Cemeteries and memorials to visit Timişoara

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.