Arad by night

Sightseeing features

The city of Arad has a rich cultural and historical heritage and offers visitors a true open-air museum with special architectural styles from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, as well as art and historical monuments, theater performances, philharmonic concerts, art exhibitions, museum exhibitions, history, art and and natural sciences as well as festivals and public holidays. Architecture lovers can admire buildings in Baroque, Renaissance, Eclectic, Classical, Neo-Gothic or Secession style.

Arad – the city of palaces

Despite the enormous population growth during the communist era and the new factories built during this period, as well as the construction of unified block districts, Arad did not lose its personality. The central area remained almost untouched. The multitude of palaces, which are real urban pearls of the central boulevard and adjacent areas, fully justifies the expression “Arad city of palaces”.

The Administrative Palace (Bvd. Revoluției No. 75) was built in Neo-Renaissance style between 1872 and 1874 and houses the Arad City Hall. The plan of the building was created by architect Odon Lechner from Budapest, later modified by Arad architect Ferenc Pekar. The building was consecrated in 1877. Inside the 54-meter-tall tower are stained-glass windows made in 1960 by the famous artist Sever Frențiu. They symbolize the seasons, the months of the year and the god of time, Cronus.

The Palace of Culture (George Enescu Square No. 1), built between 1911 and 1913 according to the plans of the architect Szántay Lajos, houses two interesting cultural institutions: the Museum and the Philharmonic, recently renovated by the Arad City Hall and placed on a transferred to another level in order to make it possible to put an organ into operation. The building carries the mantle of all architectural styles present on the territory of the county, so each facade represents a style.

The Neuman Palace (78 Revoluției Blvd.) is one of the largest residential buildings in Arad and was built in 1891-92 at the request of the Neuman family of industrialists. The eclectic two-storey building has three gates to three streets and several staircases with rich wrought iron decoration. Above the facade is the coat of arms of the Barons Neuman.

The Palace of the National Bank (Revolution 72) was built in 1909-1910 according to the design and direction of the architect József Hubert from Budapest. The central part of the eclectic building was modeled on Greek temples. Four columns rise above the entrance, crowned by a triangular tympanum, at the top of which is a beehive, the symbol of the institution. The symmetrical sides bear the elements of the Renaissance style.

The grandiose palace of the architect Szántay Lajos (Str. Horia, No. 3-5), built in 1905, is a Gf + 2 building housing apartments. More recently, shops and workshops have been set up in the basement. The palace at the intersection of Horia Street and Episcopiei Street is a beautiful and sober example of the Arad Secession, also dominated by a spectacular tower supporting the globe.

The Bohus Palace (Vasile Goldiș Street, No. 1-3) of the baron of the same name, the work of the architect Szántay Lajos, was commissioned in 1913. On Revoluției Boulevard, Vasile Goldiș Street and Românul and partly in the attic, the Gf + 3 building houses shops, offices, apartments and a cinema hall. The first purpose-built hall in Arad.

The Palace of Justice on Vasile Milea Street was inaugurated in 1892. The entrance to the eclectic-style building is guarded by four Doric-style columns. The façade of Eminescu Park is dominated by the large windows of the ballroom, which contain neo-baroque elements. The facade of the building by the Mures River bears traces of the Italian Renaissance style.

The Water Tower on Turnului Street (Tchaikovsky Street) near the fire station was built in 1896. At 38m, it was the tallest building in the city. The project comes from the studio of the famous architect Miklós Ybl. For its realization, the dungeon of a medieval fortress was used as a model. A huge water basin was installed in the upper part, from which the supply of drinking water to the entire city was ensured. The building, covered with decorative stones, is characterized by the fine decoration of the balcony railings and the wrought iron used. It operated until 1956 and has been privately owned since 1990. However, it still houses a permanent water exhibit as well as many art or themed exhibitions.

Arad – multi-religious city

The oldest building in Arad. The Serbian Orthodox Church was built between 1699 and 1702. After the city of Arad was recaptured by the Christian armies under the command of Prince Eugene of Savoy, Serbian border guards were stationed in the city. The construction of the place of worship was funded by Captain Iovan Popovici Techelia. Among other things, the oldest flags of the Arad guilds are kept in the church.

The Romanian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (Old Cathedral) in Arad is located in Cathedral Square. After the demolition of the old church, Bishop Procopie Ivascovici initiated the construction of a representative place of worship in the so-called “Techelia Garden”. The plan belongs to Gyula-born Arad architect Anton Ziegler. Construction work on this project took place between 1862 and 1865. The facade of the church bears the seal of classic baroque style and ends with a triangular tympanum. The pilasters of the two towers end with Corinthian-style capitals. The attic with the round window between the two towers was added during the restoration of 1905-1906, at the same time as the decoration of the towers was being completed. The bell from 1764 comes from the old orthodox church.

The construction of the new Orthodox Cathedral “Holy Trinity” (B-dul Revoluției) of the Archdiocese of the Archdiocese of Arad started in 1991. The building is located in the Podgoria region, in the center of Arad. The new Episcopal Cathedral is 58 meters high and has a special resistance structure and anti-nuclear protection. The imposing construction in the center of Arad is covered with Podeni limestone, and the base and staircase are made of granite. The chandeliers are made of solid bronze and come from Thessaloniki. The iconostasis was made in a furniture factory in Arad. The massive bells were sourced from the renowned Grass Mayer factory in Innsbruck with over 400 years of experience. Also in the cathedral is a silver chest from the State Mint, which contains the relics of St. John Chrysostom from the Vatican.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua (B-dul Revoluției, No. 96A) was built in 1902-1903 in place of a baroque church according to the plan of Arad architect Emil Tabacovici. Its interior work, however, took several years until it was inaugurated in 1911. The place of worship was built in an eclectic style and bears elements of classicistic, baroque and renaissance style. The main entrance is framed by four massive columns with Corinthian capitals. There is also a copy of Michelangelo’s Pieta statue above the entrance. The cathedral also has a nave that is 43 m long and 17 m wide. The cross on the dome is 56 m high. Above the white marble altar is a painting by György Vastagh depicting the church’s patron saint, St. Anthony of Padua. Above the side altars to the right of the nave are baroque paintings from the old church, which are the work of the painter Ferdinand Schissler. Stained glass windows are also true masterpieces of the genre.

The Red Church or Evangelical Lutheran Church (B-dul Revoluției, No. 61) was designed in neo-Gothic style by architect Ludovic Szántay. The building was built by Iosef Frick in 1905-1906. It has three naves: the 15-meter-high main nave is dominated by a wooden altar from Kosice and pointed ogival columns without capitals. The 13 stained glass windows were made in Budapest and represent the initiators of church reform (Luther and Melanchthon) and moments in the life of Jesus Christ. The building was renovated between 1992 and 1994, an event recorded on a plaque in the hall.

Orthodox Synagogue – The Israeli Orthodox Synagogue (12 Cozia Street) was built at the beginning of the second decade of the 20th century according to the plans of the architect Dömötör Laszlo a symbolist decoration. Added to this are the narrow, vertically arranged rectangular openings, whose colored glass follows a sinuous line.

The Neolog Synagogue (Str. Tribunul Dobra, No. 10) is a two-story building and the seat of the Jewish community in Arad. It was built between 1828 and 1834 during the reform rabbi Aron Chorin (1766-1844). The building, designed by Arad architect and multiple mayor of the city of Domokos Heim, has an almost square shape with a neoclassical style on the outside. But this is particularly noticeable on the facade of Cozia Street, decorated with semicircles with Ionic capitals and a tympanum. The other facades are reminiscent of the Renaissance style. Inside is the synagogue, designed in Spanish Moorish style with colorful geometric decoration and a good quality organ.

The Arad Reformed Church – Center (Str. Eminescu, No. 33) – was built on land bought in 1840 by the Reformed congregation. The plan of the church was designed by the Austrian architect Ioseph Hoffer in the neoclassical Baroque style, combining Baroque with some Greek architecture. On the facade above the four simple pilasters rises the tympanum in the shape of a triangle. The main entrance is typical of the Baroque style. On the church tower, which was last renovated in 2004, you can see elements of baroque decoration. According to the plan of the architect Ludovic Szántay, the church was extended with a prayer hall, above which is the chancel with an organ.

Entertainment in Arad and surroundings

Mureș River: It is said that once upon a time there was an emperor and an empress who had two boys who had the same faces but very different natures. One of them was short-tempered and worried, the other calm. One of them was named Olt and the other Mureș. Her father, the Emperor, went to war at a young age but never returned. As they grew up, the two boys, with the blessing of the Empress, set out in search of their father, who asked them to go together and not part on the street, whatever happened. The boys did not set off until they left the palace at the top of the mountain. They quarreled due to their different natures. Olt pulled him south and Mureş north. On her way, the empress found out about the separation of the brothers. She was sad and cried a lot because she always tried to unite them but finally couldn’t. Missing his brother after this split, Mureş turned south but failed to catch the rushing Olt. Thus, Olt and Mureş were turned into two rivers. The Olt ran foaming between the rocks, while the Mureş took a different direction and flowed quietly between the plains.

Since ancient times, the Mureș River has been a very intensive waterway, used for both commercial traffic and strategic purposes, becoming a major shipping route north of the Danube. As early as 484 BC Mentioned by Herodotus. (4 centuries before the establishment of the “Silk Road”) Mureș under the name of Maris is the second longest river in Romania after the Danube (761 km) and the third in hydrographic area (27,890 km2 after the Danube and Siret).

Lunca Mureşului Nature Park stretches from Arad to the Hungarian border along the Mureș River. It has an area of 17,455 ha and includes the Mureş dam area. This is a floodable area (one flood every three years) located between the levees on each side of the river and between the high terraces of the same river. Lunca Mureşului Inferior is a typical wetland ecosystem with running and standing water, alluvial forests, willow and cottonwood galleries, and an important nesting site and passageway for approximately 200 bird species, many of which are under strict international protection.

The Neptun Swimming Pool is located in the space surrounded by the Mureş Loop, in an area of over 20 hectares of green space. It is the second largest swimming pool in Europe, located next to a flowing body of water. Construction work began in the late 1960s.

The streets are asphalted, the green area with over 65 tree species has been preserved. There is a leisure complex with five pools (of which 8,700 m²: one for swimming, one for adults and three for children, with thermal water), water slides and another complex with 3 pools, of which 2 for children and one for swimming, playgrounds, 331 leisure houses .

There are about 40 bars, terraces, breweries, restaurants, disco, pizzerias, soccer fields, slides, games etc. in the pool.

The car park has 200 spaces. At night, the pool becomes a magnet for visitors due to the countless restaurants, bars, clubs and terraces. Various open-air festivals and concerts are held here in summer. It’s like a resort!

Lake Ghioroc is located about 25 km from the city of Arad. It has an area of about 10 hectares, a fine sandy beach and is located at the foot of the Zărand Mountains, in an area where plains and hills meet.

Ghioroc has recently been officially declared a Resort of Local Interest. Due to its exotic appearance, Lake Ghioroc attracts more and more tourists every year, both from the county and from Hungary.

Ghioroc Beach und Ghioroc Camping: Every year the resort organizes the Ghioroc Summer Fest, which usually starts on July 1st and ends on September 1st. It also includes concerts, competitions and theme parties with national and international DJs.

The Miniș-Măderat vineyard is located 26 km from the city of Arad, at the foot of the Zărandului Mountains, in the immediate vicinity of the Mureș River. It extends over a length of 40 km between the places Barațca – Șiria – Mocrea – Șilindia in a microclimate influenced on one side by the Mureș River and on the other side by a mountainous area.

The special conditions of the vineyard, the microclimate of the Mureș Valley and the slope and volcanic rocks of the relief formations as well as the influence of the Mediterranean climate result in full-bodied dark red wines with an elegance derived from volcanic rocks. The exposure of the slopes, mostly in the south or southwest, as well as the favorable climatic conditions – such as the long growing season or the duration of sunshine – give us the perfect conditions to produce both country-specific red wines, white wines and elegant sparkling wines.

You can enjoy wine tasting, visit local wineries and learn how wine is made directly from the producers. The Wine Route stretches from Miniș, the southern end, to Măderat in the north, where the name comes from. The white wines range from varieties such as: Fetească Regală, Muscat Ottonel, Riesling, Sauvignon to red wines of: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cadarcă Neagră, Burgundy Mare. The most famous wines of Arad County are: Mustoasă de Măderat and Cadarcă.

Empress Maria Theresa visited the Miniş Măderat vineyard three times and was conquered by the taste of the wines of the vineyard, which was the official wine supplier of the Imperial House of Habsburg.

In Ghioroc you can visit the Museum of Wine to learn about the history of vines, grapes and wine and see old wine-making tools. Book your tour by calling +40257281847. You can visit the museum for free, but you have to call ahead.

Several tourist attractions in the area will take you to the wineries in Miniș-Măderat Vineyard, along the charming Wine Route, Ghioroc Tramway Museum, Șoimoș Fortress, Basilica of Maria Radna Minor and Şiria Fortress.

The city stretches along the Mures River with spectacularly large parks and monumental buildings. Trajan’s Bridge, an iron jewel in the heart of the city, was once the border between provinces, countries and empires, where the Ottoman Empire merged with the Habsburg Empire, the Principality of Transylvania with Hungary and Banat.

The first documentary mention of the Arad area dates back to 1078, when it was mentioned in connection with the local population’s struggles against the Hungarian feudal kingdom. It is found in a document from 1078-1081 interspersed with another from 1347. The city is also mentioned in the Painted Chronicle of Vienna from 1131.

In the years 1551-1552 the city was occupied by the Turks. Turkish rule lasted until 1687 before falling under Habsburg rule. It should be noted that the city was liberated by the armies of Michael the Brave in 1599, but came back under the control of the Ottoman Gate in 1616.

In 1834 it received the status of a royal free city from Emperor Franz I.

In 1909 the first car factory in what was then Hungarian territory was established in the city. On April 10, 1913, the first electrified railway line in Eastern Europe and the eighth in the world was inaugurated on the Arad – Podgoria line.

Under the Great Union of 1918, the city developed so enormously in the interwar period that in 1937 it was considered the strongest economic center in Transylvania and the fourth in Romania. Arad thus became the center of the political, cultural and historical movement for the unification of all Romanian provinces. The total break of Transylvania from Hungary and the union with Romania was also negotiated in Arad, with Arad being referred to as the political capital of the Great Union.

In 1989, Arad was the second city after Timișoara where the revolution broke out. The protesters gathered in significant numbers in front of the Administration Palace, resulting in many deaths and injuries.

After 1990, with the fall of the communist regime and the establishment of the democratic regime, the city continued to develop, stimulated by the establishment of the Arad Industrial Zone.