Things to see and do West

This elegant and colourful square is located at the southern end of the Revoluției boulevard, along which the city centre is organized. It is surrounded by beautiful buildings and the surrounding streets are charming. This area concentrates the major part of the tourist curiosities. The statue in the centre of the square is called "de la Liberté". To the north, piața Avram Iancu is bordered by the Classical Theatre, which turns its back on him. Built in 1874, it has a six-column facade overlooking the boulevard Revoluției. Not far away, on the same boulevard, stands the imposing Catholic church, whose entrance is framed by four massive columns. The boulevard stretches for almost a mile. At the far end, at the northern end, you will find the new Orthodox Cathedral, built from 1991.

On the south side of the square, stands the house with the Padlock (Casa cu Lacăt), on the charming little Plevnei square: look at the corner of the building, you will understand... You will also see the neologic synagogue of Arad, from 1834. Moorish style inside, it is housed in a building with classical facades. The entrance is by strada Tribunul Dobra (No. 10). Even further south, in what used to be called Old Arad (or the Serbian town), is the Serbian church Sfânții Petru și Pavel (piața Sârbească 1), built in 1696 in the purest Baroque style.

To the west of piața Avram Iancu, taking Vasile Street Goldiș, you will come across the former Orthodox Cathedral (1865), with its beautiful frescoes. She's facing one of the city's markets.

The Information Center of the Semenic-Cheile Carasului National Park is the tourist office of the town of Caraşova, located in the Semenic-Cheile Carasului Natural Park in southwest Romania. The national park covers an area of 36,051.5 hectares and is home to natural elements of great value in terms of physical geography, flora, hydrology, geology and speleology. Visitors can discover numerous natural attractions, scenic vistas and local culture and traditions. Several tourist trails allow you to explore the park and not miss must-see sites such as the Comarnic cave, the Caraşului keys, Lake Buhui, the Caras fortress and the Nera springs nature reserve. Petru Maior, Nr. 69A, Loc.Reşiţa Jud. Caraş- Severin, Cod poştal 320112.

Built between 1752 and 1780, this cathedral is the largest Baroque religious building in Romania (78 by 40 meters). The facades are covered in Carrara marble, the influence of the Italian architect who carried out the construction project. Some of the interior paintings date back to the time of its construction, such as those on the superb dome; others were added in the ^19th and ^20th centuries. Also noteworthy are the great organs. A simple cathedral until 1991, Pope John Paul II promoted it to basilica status that year.

Close to the basilica, this Baroque-style palace is set in a large wooded park. Built in the ^mid-18th century by Austrian architect Franz Anton Hillebrandt, it is a replica of Vienna's Belvedere Palace. It is said to have as many windows as there are days in the year. Its 100 rooms contain superb paintings depicting scenes from the life of Saint Ladislas, King of Hungary from 1077 to 1095. They date from the late ^19th century.

Built between 1784 and 1790, this Orthodox church known as "à la Lune"(biserica cu Lună) combines Baroque elements with neoclassical touches. At 55 m high, its bell tower dominates the square. Its interiors are well worth a visit, not least for their grandiose ^19th-century illuminated paintings. Installed on the façade in 1793, the astronomical clock features an ingenious mechanism: a large sphere, painted half black and half gold, follows the rotation of the moon around the Earth, representing the different phases of the star.

Situated on the banks of the river, this imposing cubic synagogue in an eclectic style, topped by a large silver dome, was erected from 1877 onwards by reformist Jews. It's the biggest in the city. Its interior walls are covered with coloured geometric patterns of Moorish inspiration. The synagogue, recently restored, has become a space dedicated to culture.

The Orthodox synagogue (strada Mihai Viteazul 4), built in 1890 in an eclectic style with many Moorish elements, reopened in 2018 after renovation.

Built between 1114 and 1131, this citadel was destroyed in 1241 by the Tatars. Rebuilt, it was rebuilt in the 15th century, then especially in the 17th and 18th centuries, according to plans inspired by Vauban and entrusted to Italian architects, who developed it with a typical star shape. From then on, it became the epicentre of the city and a real bulwark against the Ottoman invasions. The majestic princely palace dates from the reign of Gabriel Bethlen, at the beginning of the 17th century.

Recently restored, the citadel now hosts restaurants, craft workshops, medieval demonstrations and numerous cultural events. It is also home to the city museum, whose sections are divided among the various bodies of the princely palace. You can visit a lapidarium in the basement, an art gallery, a bread museum, a memorial to the communist resistance and repression, temporary exhibitions... One of the permanent exhibitions is devoted to the history of photography, another focuses on the musical tastes of young people in the harsh 1970s and 1980s... Don't miss the Griffon Hall, the most beautiful in the palace: decorated with stuccoes representing fantastic and real animals, it was probably originally used as a reception hall. The two adjoining rooms have superb painted vaults. As for the old moat, it has become a beautiful park, where one can walk along the imposing red brick walls.

He lives in an Orthodox synagogue built in 1926. This municipal museum, inaugurated in 2018, will tell you that the first Jewish community was established in the city in 1722. In 1870, it splits in two, between Orthodox and Reformers. The floor is dedicated to the Second World War and the Holocaust: the city's annexation to Hungary, the adoption of anti-Semitic laws, ghettoization and deportation to death camps.

The foundation stone of this baroque building was laid in 1731 by Peter Solderer, the mayor of the town, for the German community. The façade, decorated with the town's coat of arms, was restored in 1782 in Renaissance style. Its external appearance was further modified during the restoration of 1935. Near its main entrance, on the right-hand side, you will find an inscription in Arabic, a sign of the Ottoman occupation of the city and which refers to the Turkish baths on which the old town hall (Primăria veche) was built.

Southwest of the centre, on the other side of the Bega river, you will happily get lost in the residential areas of Elizabetin and Iosefin. The large houses are not always in good condition, but are nevertheless elegant. Streets with a village character, sometimes paved, small quiet squares, a lively market and the rarity of cars also make the charm of these places. Among the points of interest: the Reformed Church (strada Cipariu 1) of Pastor László Tőkés. This is where the very first rally against Ceaușescu was formed on December 15, 1989.

Three large squares line the route: Piața Victoriei, opposite the cathedral, is undoubtedly the busiest, with its cafés and terraces. Piața Libertății is the main tramway station. Note at no. 7 the former military casino, in late Baroque style. Finally, Piața Unirii, with its square surrounded by ^18th-century buildings, is a meeting point for locals. Between these two squares, the streets are pleasant and colorful. Among them is the Catholic Episcopal Palace (strada Augustin Pacha), a remarkable Baroque building dating from 1752.

It occupies the Baroque Palace, one of the most striking buildings on Union Square. Built in 1754, its restored interiors are extremely elegant, with superb carved wooden doors and walls featuring a wealth of Rococo and neo-Renaissance ornamentation. The museum's five permanent exhibitions are dedicated to ancient Banat painting and icons, modern Romanian art, the famous painter Corneliu Baba and European art. The museum also hosts interesting temporary exhibitions and various cultural events.

Housed in a decrepit former military barracks, this association-run memorial is an essential stop-off point for immersing yourself in the genesis of the Romanian Revolution. It traces the chronology of the uprising in Timișoara, and then the entire country. The exhibition is supported by numerous black-and-white period photos, offering a man's-eye view of the events. The main panels are translated into English, and a rather well-made documentary, available in French, is screened upstairs. The association's staff can also guide you through the rooms. One of them features a series of children's drawings, produced shortly after the revolution, forming a mosaic of hard-hitting and touching glimpses of events. Another room shows miniatures of the twelve sculptures of remembrance scattered around the city. Each has its own significance: one is dedicated to the mothers of the victims, another to the children killed during the repression, and so on. The memorial features maps indicating their location and meaning. Throughout the exhibition, you'll also find emblematic objects: flags with holes in them (symbols of the revolution), police uniforms or demonstrators' clothes... A chapel has even been reconstituted, in memory of the 104 people killed in Timișoara, four of whom have never been identified. While the lack of resources is palpable, the visit is nonetheless instructive and emotionally charged.

Built between 1862 and 1865, to plans by Viennese architect Ignaz Schumann, it features an eclectic style, using elements of Moorish architecture, in vogue at the time. Its facade, framed by two massive towers, is covered in exposed brick and ceramic tiles. The grandeur of the building is a reminder that, at the turn of the century, Timișoara had a very large Jewish population: it numbered over 12,000, compared with a few hundred today. Most emigrated to Israel under Ceaușescu.

The highest point in the Banat mountain range, with the Piatra Goznei peak at 1,447 m, the Semenic Mountains are perfect for hikes accessible to all. The Semenic-Caraș Gorges National Park covers an area of 36,624 ha. It is characterized by vast beech and fir forests distributed between modest river valleys and peaks over 1,200 m in altitude, peaks, dolines, gorges, plateaus, but also orchards and pastures. The altitude is therefore quite low, and Mediterranean influences are evident. There are 1,086 species of Mediterranean and Balkan plants living side by side. Invertebrates include 56 endemic species and 45 rare species. Vertebrate species include the horned viper, Europe's most venomous species, and birds of prey such as the short-toed eagle and the spotted eagle. Ten mammal species have been counted, including wolf, Carpathian deer and lynx. The park also boasts numerous caves, home to many endemic species. Interesting sites include the beautiful beech forest of the Izvoarele Nerei reserve and the Comarnic cave. The latter is located to the north of the Anina Mountains, on the left side of the Comarnic Valley, at 440 m altitude. It is the longest cave in the region (4,040 m). Its galleries are large and rich in stalagmites, the spectacle of which never fails to delight visitors.

This long pedestrian shopping street, full of cafés, is almost always bustling with activity. It's lined with colorful Baroque and Secession buildings, some of which have been beautifully restored. Art Nouveau gems include the Apollo Palace (no. 16), an immaculately white building dating from 1912, and the Stern Palace (no. 10), built in 1904, with its magnificent floral friezes inspired by traditional Hungarian motifs. And let's not forget the superb Moskovits Miksa Palace, with its petrol-blue walls, plant motifs and superb ironwork.

Built at the same time as the Catholic Cathedral, it rises on the other side of piața Unirii, to which it has its back. Its facade faces Ungurianu street. The building, which blends Baroque and classical styles, returned to the Serbian community after its separation from the Romanian Orthodox Church in 1865. The adjoining Episcopal Palace, the seat of the Serbian Orthodox bishopric, also dates from the 18th century, but its façade was rebuilt in 1905 in a neo-Serbian style.

This is the only remaining bastion of the nine in the Timișoara fortress, built in the ^18th century in the Vauban style. The bastions formed the third and final circle of the fortification, the innermost. The whole complex was almost entirely demolished in 1892, to allow for the development of the city. Renovated, the Theresia bastion now houses temporary exhibitions organized by the Banat Museum, as well as bar-restaurants, an art gallery and a museum dedicated to the cartoonist Popa (Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Here's a place not to be missed in Timișoara: in 2009, the independent theater Aualeu took over an old house, a little way from the center, to house its small performance hall, a bar called Scârț and, since 2015, a museum of the Communist Consumer. It's a sort of Ali Baba's cave, populated by everyday objects emblematic of that era. Noting that they were often destined for the garbage can, the Aualeu team set about rescuing some of them, donated or salvaged right and left, with the aim of preserving the popular memory of this period. This is not political nostalgia, but rather an evocation of childhood and family life under Communism. Three rooms have been reconstructed in the basement: a living room, a kitchen and a child's bedroom. You'll see old radio and TV sets, bottles for making sparkling water, crockery, games, dolls, school supplies, Disney magazines (from the days when the regime had opened up a little), sets of tin labels, propaganda posters and a large collection of porcelain trinkets (a very common gift at the time, due to lack of choice). Don't hesitate to ask the staff for explanations, otherwise you may feel a little helpless in the midst of all this bric-a-brac. The bar, with its bookshelves full of old books, retro foosball table, period portraits and kitsch paintings, is already setting the mood.

It's hard not to notice this major building, which has stood at the heart of the central boulevard since 1876. Built according to the plans of the architect Ferenc Pekár, the administrative palace has a Flemish neo-Renaissance style. Its clock tower, 54 m high, is reminiscent of Flemish town halls. In the entrance hall, the imposing red marble-covered staircase, leading to a beautiful village hall, features beautiful stained glass windows on the theme of the seasons. Just next door, at no. 73, is the Cenad Palace (19th century), in an eclectic style.

A symbol of the city, it was built on the orders of Empress Maria Theresa between 1763 and 1783, on the site of a ^16th-century Turkish fortress. Beneath the foundations of the citadel, an even older fort was unearthed, first mentioned in 1232. The six-branched, three-row fort was designed by Austrian military architect Ferdinand Philipp von Harsch. The building is a prohibited military zone. However, it is possible to wander around in the park and leisure area at the foot of the fortress.

This building, inaugurated in 1913, features a neoclassical façade with Corinthian columns supporting a pediment. The side wings feature Italian Renaissance elements. Inside, a superb marble hall leads to the concert hall. The palace in fact houses the philharmonic, as well as several sections of the județ museum: history (under renovation), natural sciences and the picture gallery. The history museum includes a room dedicated to the 1989 revolution in Arad, illustrated with numerous photos.

This is one of the longest caves in the country (over 4 km), formed in the karst of the Apuseni Mountains. Traces of Palaeolithic and Neolithic occupation have been found here, as well as the skeleton of a cave bear. Today, it's renowned for its rich cave fauna, including a large colony of bats, butterflies and spiders. It is a protected nature reserve. It also features some particularly impressive concretions. Visits are made in the presence of a guide.

The Vadu Cave Crișului, arranged for tourists, is crossed by a stream which, at the exit, falls in cascade. It can be reached by a nice 30-minute walk from the village of Vadu Crișului, following a forest path (marked with a red circle) that runs along the river. Not far, in the village of Șuncuiuș, the wind cave (peștera vântului) is the longest in the country (almost 52 km of galleries!). Crossed by an underground river, it undergoes permanent erosion. It lends itself to caving (e.g. with Aventura Trekking).

They stretch to the southeast of the center, along the Bega river. Some are dedicated to leisure activities, with swimming pools and tennis courts. The most beautiful is the Rose Park(Rozelor), where you can sit on a bench and admire the multicolored flowers. Nearby, the open-air theater regularly hosts cultural events. The Children's Park(Copiilor) has plenty of games for the little ones. On the other side of the river, you'll find the large university campus, a veritable city within the city, with a lively nightlife.

Located behind the town hall, the main park hugs the outside of the Mureș curve. A pedestrian bridge takes you to the area around the citadel, which features several leisure facilities, including a gigantic swimming pool, sports fields, restaurants and bars. On the other side of the Palace of Culture is the Children's Park(parcul Copiilor) with games for young and old alike: this is where chess and rummy enthusiasts meet in a specially landscaped area.

If you have to visit only one, this is it! The Bear Cave(peștera Urșilor), of rare beauty and speleological richness, stretches for over 1 km in length. It houses, on two levels, three vast galleries of evocatively shaped stalactites and stalagmites, as well as traces of fossils belonging to species that became extinct over 15,000 years ago! The cave owes its name to the remains of cave bears discovered here in 1975. It lies just outside the village of Chișcău, 23 km from Beiuș.