GENERAL INFORMATION
ABOUT THE CITY TIMIŞOARA |
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Short history of the
city Timişoara |
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The first documentary
attestation of the locality Timişoara is fairly controversial, because the
specialists place it in 1212 or 1266. In 1175 they mentioned the Timiş
County, but the sources did not mention its economic and administrative
centre. |
Known
as Stronghold - Castrum Temesiene - situated at the crossing of the trading
and military roads, it became the main target of the dispute between the
Turks and the Austrians, and then it was coveted by the Hungarian bourgeoisie
and aristocracy - Timişoara developed around the fortified nucleus, from the
18th century. Between 1315-1323 |
King Carol Robert of Anjou established in the Timişoara
Stronghold the royal residence. |
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The colonization of Banat made from
Timişoara a real multicultural and multi-confessional centre. The building of
the shipping canal of Bega gave a powerful rate to its economic and trading
development. The town underwent an unprecedented thriving period, attaining
to get the name of Small Vienna, as the recognition of its importance and
beauty. |
In 1919 the Banat
united with Romania, and in Timişoara they set up for the first time the
Romanian administration. The Soviet post-war occupation marks the beginning
of the communist period that ended in 1989 with the Anticommunist revolution:
revolution that started just from the town of Bega. |
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Location |
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The Municipality of
Timişoara is located at the intersection of 45°47' North latitude and the
meridian of 21°17'' East longitude, being placed, as mathematical position,
in the Northern hemisphere, at almost equal distance form the North Pole and
the equator, and in the Eastern hemisphere, in the Central-European
time-zone. |
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Surface |
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130.5 km² |
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PopulaţiePopulation |
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317 660 inhabitants |
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Relief |
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Looking on the whole,
on the relief of Timişoara's zone can be observed the monotony and plainness
of the surface of lowlands, being interrupted only by the slightly sunk bed
of the Bega river (artificially realized, through canalization). But in
details, the relief of the town and its surroundings represent a series of
local particularities, expressed altimetric through moderate unevennesses,
which do not exceed anywhere 2-3 m. In the centre of the city Timişoara the
highest altitude is situated in the North-Eastern part, in the "Între
Vii" district, at 95 m, and the lowest point at 84 m, in the Western
part of the Mehala (Ronat) district. |
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Climate |
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The annual average
temperature measures around +11 degrees C, the hottest month being July with
21.6 degrees C, and the coldest month is January with -1.2 degrees C.
Concerning the precipitations there can be observed that the Mediterranean
influences, the yearly average reaching to 630-640 mm. |
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Rivers |
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Timişoara is situated
in the South-Eastern part of the Pannonian Plain, in the winding zone of
Timiş and Bega rivers. |
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TOURIST ATTRACTIONS |
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Natural reservations: |
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Bazos Park: the Bazos park is situated at 15 km SE from Timişoara, formed
from a real reservation and the zone around the it. The reservation comprises
the Big Park, the American Park, a greenhouse and a seed bed for exotic
plants. This gathers over 400 exotic shrub species from 5 continents. |
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The Swamps from
Satchinez: the complex of swamps is situated at 25 km from
Timişoara, in the Banat Plain and it occupies 40 hectares. The reservation
gathers about 25% of Romania's water bird species, some of them nearly
extinct. Among the rare species we can mention the: little egret, purple
heron, squacco heron, etc. |
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Fossil Location of Rădămăneşti: in the Lipova Plateau, at 10 km from Lugoj there is a
geological reservation the "Fossil Location of Rădămăneşti" with a
rich fossil fauna. It was discovered in 1870 by the scientist T. Fuchus, who
identified about 52 mollusc species. The protected zone was the object of a
monograph written in 1971 by G. Gillet and Fl. Marinescu. |
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Historical and Architectural Monuments: |
The Stronghold |
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The Stronghold -
known as the Stronghold, the ruins of the Timişoara Stronghold remind us to
the fortifications of the 18th century. Nowadays it hosts the Folkloric Art
Museum that exhibits traditional costumes, wood-carvings, folkloric ceramics,
religious glass paintings, etc. |
The Stronghold of
Timişoara |
Built during the 18th century, it had three
gates: Transylvanian Gate, Viennese Gate and
Petrovaradin Gate. |
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The Huniad's Castle |
Built by Iancu de Hunedoara during 1443-1447, on
the site of the old castle, built previously by Carol of Anjou. Today the
castle exhibits the collections of the Museum of Banat. |
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The Metropolitan
Cathedral |
Erected during
1936-1946 according to the plans of architect Ion Trăiănescu. The place has
been consecrated in 1947, in the presence of King Mihai I. The building was
constructed in Byzantine style, measuring 63 m in length and 32 m in width.
The main tower and the dome measure 83 m and 16 m in height. Is underground
floor hosts a museum, where are exhibited different Orthodox cult objects. |
The National Romanian
Theatre and Opera House |
They were built
according to the plans of the Viennese architects Fellner and Hellmer, during
1872-1875, in the Renaissance style. |
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The Roman-Catholic Church "Holy Heart of
Jesus" |
It was built in
Neogothic style, according to the plans of architect Karl Salkovics. |
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St.
Catherine Church |
Raised in 1775, reconstructed in 1889 in
Neobaroque style, it belonged to the Franciscan Order. |
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The Millenium Church |
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It was built according to the plans of architect
Ludwig von Ybl, in order to commemorate 1000 years since the Hungarians
settled in the Panonian Plain. |
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The Dicasterial
Palace |
Built in the Italian Renaissance style during
1850-1854 after the Strozzi Palace from Florence. |
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Tourist Objectives: |
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Timişoara Stronghold |
The Old Synagogue in Fabric |
The Roman-Catholic Church |
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The
Huniad's Castle |
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The
House of the Prince Eugeniu of Savoia |
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The
Stronghold Synagogue |
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The
House of the Count of Mercy |
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The
Franciscan Monastery |
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