orthodox cathedral on 5000 people was implemented in Timisoara in 1939 by the architect Ion Traianescu. The church building was consecrated in 1946 in the presence of King Michael. The style of the building combines traditional Moldavian style with religious Byzantine style.
The cathedral is 63 meters long, 32 meters wide and equipped with 11 towers, the tallest of which is 84 meters high. In the basement of the temple, the visitor will find an interesting museum, which contains more than 300 rare books and more than 800 icons. Particularly noteworthy are the cathedral's 7 bells, whose impressive resonance can be heard throughout the city.
Location: Bulevardul Regele Ferdinand I.
The Bishop's Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Timisoara. Its cornerstone was laid in 1745. Initially, the palace looked simple, restrained, in the Byzantine style. Its first decoration was a rich bas-relief, which can still be admired today. An interesting collection of religious art in the palace, which was opened to the public in 1967.
Location: Strada Gheorghe Lazăr - 4.
The Order of Notre Dame nuns settled in Timisoara in 1864. They founded a monastery and school here. The church building was erected in 1894 at the expense of the nuns themselves. The main attraction of the church is the main and side altars, created by the sculptor Ferdinand Stufflesser. During the communist dictatorship, the nuns were expelled from the country, but in 1992, the Order of Notre Dame was restored in Timisoara and the nuns returned to the city.
Location: Bulevardul Ion Dragalina - 4.
In the crypt of the Church of St. Catherine, in the 13th century, the wife of King Robert of Anjou, Marie Catherine, was buried. At that time, the temple belonged to Franciscan monks who lived in a monastery next to the church. The church was originally built in the classical Baroque style, but at the end of the 19th century it was reconstructed, this time in the neoclassical style, but retaining many elements of the original style.
Location: Strada Bolyai Janos - 4.
The synagogue in Timisoara was built in 1863-1865 on the initiative of Rabbi Mauricio Hirschveld. The project was designed by the Viennese architect Ignatius Schumann in an eclectic, Moorish style. Its balconies and space on the 1st floor have the capacity up to 3000 people.
The building has 2 towers and domes, and inside there is an organ dating from 1866. Today the Philharmonic is located here, with halls for conferences and exhibitions, which rented the synagogue from the Jewish community.
Location: Strada Mărășești – 6.
The first painting in the Timisoara Art Museum appeared in 1879, to which a few years later was added the collection of Ormos Zygmont, a collector and art critic who is considered the founder of the museum. In 1943, the museum was located in the wing of the local Palace of Culture, and in 1947 it was moved to Hunyadi Castle. Today the Art Museum of Timisoara has more than 8,500 exhibits.
Location: Piața Unirii - 1.
The history of the Banat Museum begins in 1872, when the newly appointed head of the county, Timis Ormos Zsigmond, founded the Society of History and Archeology, which began researching the past of Banat. The found artifacts were transferred to the new museum. Throughout its history, the museum was located in different places, eventually finding a home in Hunyadi Castle.
The museum collection contains more than 468,000 exhibits, related to numismatics, memoirs, cartography, history. The museum's natural science department, with 50,000 exhibits, is divided into several collections: rocks and minerals, paleontology and pressed plants, butterflies and beetles, mollusks and exotic birds.
Weiss Palace, built in 1912 along Shekeli Laszlo Avenue, is located at the beginning of Republic Avenue. The Weiss family, whose members were doctors, industrialists, and entrepreneurs, was very famous in Timisoara. Today the palace is private property, but on its first floor there are commercial premises available to everyone.
Location: Bulevardul Republicii - 2.
The statue of the Virgin Mary is located on Freedom Square. It was installed in honor of the citizens of Timisoara who died during the plague. The reliefs of the statue reflect scenes of the epidemic. Made in 1740 in Vienna, the statue was restored in 1994 by sculptor Ioann Oprescu.
The Atlas House is a historical building in the very center of the city. With monumental figures of Atlanteans on the facade, the house was built in 1812 in the neoclassical style by the merchant Nahum Makri.
After the death of the owner, his daughter, who married a Serb, inherited his house. Later the building was donated to the Serbian community and belonged to the Serbian Church. In subsequent years it had many owners who still cannot share it. Cases have been considered in courts for many years, and a house with Atlanteans and 2 Turkish cannons at the entrance awaits their verdict.
Location: Piața Libertății.
In 1957, a fountain was built on Freedom Square, which became a favorite place for photographers, youth, pensioners, and lovers. It is an oasis of relaxation in the square, in delightful contrast to the monumental buildings that surround it.
Location: Piața Victoriei.
The Decebal Bridge, which connects the factory area and the fortress area, was built in 1909 by engineer Guizo Mihajlić. It has a length 195 meters, and a width of 9. Tourists who are tired of the noise of the city can choose this place for relaxation and conversations in silence, enjoying the surrounding landscapes.
In the very west of Romania there is a large beautiful city of Timisoara, uniting people of many nationalities and cultural traditions. Today, Romanians, Hungarians, Serbs, Gypsies, Jews, Bulgarians, Ukrainians, Slovaks and others live peacefully in Timisoara.
In all centuries, the history of the city has significantly influenced the history of the entire country. In ancient times, Timisoara was the center of the historical Banat region, which occupied part of the territories of modern Romania, Serbia and Hungary. At the end of the 19th century, Timisoara was the first city in Europe and the second in the world after New York to use electricity to illuminate the streets. And at the end of the 20th century, it was with popular unrest in Timisoara that the anti-communist revolution began, during which the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was overthrown.
Today Timisoara is one of the important tourist centers of Romania.
Region |
Timish |
Population |
303.7 thousand people |
Population density |
2327 people/km² |
Romanian leu equal to 100 bani |
|
Timezone |
UTC+2, in summer UTC+3 |
Postal code |
|
International dialing code |
Climate and weather
The climate in Timisoara is temperate continental, with consistently hot summers, rather cold winters and little precipitation. The rainiest months in Timisoara are May, June and July, but even at this time the rainfall does not exceed 70-80 mm.
The average summer air temperature from year to year remains at approximately +22…+24 °С. In July the temperature often rises to +31…+33 °С. In winter, the average temperature rarely drops below -5 °C.
Nature
The streets, squares, parks and courtyards of Timisoara are surrounded by luxurious greenery most of the year. All this is thanks to the local relatively mild climate. Timisoara is often called the city of flowers. Among all the variety of magnificent parks, the most beautiful is rightfully considered Rose Park- the symbol of the city. The park found a home on the right bank of the Bega River. In spring, summer and autumn it is filled with the aroma and beauty of a million different roses. The best time to visit Rose Park is considered to be the end of May and June.
In the very center of Timisoara lies the gorgeous Botanical Garden, a walk through which will put you in a romantic mood, give you the joy of contemplating beautiful plants and bring long-awaited coolness on a hot Timisoara afternoon.
Attractions
Timisoara can confidently be called one of the most beautiful cities in Romania. The number of historical monuments here exceeds 14,000 objects. The city intertwines such architectural styles as Viennese Baroque, Romanian and eclectic style, Art Nouveau and Secession. The predominance of Viennese Baroque architecture is the reason why Timisoara is sometimes called "Little Vienna"
The most significant historical buildings here are Huniyadi Castle, a beautiful example of Gothic architecture, which today houses the Banat Museum, Baroque palace, which houses the Art Museum, Dicasterial Palace, Lloyd's Palace, Neptune Public Baths etc.
Timisoara's multinationality is reflected in its architecture. The city has many temples of various religious denominations: Cathedral of the Three Saints And Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary(Romanian Orthodox Church), St. George's Cathedral(Catholic church), St. Nicholas Cathedral(Serbian Orthodox Church), synagogues in the neighborhoods Fabrik And Chetate.
Many tourist sites are located on the Place de la Concorde ( Uniriy Square), which in itself is one of the main attractions of Timisoara. The Column of the Holy Trinity, rising in the center of the square, symbolizes the city's deliverance from the plague epidemic. Freedom Square is famous for being the site where the anti-communist revolution of 1989 began.
Almost all the attractions of Timisoara are located within a relatively short distance from each other, so when visiting them, it is better to walk.
Nutrition
As you know, Timisoara was the center of the historical region of Banat, therefore the national dishes that are prepared in restaurants and cafes of Timisoara are largely related to Banat cuisine than to the all-Romanian one.
Banat cuisine was significantly influenced by Italian, Austro-Hungarian and, to a lesser extent, French and Greek cuisines. Pork is the main component of Banat cuisine. Pork is usually fried or stewed with vegetables, generously sprinkled with flour sauces and seasoned with red and black pepper, savory and cumin. The favorite dish of the locals themselves is goulash, which is often served in every home. Banat cabbage rolls, made from meat chopped with a cleaver, are very common - that’s why they are large and not very refined. All meat dishes are fatty and nutritious, but very tasty.
In soups, or chorby, as they are called here, often add lemon, tarragon and homemade noodles. By the way, all kinds of snacks, as well as sweet dishes, are often prepared from homemade noodles. The most popular homemade noodle dish is “ Jofka" Other ingredients "yofki"are milk, feta cheese, cabbage, cottage cheese, nuts and poppy seeds.
In Timisoara restaurants you should definitely try the national pudding " Varga Beles", again prepared from homemade noodles, raisins and cottage cheese, all this is wrapped in dough and sent to the oven.
In addition to restaurants serving national cuisine ( Nora, Casa Bunicii, Casa cu Flori etc.) Italian cuisine is very common in Timisoara with all kinds of pizzas and pastas ( Da Toni, Pizza La Maria, Filiberto etc.).
Local beer is very popular among drinks in the city. Timisoreana.
Accommodation
Accommodation services in Timisoara are offered by more than 70 hotels of various price categories (from 30 €) and hostels with prices ranging from 10 to 23 € per person per day.
It is considered one of the best and at the same time inexpensive hotels NH Timisoara, located near the country's largest shopping center, Iulius Mall. The hotel is equipped with a gym, sauna, jacuzzi, and provides free Wi-Fi to its clients. There is an on-site restaurant serving Romanian and international cuisine.
In the very center of the city there are hotels such as Hotel Perla, Savoy Hotel, Hotel Central, etc.
Entertainment and relaxation
The city of Timisoara has always been famous for its rich cultural life. All year round it delights its guests and local residents with numerous musical and theatrical performances, exhibitions in art galleries, and interesting exhibitions in museums.
They work under the roof of the opera house Romanian Opera, Hungarian Theater, Deutsche Theater and National Theater. The Banat Philharmonic also takes its place of honor in the center of the city’s musical life.
There are Banat Museum, Ethnographic Museum, Banat Village Museum and Art Museum.
For the last 7 years, an annual festival has been held in Timisoara "City Fun". It is intended to draw the attention of authorities to the congestion of city streets with transport and the reduction of space for pedestrians. During the festival, traffic in the city center is blocked. Artists and musicians present their best creations to the audience.
One of the most popular nightclubs in Timisoara is Komodo Lounge, decorated in Asian style. On hot summer nights, nightlife lovers prefer to dance on the outdoor terrace of the Complexul Studentesc club. Clubs are also very popular Discoland and Park Place, bar Al Cubanito.
Purchases
Souvenirs in Timisoara can be purchased in several places: in a large shopping and entertainment center Iulius Mall, in a central department store, in a shopping center Bega Center and a small souvenir shop at the entrance to the city (lowest prices).
In addition to standard Romanian souvenirs (products related to Count Dracula, wool and leather goods, ceramic dolls in national costumes, wooden painted eggs, etc.), you can buy other equally interesting things in Timisoara. For example, wonderful felt and suede hats. They can be purchased at the store, which is located literally 200 meters from the train station. Wearing a colorful black men's felt hat, an integral attribute of the national Romanian costume, is still customary among the local population today.
Transport
Timisoara is one of the most important transport centers in Romania.
There is a large railway junction here, connecting the city with other settlements in the country, as well as with neighboring Serbia.
Timisoara Traian Vuia Airport ranks third in Romania in terms of passenger turnover. From this airport, planes depart to such destinations as German Munich, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Ukrainian Lviv, Chernivtsi, Odessa, a number of Italian cities, including Rome, as well as London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Vienna, Athens and, of course, The largest Romanian cities are Bucharest, Iasi, Constanta.
Urban transport in Timisoara is represented by buses, trolleybuses and trams. A ticket for 1 trip costs 2 RON, or 45 euro cents, for 2 trips - 3.5 RON, or 78 euro cents, for the whole day - 10 RON, or 2.24 €. The fact that fares are paid is checked by numerous inspectors.
There are numerous inexpensive taxis operating around the city.
Connection
All 5 Romanian mobile operators (Vodafone, Orange Romania, DigiMobil, Cosmote and Zapp) operate in Timisoara. The cost of a minute of conversation, depending on the operator and tariff plan, ranges from 8 to 30 euro cents. Ready-made telephone packages can be purchased in many stores in the city, as well as in specialized shops. They also sell cards and 3G modems for wireless Internet access. But in order not to overpay, you can bring the modem with you. It is quite difficult to find an Internet cafe in the city, since their popularity in the country is declining due to the availability of wireless Internet and the presence of home networks. Internet access via Wi-Fi is available in all hotels with a class of 3 stars and above, in many parks, cafes, restaurants, as well as on the University campus.
Safety
By European standards, Timisoara is a quiet, calm city. Security on its streets is ensured by police patrols, which, by the way, can check documents. Therefore, you should always have a passport or other identification document with you.
Travelers should be attentive and careful on the roads, as some drivers, and especially taxi drivers, like to drive recklessly.
Business climate
Timisoara and Timis County have a high investment attractiveness, which is explained by the city's favorable geographical location, well-developed transport network, modern banking system and, to some extent, the multinationality of the city.
Timisoara received funding from European funds to promote the project of the Regional Center for Sustainable Development of Banat, i.e. development of economic relations between Romania, Hungary and Serbia.
One of the largest investors in the industry of Timisoara is Germany, which is due to its territorial proximity and the presence of the German diaspora in Timisoara, whose representatives have restored relations with partners from Germany.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Timisoara annually organizes numerous conferences, exhibitions, fairs, business meetings, participates in programs for the development of international relations, and is also part of the European network of economic development centers Enterprise Europe Network.
Real estate
Purchasing real estate in Timisoara today is of greatest interest to representatives of countries such as Italy, Hungary and Germany. This is primarily due to the development of business relations between Timisoara and these states. In addition, due to the development of industry in the city and, accordingly, the constant emergence of new jobs, workers from Turkey and Arab states are arriving in the city.
The average price of 1 square meter in Timisoara is about 800 €.
Restaurant menus are most often written only in Romanian, sometimes there is an Italian translation, and much less often in English. The menu text in English is simplified as much as possible compared to the original. Therefore, a tourist needs to either choose an establishment whose waiters speak foreign languages, or travel in the company of a translator.
Not all restaurants, shops, etc. can pay with a credit card, so you should always have cash with you.