Oradea

Oradea has always been a cosmopolitan city with a heterogeneous population and a large cultural and religious variety. For centuries now, Oradea has been a major cultural and trade center. The city was documented in 1113 and the citadel whose vestiges can still be seen today was first mentioned in 1241. In the Middle Ages, it was a real ethnic melting pot including Romanians, ethnic Hungarians, Austrians, Slovaks, Jews, Ruthenians and Turks. Mircea Oaie, chief executive at the Oradea City Hall will tell you why the city is worth visiting during this period:

România Internațional, 25.09.2014, 14:51

Mircea Oaie: “No doubt about it, Oradea is now a city attracting tourists, given that its historical center was rehabilitated. The center includes the Citadel that was rehabilitated, its history being highlighted. The International Short Theatre Festival kicked off on September 20th. Between October 3rd and 12th, events will be devoted to the city’s day, October 12th.”

One of the attractions of Oradea is the Assumption Cathedral or the Moon Church, as it is also called. The Moon Church in Baroque style was built over 1784-1790. On top of its tower there is a sphere, which includes a mechanism made by watchmaker Georg Rueppe. The sphere moves in accordance with the Moon’s rotation around the earth and shows the moon’s phases.

A must is also the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the largest church in Baroque style in Romania. Raised over 1750-1780, it is a stately construction with beautiful interior decorations. The Baroque Complex made up of the Baroque Palace, the St. Mary Basilica and the Row of Canons is the most important Baroque compound in Romania and one of the most representative in Europe. The Row of Canons built in 1773 is an architectural complex made up of 25 arches supported by columns that form a corridor stretching over 100 meters. The Baroque Palace was meant to be the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishopric in Oradea. The U-shaped palace was raised on three levels, with a broken roof specific to the Austrian Baroque style. Its foundation was laid in 1762 and its construction lasted 15 years.

Another attraction of Oradea is the State Theatre. Its erection started in 1899, being one of the representative edifices in eclectic style in Oradea. Its main façade is in neoclassical style with columns with capitals supporting a triangular fronton decorated with bas-reliefs.

The early 20th century brought a new, original style to Oradea, different from the academic ones, namely the Secession style. Such a building is the Black Eagle Palace, currently hosting the hotel of the same name. It is also in the early 20th century that the Apollo Palace was built, which is currently the Unic shop, a construction in Berlin Secession style, with decorations reminiscent of the Empire style. The past and the present intermingle in Oradea, which lends it a special atmosphere. As to accommodation, Oradea boasts a lot of three, four and even five star hotels and there are many guesthouses nearby.

We asked Mircea Oaie what surprises they were preparing for the Oradea Autumn Festival.

Mircea Oaie: “Concerts will be given by the band Mezzoforte of Iceland, Brody Ianos of Hungary and the band Pasarea Colibri featuring Dan Andrei Aldea, who will perform in Oradea after 33 years of absence. Various events will take place in the December 1st Park, which is emblematic for Oradea due to its size and central position. On October 11th, there will be a Military Music Festival, a first in the city. Four military bands from Constanta, Bucharest, Bistrita and Oradea will give concerts. Culture Beat, a well-known band from the 1990s will give a concert on October 12th. We’ll also organize the Double Distilled Plum Brandy Festival and the Wine Festival. We expect you to come to Oradea hoping that you will discover a new, lively city where you will feel at home.”