After writing about "Brâncuși's city", Târgu Jiu, I thought of writing about Arad, the main gateway to the west of Romania.
Arad is the municipality of residence of the county of the same name, on the border between the historical regions of Banat and Crișana, Romania. It is located on both banks of the Mureș River in Crișana and Banat (Aradul Nou, Mureșel and Sânnicolaul Mic neighborhoods), Romania.
The name of Arad for the current city, county seat has a disputed origin so it is possible the origin as an adapted form of the name Orod / Urod, a supposed Hungarian knight of King Stephen I of Hungary, possibly the first bishop of the area.
The first documentary attestation of the Arad area was made in the 11th century in the context of the local battles with the armies of the Hungarian feudal kingdom.
Points of atractions - Tourist objectives
Museums
Art Museum
The Art Museum of Arad is a monument of architecture (20th century) and includes Romanian art (Romanian plastic works from the 19th - 20th centuries, paintings by Theodor Aman, Nicolae Grigorescu, Corneliu Baba, Nicolae Tonitza, sculptures by Dimitrie Paciurea , Romulus Ladea), universal art from Italian, French, Flemish-Dutch, Hungarian schools (painting, tapestry, porcelain, furniture). It was born on the basis of the first Arad painting exhibition, organized in 1913. It forms the background of the current European painting collection.
Historic buildings and areas
The "Ioan Slavici" Classical Theater
The "Ioan Slavici" Classical Theater was built between 1872 and 1874 in neoclassical style. In the years 1958-1960, important modernization works took place during which the current facade of the Theater was built.
The first to propose the construction of another theater, as the building of the first was too small due to the increased interest of the people of Arad for theater performances, was Baron Bánhidy Béla in 1862. Lack of funds stopped any initiative until Mayor Atzél Péter contracted a loan of 700,000 florins. Adding to this amount the donations of the people of Arad, it was decided to launch an order to the architect Antoniu Czigler (or possibly his son Győző). Due to disputes over the exterior of the theater, work began only in 1869 under the direct supervision of architect Antal Skalnitzky. The news that Emperor Franz Joseph himself was to be present at the inauguration caused a haste in the theater.
Cultural Palace
The Cultural Palace was built between 1911 and 1913, according to the plans of the Arad architect Lajos Szantay. The building displays a multitude of styles, depending on the era in which it was erected. The main façade is inspired by the models of Greek temples. The monumental stairs, the columns with capitals and the triangular pediment decorated with a bas-relief dedicated to the muses (worked by the sculptor Geza Rubleczky) stand out. Above the building rises a massive tower with a square base.
To the right and left of the main façade, two wings are formed with decorative stairs leading to the side entrances; each wing has a small tower with a polygonal base. The two side wings are dominated by Renaissance elements, visible especially in the shape and decoration of the ground floor windows. On the fourth side of the building, which faces the park, the most striking elements are inspired by the Hunyadi castle.
Currently, the Cultural Palace building houses the headquarters of the County Museum and the State Philharmonic
Old Town
The old center of Arad has a rich cultural and historical heritage, offering visitors a real open-air museum of architectural styles specific to the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, adding many art monuments. and history. Lovers of architecture can admire, in Arad, buildings built in baroque, renaissance, eclectic, classical and neo-gothic style.
Administrative Palace (City Hall)
The Administrative Palace of Arad is a building built between 1872-1875, which today houses the City Hall of Arad. The building is one of the significant works of eclectic architecture in Arad. The regular facades are rhythmic and decorated with classicist elements, and the central part of the main façade has rich neo-renaissance references. The style of the building combines Flemish Neo-Renaissance with the style of the late medieval town halls. The plan of the building is in the shape of a "U", with a central tower 54 m high and the clock in the tower, brought from Switzerland in 1878, has a mechanism that at a fixed time sings Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven. The building is declared a historical monument.
The Administrative Palace currently houses the City Hall and the County Prefecture.
The Red Church
The Red Church is a historical and architectural monument in Arad. The building serves as a place of worship of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, with divine services in Hungarian.
The name comes from the apparently polished brick exterior finish. The works for the construction of the church began in March 1905, being led by the Arad architect Ludovic Szantay, the author of the project, and were completed in September 1906, when the consecration took place.
The Red Church was built in neo-Gothic style, with a 46-meter-high main tower, stained glass windows by the artist Josef Polka from Budapest, the pulpit carved by the sculptor György Orr from Kashovia and the altar painting by the painter J. Umlauf. The church organ, Wegensstein type, electropneumatic organ, was made in Timisoara and installed in 1927.
Water Tower
The water tower is a building in Arad, made by the English company Shone and Ault, the company that executed the first water supply project in Arad.
The water tower has a storage capacity of 300 cubic meters, a height of 34 meters and was built in 1895, to supply the city with water and to signal fires, which is why it was built in the vicinity of the fire station. At the time of construction, it was the tallest building in the city. It is a massive stone and brick construction, which is distinguished by the decoration of balconies and windows. The tower served in the city's water supply system until 1956.
Since 1990, the tower has been privately owned, hosting the “Water Tower” art gallery, which has a permanent water exhibition, and many art or thematic exhibitions.
"Saint Anthony of Padua" Church
The Roman Catholic Church "Saint Anton of Padua" is a place of worship in the city of Arad. It was built between 1902 and 1904 by the Arad architect Milan Tabacovici. It was consecrated in 1911. The place of worship has elements representing the classicist, baroque and renaissance styles.
The nave of the church is 43 meters long and 17 meters wide. Above the entrance is a copy of the Pieta statue. The cross on the dome is 56 meters high. The place of worship is made in eclectic style, wearing elements of classicist, baroque and renaissance styles. The main entrance is framed by four massive columns with Corinthian capitals. The frontispiece houses a copy of the sculpture Pieta, the work of Michelangelo.
Arad Train station
Arad Train Station (or Gara Mare) is the largest train station in the city and county of Arad, but also one of the busiest in the Western Region of Romania.
The first train to run in Arad was on October 25, 1858, the year of the opening of the Szolnok - Arad railways. Between 1869 and 1871, the Arad - Timișoara railway was built, 55.6 km long, a line opened on April 6, 1871.
Clădirea actuală a gării a fost construită după planurile arhitectului arădean Lajos Szantay. Lucrările la clădirea gării din Arad au început în anul 1905 și au fost încheiate în 1910. Gara a fost bombardată puternic în octombrie 1944 de către trupele germane și a fost refăcută între anii 1950-1953.
Cathedral of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (former cathedral)
The Cathedral of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is a monument of Baroque architecture. The building was built between 1862-1865 under the leadership of architect Anton Ziegler. The main financiers of the construction were the Mocioni family and the banker Gheorghe Sina from Vienna.
The two towers on the facade were raised in 1904. The two towers are provided with a clock on each side.
The church served as the cathedral of the Diocese of Arad from its inception until 2009, when the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Arad, built since 1991, acquired the function of a cathedral.
Places for relaxation and fun
Holy Trinity Cathedral
The "Holy Trinity" Cathedral in Arad is an Orthodox cathedral, the seat of the archbishopric of the Archdiocese of Arad. The building also houses some of the relics of St. John Chrysostom. The painting of the cathedral was made by the painter Cezar Constantin Cătălin Băluț and was completed in December 2018, when the consecration of the place of worship took place.
The cornerstone of the Arad cathedral was laid in 1991 by Timotei Seviciu, bishop of Arad. The cathedral was erected by Patriarch Daniel on December 6, 2008, and on November 28, 2009 it became an archbishop's cathedral.
Neptune Pool
The Neptun swimming pool in Arad is the largest swimming pool in Romania and the second in Europe. Located on the Mureș loop, the Neptun swimming pool covers an area of almost 40 hectares of greenery, being the second largest swimming pool in Europe. During the summer, various festivals and open-air concerts take place.
The pool is based on five swimming pools, a water slide, children's playgrounds. Inside the Neptune swimming pool, visitors can consume drinks or food at the over 100 bars, restaurants, pizzerias.
Conclusion: Arad is a pleasant destination, perfect if you want to get rid of the hustle and bustle and visit historic buildings.
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