| GENERAL
INFORMATION ON THE CITY OF ARAD |
| |
| |
| Short history of the city of Arad |
| |
| Arad was first recorded in documents in 1068. |
| |
| The old Dacian fortress belonged to Burebista's state, and implicitly
to the kingdom of Decebal, dating back to the 4th Century B.C., and after 106
it was occupied by Romans. The
Kingdom of Hungary extends its supremacy to Arad in the 11th Century. Arad is
attested as a town in 1329. The Ottomans have seized the town in 1552. Its
only period of independence was under Mihai Viteazul (1595-1615). |
| |
| In the year 1687 Arad is conquered by the Habsburg Empire. In 1834
Arad gains its independence, while between 1867 and 1918 it is a part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire. Arad got under the jurisdiction of the Romanian
Government on 17 May 1918, with the penetration of the Romanian army into the
city. The Romanian historian Nicolae Iorga, during his documentary journey
from 1906, compares the city of Arad with Vienna, this being a confirmation
of its economic upswing. In 1870 Arad is the most densely populated city in
Transylvania, with a population of 32.000 inhabitants. |
| |
| As a result of the economic boom, important objectives emerged, like:
the clothing factory (1867), the gas factory (1868), the factory of brick and
tiles (1869) and the furniture factory (1878). The furniture factory, which
was founded in 1890 by Laurenţiu and Lengyel, became starting from 1910 one
of the most renowned factories from Europe. Ioan Weitzer's factory of
locomotives and wagons was founded in 1892, while the Marta factory,
established in the same year, produced engines and machines in 1909. Lately,
the Astra Wagons Company aimed at merging these two factories, in order to
produce airplanes. |
| |
| The knit-ware factory called "The Red Shirt" was built in
1918. In that period transportation also flourished. Arad lived a continuous
ascension after the Great Union, occupying the fourth position in Romania
with over 4000 registered companies at the Chamber of Commerce. In 1949 the
industrial unit Aris was established through the merging of six factories.
New industrial branches arose, together with the related structures, like:
the toy factory (1959), the watch factory (1960) and the chemical combined
group of enterprises (1971). |
| |
| Position |
| |
| Arad is situated at the western extremity of Transylvania, in the
Highlands of Arad, to a distance of 30 km from Zarand Mountains, a part of
the Western Carpathians. |
| |
| Neighbors |
| |
| Timoşoara to the South, Bihor to the North, Hungary to the West and
the county of Hunedoara to the East. |
| |
| Area |
| |
| 46,18 km2 |
| |
| Population |
| |
| 173.000 inhabitants |
| |
| Relief |
| |
| It is crossed by the river Mureş from the east toward west and
includes in its perimeter, in the Pădurice area, a natural lake. |
| The Plain of Arad is located between the Zarandului
Mountains and the river bed of the river Ier and that of the dead arm of the
river Mureş, constituting an extension to the Plain "Câmpia
Crişurilor", southward from the borderline of the localities Pancota,
Caporal Alexa, Olari, Simand and Sânmartin, until the Valley of the river
Mureş between Paulis and Pecica. Toward the mountainous frame it has
altitudes of almost 120 m, while in the western part hardly above 100 m. At
the foot of the Zarandului Mountains a piemont plain is distinguishable,
which does not reach the river Mureş, but gradually transforms into a lower
platform (hardly above 100 m), having the characteristics of the digression
plain from Curtici. As a result of the extension of the alluvial cone of the
river Mureş, the Plain of Arad is made of gravel, sands and clay. Eastward
from Arad loess and loess deposits,
while in the region of Curtici the eolian sands, with a relief of fixed dunes
emerge. Inside the digression plain the deserted river beds and meanders,
sand banks, swamps and salty soils
are frequent. |
| |
| Clima |
| The climate of the city is moderate-continental, with light
Mediterranean influences, the average temperature in summer being of 21°C and
in winter -1°C. |
| |
| Waters |
| |
| It is crossed by the river Mureş from the east to the west. |
| |
| |
| TOURIST ATTRACTIONS |
| |
| |
| Mountains: |
| |
| The Codru-Moma Mountains
are considered to be among the most interesting tourist areas from the
Apuseni Mountains, thanks to the landscapes that are outstanding through
their beauty and spectacular nature: steep slopes of hundreds of metres, vast
leafy forests. |
| |
| Caves: |
| |
| The Bats' Cave near
Moneasa, enchantingly decorated with stalactites and stalagmites of all
sizes. Hear originates the creek that flows beside the old treatment centre
of the Moneasa resort. |
| |
| The Cave of the Crystals
is made of black limestone rock. |
| |
| Lakes: |
| |
| The Tauţ Lake (situated
in the centre of the county of Arad, to 20 km from Ineu and about 55 km from
the city) is located at the foot of the Apuseni Mountains, in the mountainous
area of the Land of Zarand, on of the most renowned ethnographic regions from
Romania. The surrounding area is well-known for its vast forest areas, that
totalise more than 10.000 ha. The fish fauna is made up mainly of peaceful
fish, and some predatory fish. The Dart fish and the Redfin Perch are also
well represented, in large numbers and beautiful specimens. |
| |
| The Teuz Lake (Bocsig,
The County of Arad), is situated in the Hills of Cuied, on the Dâmbuţ Hill
(198 m high) and the river Potoc. |
| |
| Other lakes: the Ineu Lake (Ineu, the county of Arad), the Seleuş Lake
(Seleuş, the county of Arad), the Rovina Lake (Ineu, the county of Arad). |
| |
| Reservations and Natural Monuments: |
| |
| Bezdin, near Pecica, a complex reservation with an
area of 25 ha, it is a great attraction thanks to the white water lilly, that
grows here. |
| |
| Dendrological Parks: Periş, with oaks, that are older than 600 years, Săvârşin, Macea. |
| |
| Historical Vestiges: |
| |
| The Fortress of Arad was
built on the left bank of the river Mureş on the request of the empress Maria
Theresa. The construction work lasted 20 years (1763-1783). In July, 1919 the
Romanian Army overtook the fortress. In the future the fortress will become a
museum complex. |
| |
| |
| Other historical vestiges: The Stone Fortress (Siria 1331), The Şoimuş
stone fortress (Lipova 1278), the Bohuş Castle (Bohus), the Săvârşin Castle
(Săvârşin 1870) the Agriş Castle (Agriş 1400). |
| |
| Religious Buildings: |
| |
| The Hodoş-Bodrog Monastery from Bodrogul Nou was built in 1177. It is one of the oldest
monuments of this type from Romania. One can find valuable paintings,
numerous manuscripts and many other museum pieces here. |
| |
| The Serbian Church of
Arad was built in 1698 in a baroque style. |
| |
| The "St. Florian" Chapel is located in the city and was built in 1752. |
| |
| Other religious buildings: Wooden Churches situated in Buceava, Groşii
Noi, Hălmagiu, Săvârşin, the Orthodox Church of voivodes from Hălmagiu, from
the 14th Century, the Orthodox Church from Lipova, from the 14th Century. |
| |
| Other tourist attractions: |
| |
| The Administrative Palace |
| It was built between 1872 and 1874 according to a project of the
architect Francisc Pekar. From a architectural point of view, the palace
combines the Flemish neorenaissance style with the style of the town-halls
from the Late Middle Ages. The building hosts the City Hall, the Prefecture
and the County Council. |
| |
| The Culture Palace |
| It was built between 1911 and 1913
according to the plans of the architect Ludovic Szantay, at the initiative of
the Kolecsey cultural society. From an architectural point of view, the
building is a combination of several styles: Classical, Italian Renaissance,
French Gothic, French Baroque and Romanesque. |
| |
| The Old Water Tower |
| The tower was built in 1896, while in 1927 it was restored. The main
reason for its construction was to provide the drinking water supply for
Arad. The tower is 25 metres high, has the aspect of a fortification and
distinguishes itself thanks to the decoration of its windows and balconies. |
| |
| The Neptun Lido |
| It is situated on an area of more than 20 ha of greenbelt and
comprises swimming pools, sports fields, playgrounds for children, clubs,
discos, more than 1500 cabins and 300 camping houses. |
| |
| The Cliff of the River Mureş |
| It is the place where there
are: the Children's Park, the Eminescu Park, the Europe Park and where the festivities with the
occasion of Europe's Day take place, sport fields, playgrounds for children. |
| |
| The Thicket |
| It
is located near the Podgorie Square. At the end o the 19th Century the
greenbelt was much wider, the natural lake that is situated here was
surrounded by a small |
| wood. |
| |
| The Ceala Forest |
| It is situated to a distance of 2 km from Arad, on an area of 1560 ha,
and it is one of the favourite places of the inhabitants of Arad for spending
their free time. Here is also the Moltaret Lake. An especially pitoresque
place is the Island of the Mureş at the southern end of the forest. On the
island, formed by the main river bed of the river Mureş and a sidearm, there
is a large number of holiday houses and cottages. |
| |
| The monument of the Romanian Soldiers |
| Built in memory of those who gave their lives for the liberation from
under the fascist domination. |
| |
| |
|
+ add to planner
accomodations
gastronomy
services
attractions
events
what's nearby
back previous page
