The city of Oradea, formerly Oradea Mare, the county town of Bihor, is located in western Romania, near the border with Hungary. It is the most important city in the historical Crisana region, and is the most important cultural and commercial centre. Oradea was founded by the King of Hungary, Saint Ladislaus, who reigned in 1045-1095 and who was in love with water lilies and thermal waters. Discover in this article the most important tourist attractions in Oradea.
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It is supposed that the name Oradea comes from the combination of the Hungarian name Varad with the Turkish word orad/oraya. It is a city with the most beautiful buildings, recently restored, real architectural jewels. It is a cosmopolitan city where Hungarians, Italians, Romanians, Germans, Jews and others live. They have contributed to the development of the city and to some of its architectural and cultural heritage.
From the very first tour of the city you will fall in love with it. It's really worth taking a break from your daily routine and visiting the beautiful city that gives you a good feeling. Here are some of the reasons why it is worth being a tourist in Oradea:
1. Unirii Square
It is one of the most visited and most admired tourist attractions in Oradea, due to the multitude of buildings in various styles, one more beautiful than the other, like palaces from stories. Among the most important landmarks and the first palace that sticks to your heart is that of the City Hall.
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See on TripAdvisor the cheapest hotels in Oradea, with prices starting from 94 lei per night!
2. City Hall Palace - tourist attractions in Oradea
It was built in 1902-1903 according to the plans of the Ordean architect Kalman Rimanoczy, on the former site of the Catholic bishopric and is an impressive architectural combination of eclectic and Renaissance styles. On the side of the river Cris Repede, a 50 m high clock tower stands proudly, making the town hall the main attraction and the city centre. The tower has four levels and can be visited up to the top level where there is a telescope with the help of which tourists can see in detail the whole panorama of the city.
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3. Greek-Catholic Episcopal Palace
It is another building that is at the top of the architectural favourites. It was built in 1903-1905, in baroque style and built at the initiative of Bishop Radu Demetrie, on the site of the old headquarters of the Greek Catholic Diocese. Inside the Episcopal Palace there are neo-Byzantine paintings and stained glass windows. In the past it was the seat of a popular school and the County Library.
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4. Black Eagle Palace - tourist attractions in Oradea
It is another architectural jewel that the Unirii Square and the whole city is proud of. It was built in 1907-1908 by the architects Marcell Komor and Dezso Jacob on the site of the former Arborele Verde Palace, which used to host cultural and political events.
The building consists of three unequal bodies, between them there is a passage with stained glass windows, mosaic floors and imposing chandeliers. The interior passageway was modeled after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan and houses many clubs, cafes, restaurants and shops.
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5. Oradea Fortress - tourist attractions in Oradea
It is the most important ensemble of medieval monuments, the only complex of fortified military architecture with bastions in the old Italian style, with a pentagonal shape, at the corners and at the gate with towers built of wood and a water ditch. It was built by the Hungarian king Ladislaus I in the 11th century, serving as a fortification.
Inside the fortress there was a monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a library, an astronomical observatory, a school and a printing press. The fortress is said to be the best preserved Renaissance fortress in Central Europe.
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6. Felix Ball
It is located 10 km south of Oradea in the commune of Sanmartin. It is the largest permanently operating seaside resort in Romania and ranks second, in terms of accommodation, after the Black Sea coast. Here you can enjoy thermal springs, spa treatments but also rest, recovery and relaxation.
Geothermal springs have curative properties and a temperature between 20-49 degrees. The Felix Baths have a rich base of treatments such as: bath tubs, thermal water pools, paraffin and mud warming facilities, underwater stretching facilities, sauna, indoor and outdoor pools, electro and hydrotherapy facilities and medical gymnastics rooms.
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Due to the mild winters and moderate summers, the resort is suitable for treatment and relaxation in any season of the year regardless of the weather, cold or rain being no obstacle for outdoor thermal baths.
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7. Church with the Moon
The Church of the May Moon is also called the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and is a Christian Orthodox church. The foundation stone of this church was laid on 9 November 1784 and was built by Georg Rueppert in Grosswardein in 1793 and completed in 1832, according to the anchor wheel of the clock, in German.
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It bears this name because the moon in the spire moves according to the moon's rotational movement around the earth, thus showing the phases of the moon. The moon's rotational movement is made by a mechanism installed in the church tower, which is said to be unique in Europe. The moon-shaped sphere has a diameter of one metre and is painted half black and half gold.
See on TripAdvisor the cheapest hotels in Oradea, with prices starting from 94 lei per night!
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8. State Theatre of Oradea
It is one of the most important heritage buildings in Oradea and hosts two theatrical institutions: the Regina Maria Theatre and the Szigligeti Theatre. The theatre hall has three levels structured as follows: auditorium, boxes, balcony and has up to 1000 seats of which 578 seats.
It was built between 21 July 1899 and 1 October 1900 by the architect Kalman Rimanoczy Junior. At present the theatre has a Studio Hall with a capacity of 50 seats and the Arcadia Hall with a capacity of 200 seats. In these halls short plays, poetry recitals, opera, concerts, readings and experimental performances are performed.
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These are just some of the attractive places for tourism in Oradea. If I managed to create a beautiful image of this city called "Little Paris" we invite you to take a holiday and visit the city waiting to be discovered by tourists and not only.
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