TIMISOARA
Tourists often, though wrongly, bypass Timisoara (in Hungarian, Temesvar, in German Temeschburg). The fourth largest city in Romania (334 thousand. residents), with outdoor cafes and impressive Habsburg-era buildings in two main squares, it has some Mediterranean charm to it. On the plus side, he must also save a great opera and theater (8,000 local students contribute to this).
County of Timis, whose capital is Timisoara, it is the richest agricultural region in Romania. It's here in December 1989 r. revolution broke out, which swept the country and overthrew Ceausescu as a result.
The Banat lowland surrounding Timisoara continues to the west into the Yugoslav Vojvodina, and the Bega Canal, which crosses the city, joins – also in Yugoslavia – with Cisa. The Temesh River flowing nearby (Timis) heads southwest and flows into the Danube just below Belgrade.
Orientation
The Timisoara-Nord train station is just west of the city center. From there, you can go east along the Republicia boulevard to the Opera House, and then a block north to Piata Libertatii, drowning in greenery. Two blocks north is the old market – Union square.
You can also take a trolleybus #11 the 14, running on bulevardul Republicii and then left (to the north) street 1 May.
The storage room at the station, open 24 hours a day, is located at the beginning of the underground passage to the platforms.
The bus station is next to the Idsefin Market, three blocks from the train station. From the train station to the bus station, follow General Dragalina south to the canal and west on the other side, to the next bridge.
Information
Tourist offices – Cardinal acts as the unofficial tourist office in Timisoara (tel.191911), Republic Boulevard 6. It does not provide accommodation in private accommodation, and officially represents the Malev airline, Delta and TAROM. Banat Travel Agency, on the east side of the Timisoara Hotel, sells city maps and also does not deal with private accommodation.
Automobil Clubul Roman branch (tel.115819), strada Hector 1, it is located in front of the Beraria bastion on the old city walls, one block from the Continental Hotel.
Yugoslav Consulate – Representation of Yugoslavia, on Remus' walk 4, accepts visa applications Mon-Thu. 9.00-12.00. To the consulate from the city center you have to go across the bridge along the boulevard 16 December 1989, just after the bridge, turn left into the bulevardul Tudor Vladimirescu that runs along the canal to the east, from there take the first right onto the Caraiman street, and from there, on the first left, there is Remus (in Piata Plevnei). There is only some left to the consulate from here 100 m – two blocks straight.
Money – Travelers checks can be exchanged at Banca Comerciala Romana, przy boulevard Revolutiei 1, in front of the Continental Hotel (pn.-pt. 8.30-12.00) or at a BANC branch at the strada 9 May, zaraz obok Piata Libertatii (pn.-pt.9.00-13.00).
In addition, money changers are hanging out in front of the Continental Hotel, exchanging money for forints or vice versa.
Post and telecommunications – New telephone exchange (codz. 7.00-21.00) Romtelecom is located on the boulevard Mihai Eminescu, blisko Piata Victoriei. Code for Timisoara: 056.
Sightseeing
In the most picturesque square of Timisoara, Union square, you can see the baroque Catholic church (1754), a fountain, baroque palace-museum of art (closed for renovation) and the Serbian Church (1754). Before the latter, a spring gurgles, for water from which even residents of distant districts come with bottles.
From the square you can walk along Palanca Street a bit east to the Ethnographic Museum (closed. pn.|, next to Pop Sapco's walk 8, exhibiting folk costumes and handicrafts from Banat.
South it goes from Piata Unirii strada V Alecsandria, leading to Piata Libertatii, where the historic town hall stands (1734). Next, it's best to go straight along Lucian Blaga Street to the 15th-century Hunyady Palace, with the regional Historical Museum (closed. pn.). Although, the exhibits are described only in Romanian, but it's still worth a look inside.
In color, full of shops and Piata Victoriei cafes, a little further west, there is the Opera House and – under no. 6 – private Helios Gallery, with a nice collection of local contemporary art. On the opposite side of the promenade, note the column topped with figures of Romulus and Remus – it is a gift from the city of Rome.
Piata Victoriei is closed from the south-west by an Orthodox metropolitan church (1946), in front of which there are wooden plaques commemorating those killed during the fighting 16-22 of December 1989 r.
The revolution has broken out 15 December at the Hungarian Protestant Church Biserica Reformata Tókes, Timotei Cipariu street 1, near today's bulevardul 16 December 1989. (A little more about this can be found in the introductory part of this chapter). The temple is upstairs and is usually closed, but you can ask someone from the office to open it; it is then appropriate to leave a donation.