A city in western Romania, located on the Bega River in the Banat region.
First, a note for historical purists: yes, I’m aware that TimiČoara is in the Banat region, but for the sake of simplicity, I treat all territories lost by Hungary to Romania as Transylvania. This is not a major exaggeration, as Banat was for many years part of Transylvania.
But let’s get back to the city itself. The beautiful architecture, typical for this region—at least in the very center—is not as spoiled by overhead electrical wires as in Bucharest and the cities of Wallachia. You will still find some neglected spots in TimiČoara, but they do not overwhelm the overall impression.
Choosing a good restaurant won’t be a problem, though in my opinion, there’s an overrepresentation of Italian cuisine—something that plagues almost every European city, at least for tourists who don’t come to Romania to eat pizza. Still, in this multi-ethnic city, there is no shortage of restaurants serving local dishes.
When I talk about multi-ethnicity, I don’t mean food stalls selling spring rolls run by newcomers from Vietnam who arrived in Romania a month ago, but ethnic communities that have been tied to this city for centuries. TimiČoara is home to Romanians, Hungarians, descendants of Saxons, and Serbs. Each of these nations has its own institutions, theaters, and churches. And if they share the same faith, the Catholic cathedral holds separate Masses in German, Romanian, and Hungarian.
Any downsides?
TimiČoara does lag behind cities like Sibiu and Cluj-Napoca in terms of tourist infrastructure, monuments, and gastronomy.
Why don’t I have the best personal memories of this city? Well, I was bitten by bedbugs in my hotel. I don’t recommend it. It ruined a week of my life, but I’ll write more about it in my Sibiu report.
For the record, the hotel was clean, everything worked, and the bedbugs could have been brought in either by us in our luggage or by previous guests. These things happen.
Over the centuries, the city has experienced many changes in rulers and cultural influences, including Hungarian, Turkish, Austrian, and Romanian. One of the most important events in its history was the Spring Uprising of 1848, which had a significant impact on the emerging national movement in Romania.
TimiČoara is known for its architectural diversity. In the city center, you can find numerous historic buildings from various periods, including Baroque, Neoclassicism, and Art Nouveau. The city is often referred to as the “Little Vienna” due to its many monuments linked to Austrian architecture.
Cathedral of the Three Holy Hierarchs in TimiČoara
A church built between 1937 and 1940 for the faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Its patrons are Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian, and Saint John Chrysostom. In my opinion, the cathedral is impressive both from the outside and the inside.
St. George`s Cathedral in TimiČoara
One of the most important churches in the city and the seat of the Archdiocese of TimiČoara. The cathedral is located right in the city center, on Union Square (PiaČa Unirii).
Serbian Cathedral in TimiČoara
The Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord, was built between 1744 and 1748 in Baroque style. Next to the cathedral is the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of TimiČoara.
The traditional eastward orientation of the altar means that the cathedral faces the main square with its apse, not its façade. Since 1964, the church has been recognized as a historical monument.
Opera NaČionalÄ in TimiČoara
Founded by Royal Decree No. 254 of March 30, 1946, issued by King Michael I. The opera house was designed according to the plans of Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, who built many theaters across Europe, including in Budapest, Vienna, and Odessa. Construction began in 1871 and was completed in 1875.
Monument of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint John of Nepomuk
The 18th century was marked by numerous epidemics, which is why two monuments were erected in TimiČoara in memory of those who died from disease. One of them is located in Liberty Square, 200 meters from the city center, and is known as the Monument of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Saint John of Nepomuk.
The Baroque-style monument was made in Vienna in 1756. The main figures are Saint John of Nepomuk, the patron of Catholicism in Banat, and the Blessed Virgin Mary holding lilies, a symbol of purity. In the background appear Saints Roch, Charles Borromeo, and Sebastian.
On three sides of the monument’s pedestal, the legend of Saint John of Nepomuk is depicted: the confession of the Queen of Bohemia, the inquisitor King Wenceslaus who seeks to break the seal of confession and punish the Prague canon, and his martyrdom—being thrown from a bridge into the Vltava River in Prague. After his suffering and sanctification, Saint John of Nepomuk became the protector of Bohemia, sailors, raftsmen, priests, millers, and those who keep secrets.
Lloyd Palace
Built between 1910 and 1912 according to the plans of architect Leopold Baumhorn, in an eclectic style with Art Nouveau accents.
On the ground floor, the palace originally housed the Café Lloyd and a restaurant where the high society of TimiČoara gathered. The Lloyd restaurant still exists today, while the commercial spaces on the ground floor and basement are rented out. On the first floor, there was the Agricultural Exchange and the Lloyd Society, while the second and third floors contained apartments.
In the interwar period, Lloyd Palace belonged to the TimiČoara Chamber of Commerce. On May 15, 1945, it was donated to the West University of TimiČoara. After 1948, the building was converted into the Rectorate of the Polytechnic University of TimiČoara.
Former Discount Bank in TimiČoara
Throughout its history, the building of the former Discount Bank has been regarded as the most elegant in the city. Many experts see in its appearance a clear influence of Gaudí.
TimiČoara Garrison Command
The Command of the TimiČoara Garrison. This building served the military authorities of the Habsburgs, Austria-Hungary, and Romania. In recent decades, the upper floor housed a museum dedicated to military history, operating as part of the TimiČoara Military Circle.
Capitoline Wolf
Statuia Lupoaicei – a statue depicting the legend of the founders of Rome, the brothers Romulus and Remus, being fed by a she-wolf. It was a gift to TimiČoara from the municipality of Rome, symbolizing the Latin heritage uniting the Romanian and Italian nations.
Victory Square in TimiČoara
One of the central squares of TimiČoara, and the place where, on December 20, 1989, the city was declared the first free city in Romania.
PiaČa Unirii ā Union Square
The oldest historic square in TimiČoara, designed in Baroque style. It was also known as Hauptplatz, Domplatz, and Losonczy Square, after the commissioner Čtefan Losonczy, who was killed in 1552 when the fortress was captured by the Turks. It was given the name PiaČa Unirii in 1919, when Romanian troops entering TimiČoara stopped here.
Holy Trinity Column ā Plague Column in TimiČoara
The column was erected in 1740 as a votive offering by councillor Johann Anton Deschan von Hansen. The monument commemorates the end of the plague epidemic that ravaged the entire Banat between 1731 and 1738. During the epidemic, over 1,300 people in TimiČoara lost their lives, including six mayors.
BraČov
A city in central Romania, located in the Carpathian Mountains, in the region of Transylvania.
Sibiu
Sibiu is a city in central Romania, located in the FÄgÄraČ Mountains, on the Cibin River.