Southern Transylvania was a region of the Kingdom of Romania between 1940 and 1944, during World War II . The region of Transylvania , belonging entirely to Romania when the war started in 1939, was split in 1940 between Romania and Hungary , with the latter taking Northern Transylvania in the aftermath of the Second Vienna Award .
138-632: Timișoara was the largest city in Southern Transylvania, with a population of 116,878 as of April 1941. However, this city was located in the Banat sub-region. The largest city in Southern Transylvania-proper was Brașov , with a population of 84,557 as of April 1941. Southern Transylvania-proper had a population of just over 1.74 million people. Southern Transylvania (including its adjacent regions to its West) had
276-486: A ] ; German : Temeswar [ˈtɛmɛʃvaːɐ̯] , also Temeschwar or Temeschburg ; Hungarian : Temesvár [ˈtɛmɛʃvaːr] ; Serbian : Темишвар , romanized : Temišvar [těmiʃʋaːr] ; see other names ) is the capital city of Timiș County , Banat , and the main economic, social and cultural centre in Western Romania . Located on
414-487: A second language , preferring Romanian. Serbian is more common among older generations educated in it. In 2018, according to official data, over 7,000 foreigners lived in Timișoara. The actual figure is higher, given that many foreigners living in Timișoara do not apply for permanent residence, while spending most of their time in the city. Although much changed throughout its history, the religious composition of Timișoara
552-538: A transfusion center . Regarding the pharmaceutical network in Timiș County, in 2019 there were 295 pharmacies (16 public and 279 private), seven pharmaceutical points and 34 pharmaceutical warehouses. Timișoara is nationally recognized as a center of excellence in medicine. Timișoara has made several breakthroughs in Romanian medicine, including the first in vitro fertilization , the first laser heart surgery and
690-508: A bent sword, with a wide point, made of silver; in the upper right-hand corner is a golden sun, and in the upper left, a rising silver moon. At the bottom, on the blue field, is a wavy silver band. The lion with armed arm, characteristic of Banat of Temeswar , symbolizes the defenders of the land and of Christianity against the Ottoman armies; the lion carries the victorious sword of Pál Kinizsi , Count of Temes County . The gold wall symbolizes
828-403: A decrease compared to the previous census in 2011, when 319,279 inhabitants were registered. However, these figures are questioned by local authorities and sociologists due to the defective way in which the census was conducted. According to the mayor's office and local population records, Timișoara numbers over 309,000 inhabitants as of 2023. The population of the city represents roughly 38% of
966-480: A distance of 30 and 27 km from the city, respectively, mentioned since Roman times for the properties of healing waters. Along with Oradea , Timișoara is part of the Art Nouveau European Route. It is also a member of Eurocities . Timișoara has an active cultural scene due to the city's three state theatres, opera , philharmonic and many other cultural institutions. In 2016, Timișoara
1104-415: A few insectivores and rodents. The birds, on the other hand, are numerous, some of which are of hunting importance (the pheasant ). The urban wildlife , although less varied than the forest wildlife, has a higher number of species of hunting interest ( rabbit , deer , quail , partridge , pheasant , hedgehog , etc.) and reptiles. In the parks of Timișoara there are hedgehogs , moles , tree frogs and
1242-604: A lot of birds. Regarding the piscifauna, the dominant species is the carp , along with which live breams , bleaks , roaches , zieges , pikes , natural support for sport fishing . Timișoara used to have the only zoo in western Romania, Timișoara Zoological Garden , but it was closed. The main watercourse is the Bega River , the southernmost tributary of the Tisza . Springing from the Poiana Ruscă Mountains , Bega
1380-527: A low share in GDP (5%), although that it places the county on the first place at national level from the perspective of the GVA obtained in agriculture. With several units of national and international banks operating here ( BCR , Raiffeisen Bank , BT , BRD , CEC Bank , OTP Bank , UniCredit Bank , Alpha Bank , Citibank , Credit Europe Bank , Garanti BBVA , ING Bank , Intesa Sanpaolo Bank , etc.), Timiș County
1518-402: A motorization index of 361.64 vehicles/1,000 inhabitants, being among the highest in the country. The railway network totals 795 km, of which 113 are electrified railways. With 91.4 km of railway per 1,000 km , Timiș County has the densest railway network in the country. On the territory of Timiș County, the railway network consists of a main line ( 900 ) and 18 secondary lines belonging to
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#17327659793681656-425: A predominantly industrial one, sometimes with significant losses due to the non-use of labor and capital endowments, into a tertiary one (based mainly on services ). The specialization of Timiș County stands out in the computer, automotive and electrical equipment industry, these registering high values of the location quotient (as of 2019). In 2021, Timiș County had a GDP per capita of 31,519 euros, 40% above
1794-472: A rich repertoire, consisting of national, folk songs or choral works composed by Ion Vidu , Filaret Barbu or Iosif Velceanu. Timișoara was a reputed city of music in the 19th century. Many famous musicians performed here, including Franz Liszt (1846), Johann Strauss II (1847), David Popper (1867), Leopold Auer (1867), Pablo de Sarasate (1877), Henryk Wieniawski (1877), Johannes Brahms (1879) and Joseph Joachim (1879). The only philharmonic in
1932-664: A series of waterfalls and caves. Areas with a rich hunting fund, as well as those with a diversified fishing fund are suitable for sport hunting and fishing . On the territory of Timiș County there are 86 hunting funds and 30 fishing funds. Canoeing and kayaking can be practiced on the Bega Canal , and rafting on the Timiș River . Spa tourism is practiced in Buziaș (declared a spa resort in 1911), Timișoara , Deta , as well as Călacea , Teremia Mare and Lovrin . Wine tourism
2070-527: A third of the county's borders are at the same time state borders. Thus, in the northwestern part, it borders Csongrád-Csanád County ( Hungary ), 18 km of this border being on the Mureș River . To the southwest, between Beba Veche and Lățunaș , Timiș County borders the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina ( Serbia ). The land connection with the counties of the neighboring countries is ensured by
2208-542: A total area of 59,000 square kilometers. Subtracting from this area the areas of the five counties to its West: Timiș-Torontal (7,600 square km), Caraș (4,693), Severin (6,422 square km), Arad (6,248 square km) and the half of Bihor (~3,700 square km) which remained in Romania after the Second Vienna Award, the area of Southern Transylvania-proper amounted to just over 30,000 square km. The following
2346-422: A traditional economic activity, especially in the rural localities in the vicinity of urban centers. By cultivated area, the main crops are maize (165,643 ha), wheat and rye (133,657 ha), sunflower (78,242 ha), perennial fodder (38,060 ha) and soybeans (21,200 ha). Livestock farming is also an important, traditional branch of Timiș agriculture, and in recent years there has been a significant increase in
2484-417: A wide variety of fish, such as pike , barbel , Prussian carp , wels , perch , carp , etc.). The climate has a moderate temperate continental character, with hot summers and mild winters due to both the influences of the oceanic (from the west) and Mediterranean (from the south and southwest) air masses and the fact that over 85% of the territory belongs to the plain climate (the remaining 15% belongs to
2622-478: Is 45. Predominantly under the influence of the maritime air masses from the northwest, Timișoara receives a higher amount of precipitation than the cities in the Wallachian Plain . The average amount of precipitation for the year in Timișoara is 604.4 mm (23.80 in), falling on 87 days. The month with the most precipitation on average is June with 80.8 mm of precipitation. The month with
2760-597: Is a county ( județ ) of western Romania on the border with Hungary and Serbia , in the historical region of Banat , with the county seat at Timișoara . It is the westernmost and the largest county in Romania in terms of land area. The county is also part of the Danube–Criș–Mureș–Tisa Euroregion . The name of the county comes from the Timiș River , known in Roman antiquity as Tibisis or Tibiscus . According to Lajos Kiss' etymological dictionary ,
2898-430: Is a list of weapons produced during World War II and the years prior throughout the Romanian (Southern) part of Transylvania-proper. Transylvanian monthly armament production (October 1942) There were factories for the assembly and filling of artillery shells at Orăștie , Avrig and Copșa Mică . The one at Avrig was the largest, accounting for up to 40% of the total Romanian production of artillery shells. In 1942,
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#17327659793683036-404: Is a national leader in the field of financial intermediation. As of 2021, the turnover of companies with financial and insurance activities was 69 million euros in Timișoara alone. The geographical position of the county in the immediate vicinity of the border with Hungary and Serbia leads to a high transit tourism, but with short and medium length of stay. The main form of tourism practiced in
3174-440: Is canalized, and from Timișoara to its outflow it was arranged for navigation (115 km [71 mi]). The Bega Canal was built between 1728 and 1760, but its final arrangement was made later. The Bega Canal was designed for the access of barges of 600–700 tons and an annual transport capacity of three million wagons. From the multitude of arms that existed before the canalization of Bega, only Bega Moartă (Dead Bega; in
3312-766: Is characterized by fatty, wholesome and tasty food; it can be individualized by the unusual association of salty and sweet taste, by the prevalence of soup to the detriment of stew and by showy desserts with multiple influences. Among the traditional dishes in this area are noodle soup , goulash , papricache [ hu ] , sauerkraut , sarme , pljeskavica , rasol , cotoroage and fresh pork preparations and semi-preparations ( caltaboș [ ro ] , sângerete , maioș , sausages , slănină , șonc , tobă , etc.). Desserts include krofne , scovergi , bejgli with walnuts or poppy seeds, Cremeschnitte , Apfelküchle , knedles , dobostorta , ischler [ hu ] and vargabéles [ hu ] . In
3450-562: Is completely canalized. The Bega Canal is navigable both in Romania and in Serbia, having a length of 44 km only in Romania. The natural lakes, with small areas and depths, are represented by the lake complex of Satchinez (40 ha; 1.5 m deep), the two lakes of Becicherecu Mic (one of 33 ha and another of 13 ha), the Petra pond of Jebel , etc. Between 1969 and 1975, pond-like lakes for flood control , irrigation and fishing were arranged on
3588-591: Is composed of two hydrographic basins: Bega–Timiș–Caraș and Mureș. The most important rivers in size and hydropower potential in the county, which cross the territory through the center, dividing it into two halves, south and north, are Timiș and Bega . Timiș is the largest inland river in Banat, which has its sources on the eastern slopes of the Semenic Mountains , in Caraș-Severin County . The river
3726-592: Is crossed by the 46th parallel north , the 21st meridian east and the 22nd meridian east . On its territory is the westernmost point of Romania, i.e. Beba Veche , at 20°15'44", in the Triplex Confinium point. Timiș County is part of the West Development Region along with the counties of Arad , Caraș-Severin and Hunedoara , being located in the center of the historical province of Banat . Due to its geographical position, almost
3864-738: Is diverse. If in 1910 most of the inhabitants were Roman Catholics , in 2011 75% declared themselves Romanian Orthodox . In Timișoara there are 80 churches, 12 of which were built after 1989; 41 belong to the Orthodox Church , eight to the Roman Catholic Church and three to the Greek Catholic Church . In addition, there are three synagogues in Cetate , Fabric and Iosefin neighborhoods, all three built before World War I , when Jews accounted for 10% of
4002-583: Is formed at the confluence of three branches: Semenic, Grădiște and Brebu. It crosses the whole of Timiș County, then passes into Serbia where it flows into the Danube , to Pančevo . Bega River springs from the Poiana Ruscă Mountains and flows into the Tisza after a route of 244 km, being its southernmost tributary. Downstream, towards the western edge, up to the border, the course of the Bega River
4140-484: Is located at the intersection of the 45th parallel north with the 21st meridian east . As a mathematical position, it is in the northern hemisphere , almost equally distant from the north pole and the equator , and in the eastern hemisphere, using Central European Time . The local time of the city (considered after the meridian) is 1 h 25' 8" ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time , but it is 34' 52" behind
4278-482: Is made up of people who have moved here from elsewhere. In 2017, the former mayor Nicolae Robu stated that the city of Timișoara has an additional population of over 100,000 people compared to the officially registered residents. This includes students, workers, and other categories of floaters, who are not included in the statistical reports as they no longer acquire a residence visa. Timișoara has stood out since ancient times as an ethnically diverse city. In 1910 ,
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4416-511: Is provided by Lake Surduc , an anthropic lake (1976), the largest in Timiș County, located 87 km (54 mi) from the city. Like parts of Romania , Timișoara exhibits a transitional humid continental ( Köppen : Dfb ) and humid subtropical climate ( Köppen : Cfa ), characteristic of the southeastern part of the Pannonian Basin , with some sub-Mediterranean influences. The dominant air masses, during spring and summer, are
4554-518: Is represented by the Recaș – Buziaș area, renowned both in the country and abroad for its wines. Timiș County has a rich musical history. Notable in this respect are the choirs of Banat Bauer . Banat choirs have their origins in church music , learned in schools, where the teacher was both organist, choir conductor, and not infrequently, composer. The choirs, which were to become a real movement in Banat, were an important means of national manifestation of
4692-508: Is strong and diversified, due to the high rate of greenfield and brownfield investments, the western location of the county, the high qualification of the labor force, as well as the entrepreneurial tradition. The most significant share in the total production of the county is held by the manufacturing industry , having as sub-branches: electronics industry , food industry , chemical industry , textile industry , metal and wood processing industry and construction . Although with only 8% of
4830-820: Is the informal capital of the West development region , which is equivalent to NUTS-II regions in the European Union and is used by the European Union and the Romanian Government for statistical analysis and coordination of regional development projects. The West development region is not an administrative entity. Timișoara is also the largest economic, social and commercial center of the DKMT Euroregion . Timi%C8%99 County Timiș ( Romanian pronunciation: [ˈtimiʃ] )
4968-715: Is the seat of the Archbishopric of Timișoara, the see of the Metropolis of Banat . The archbishopric has jurisdiction over the territory of Timiș County, which is divided into 273 parishes organized in six deaneries (Timișoara I, Timișoara II, Lugoj , Făget , Deta and Sânnicolau Mare ). Timișoara is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishopric of Timișoara and the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Timișoara and one of
5106-411: Is to represent the national government at the local level, acting as a liaison and facilitating the implementation of national development plans and governing programs at the local level. In 2003, neighborhood advisory councils were set up as a measure to improve local government consultation with citizens on local public policies. As of 2013, Timișoara had 20 neighborhood advisory councils. Timișoara
5244-625: The 2024 local elections , the Local Council has the following composition by political parties: Additionally, as Timișoara is the capital of Timiș County , the city hosts the Administrative Palace, the headquarters of the County Council ( Romanian : Consiliu Județean ) and the prefect , who is appointed by Romania's central government. The prefect is not allowed to be a member of a political party, and his role
5382-526: The Bega River , Timișoara is considered the informal capital city of the historical Banat region. From 1848 to 1860 it was the capital of the Serbian Vojvodina and the Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar . With 250,849 inhabitants at the 2021 census , Timișoara is the country's fifth most populous city . It is home to around 400,000 inhabitants in its metropolitan area , while
5520-673: The Dacians who left traces of their past. Several Romanian historians have advanced the idea that the current location of Timișoara corresponds to the Dacian settlement of Zurobara . Although its location is unknown, the coordinates given by geographer Ptolemy in Geographike Hyphegesis place it in the northwest of Banat. It is assumed that in the 9th century Knyaz Glad ruled over these lands, accepting Hungarian sovereignty, though no contemporary accounts exist. Timișoara
5658-538: The Mediterranean Sea is also strongly felt, which in winter generate complete thawing and in summer impose periods of stifling heat. The average annual temperature was 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) between 1991 and 2020. The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of 22.7 °C (72.9 °F). The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of 1.0 °C (33.8 °F). The lowest temperature recorded in Timișoara
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5796-531: The Ministry of Education , gathering about 8% of the total number of students at national level. Higher education takes place in eight universities in the county, four public and four private : At the county level, there are 22 hospitals (15 public and seven private), five medical dispensaries , three mental health centers, 522 medical offices (school, student and family medicine ), 846 dental offices, 115 medical laboratories , 87 dental laboratories and
5934-542: The Pannonian Plain is bounded by the Mureș , the Tisza and the Danube ; the region was very fertile and already offered favourable conditions for food and human livelihood in 4000 BC. Archeological remains attested the presence of a population of farmers, hunters and artisans, whose existence was favoured by mild climate, fertile soil and abundant water and forests. The first identifiable civilisation in Banat were
6072-399: The fortress of Timișoara . The golden sun symbolizes, through its position, the lofty goals for which the heroes of this land fought. The silver moon represents the pair of the sun. The wavy silver band on the blue field symbolizes the Timiș River , which gives the county its name. Timiș County has one of the most dynamic economies in Romania. The county's economy gradually transformed from
6210-474: The interwar years saw continuous economic and cultural development. A number of anti-fascist and anti-revisionist demonstrations also took place during this time. During World War II , Timișoara suffered damage from both Allied and Axis bombing raids , especially during the second half of 1944. On 23 August 1944, Romania, which until then was a member of the Axis, declared war on Nazi Germany and joined
6348-618: The kuruc and the Turkish civilian population were forced to leave the city after a 48-day siege marked by repeated bombings that destroyed much of the city's buildings. After the Treaty of Passarowitz (1718), the Banat of Temeswar became the province of the Habsburg monarchy and was proclaimed "possession of the Crown" with a military administration which ruled Timișoara until 1751 when it
6486-562: The 15th-century Săraca Monastery, the 15th-century Serbian Orthodox St. George Monastery of Birda , the 18th-century Cebza Monastery and, more recently, the Izvorul Miron Monastery (1912; nicknamed the " Voroneț of Banat") and the Timișeni Monastery (1944). Ecotourism is practiced mainly in the mountainous area in the east of the county, where Lake Surduc is located (the largest lake in western Romania), but also
6624-505: The Allies. The German and Hungarian troops attempted to take the city by force throughout September, but without success. After the war, the People's Republic of Romania was proclaimed, and Timișoara underwent Sovietisation and, later, Systematisation . The city's population tripled between 1948 and 1992. Timișoara became highly industrialised both through new investments and by increasing
6762-599: The Banat plain. By the middle of the 14th century, Timișoara was at the forefront of Western Christendom 's battle against the Muslim Ottoman Turks . In 1394, the Turks led by Bayezid I passed Nagybecskerek (present-day Zrenjanin ) and Timișoara on their way to Wallachia where they were defeated by Voivode Mircea the Elder in the battle of Rovine . Timișoara once again served as a concentration point for
6900-712: The CFR lines 900 ( Bucharest – Timișoara ), 200 ( Brașov – Curtici ) and 300 ( Bucharest – Episcopia Bihor ). The railway line 900 , whose route is Bucharest (north)– Roșiori (north)– Craiova – Filiași – Caransebeș – Timișoara (north), crosses the county on the Lugoj – Timișoara relation. It is part of the Pan-European Corridor IV . In Timiș County there are 133 stations operated by state and private railway operators such as Căile Ferate Române (CFR), Astra Trans Carpatic and Regio Călători . The busiest of them
7038-658: The Christian armed forces, this time for the battle of Nicopolis . After the Christians' defeat, the Ottomans devastated Banat to Timișoara, from where they were expelled by Count István Losonczy. Appointed Count of Timiș in 1440, John Hunyadi moved with his family to Timișoara, which he would turn into a permanent military camp. John Hunyadi would come to be known throughout the region for his victory in Belgrade over
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#17327659793687176-471: The Christian army conquered several towns, but Timișoara remained untouched. Another attempt to retake the city took place in 1596, when an army of Sigismund Báthory began the siege of the city. After 40 days of futile efforts, the besiegers drew back. After the victory at Petrovaradin on 5 August 1716, the Austrian army led by Prince Eugene of Savoy decided to conquer Timișoara. The Ottoman military,
7314-702: The Diet and that of disposing its own revenues. The city was under siege in 1848 for 107 days. The Hungarians unsuccessfully tried to capture the fortress in the battle of Temesvár . It was the last major battle in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 . By the March Constitution , the region was incorporated to the Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar , which became a crownland of the Austrian Empire . The new imperial province,
7452-619: The European transport network by the Central and Global TEN-T networks, so the main corridor that serves it is the Rhine–Danube Corridor , which provides the connection with Vienna , with the central-southern part of Germany ( Munich , Stuttgart and Nuremberg and with Strasbourg . The Orient/East–Med Corridor also crosses the county's territory and connects with Budapest . Inter- and intra-county connections are provided by
7590-574: The Fabric neighborhood) and Bega Veche (Old Bega; to the west, flowing through Săcălaz) are preserved inside the city. In addition to permanent courses and those that dry out, often during the summer, on the territory of Timișoara there are a number of lakes: either natural, formed instead of the old meanders or subsidence areas, such as those near Kuncz, Giroc, Pădurea Verde, etc., or of anthropic origin, such as those from Fratelia, Freidorf, Ciarda Roșie, Ștrandul Tineretului, etc. Timișoara's drinking water
7728-600: The German lands of the Habsburg Empire. Religious tourism includes many places of worship, churches and historic monasteries. Among the monastic ensembles are the historic wooden churches in Țara Făgetului, all built after the liberation of Banat from Ottoman occupation (1716), the 11th-century Morisena Monastery (the first monastery in Romania), the 14th-century Partoș Monastery with the relics of St. Joseph of Partoș,
7866-771: The Hungarian Forest Service. About 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Timișoara is the Bazoș Dendrological Park, a forest reserve which since 1994 has the status of protected area. The first trees of the reserve were brought in 1909 from the Harvard University nursery. Today, the reserve includes 800 different species of trees and shrubs and is part of the International Association of Botanical Gardens. The fauna of Timișoara includes few mammals, represented only by
8004-1395: The Hungarian form. The Habsburg/Austrian authorities also used Temeschwar or Temeswar , names that have become commonplace in current usage. The name of the city comes from the river which passes the city, Timișul Mic ( German : Kleine Temesch ; Hungarian : Kistemes ), hydronym which was in use until the 18th century when it was changed to Bega or Beghei. [REDACTED] Kingdom of Hungary (1212–1526) [REDACTED] Eastern Hungarian Kingdom (1526–1551) [REDACTED] Kingdom of Hungary (1551–1552) [REDACTED] Ottoman Empire (1552–1716) [REDACTED] Habsburg Monarchy (1718–1779) [REDACTED] Kingdom of Hungary (1779–1849) [REDACTED] Austrian Empire (1849–1867) [REDACTED] Austria-Hungary (1867–1918) ( de jure Hungary until 1920 ) [REDACTED] Banat Republic (1918) ( de facto ) [REDACTED] Kingdom of Serbia (1918) ( de facto ) [REDACTED] Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1919) ( de facto ) [REDACTED] Kingdom of Romania (1920–1947) ( de facto from 1919) [REDACTED] Romanian People's Republic (1947–1965) [REDACTED] Socialist Republic of Romania (1965–1989) [REDACTED] Romania (1989–present) The southeastern part of
8142-671: The Lipova Plateau, the Lugoj and Pogăniș Hills and partly the Gătaia Plain. In the eastern extremity of Timiș County there are sessile oak forests ( Quercus petraea ) mixed with Austrian oak ( Quercus cerris ), beech forests ( Fagus sylvatica ) mixed with hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus ), and the upper slopes of the Poiana Ruscă Mountains are covered with spruce forests mixed with fir and beech . In Timiș County there are 45 nature reserves that total 134,766.49 ha or about 13% of
8280-441: The Lipova Plateau, whose peaks rise to altitudes between 200 and 400 m. The hills of Lăpugiu, Făget, Lugoj, Lipova, Silagiu and Sacoș are rich in pastures, orchards of fruit trees, vineyards, but also in cereal crops. The relief in the eastern part of the county is dominated by the Poiana Ruscă Mountains, with deep valleys and steep slopes, with heights that rarely exceed 1300 m (Padeș peak – 1374 m, Rusca peak – 1355 m). Located in
8418-445: The Nitramonia plant in Făgăraș started producing explosives . Two Transylvanian factories, Industria Sârmei in Turda and IAR in Brașov, along with one factory outside Transylvania (Concordia in Ploiești ), were responsible for the production of the torsion bars and wheels used in the manufacturing of the TACAM T-60 tank destroyers. The Astra Works in Brașov, together with the Lemaitre Works in Bucharest, were responsible for
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#17327659793688556-411: The Ottomans, considered at that time a defender of Christianity. An important event in the city's history was the peasant uprising led by György Dózsa . On 10 August 1514 he tried to change the course of Bega River to be able to enter more easily into the city, but he was defeated by attacks from both inside and outside the city. The fall of Belgrade in 1521 and the defeat at Mohács in 1526 caused
8694-420: The Timișoara–Arad metropolis concentrates more than 70% of the population of Timiș and Arad counties. Timișoara is a multicultural city, home to 21 ethnic groups and 18 religious denominations. Historically, the most numerous were the Swabian Germans , Jews and Hungarians , who still make up 6% of the population in Timișoara. Conquered in 1716 by the Austrians from the Ottoman Turks, Timișoara developed in
8832-429: The Viennese Imperial Court accepted that the three counties of Banat to be reincorporated into the Hungarian Kingdom, in 1779. In 1781 Joseph II declared Timișoara free from the county authority and, to prevent the nobles from interfering with the administration of the city, he raised it to the rank of a "free royal city". This status would secure Timișoara's internal self-government, the right to have representatives in
8970-410: The aftermath of World War I , the Banat region was divided between the Kingdom of Romania and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes , and Timișoara came under Romanian administration after Serbian occupation between 1918 and 1919. The city was ceded from Hungary to Romania by the Treaty of Trianon on 4 June 1920. In 1920, King Ferdinand I awarded Timișoara the status of a University Centre, and
9108-552: The beginning of the 20th century. At the 2011 census, there were 16 localities – all rural – that had at least 20% Hungarian population. However, their total population represents only 12.6% of the Hungarian population in the county. This is explained by the migration of Hungarians from rural to urban areas after 1990. By weight, the largest Hungarian communities are found in Otelec ( Ótelek ; 75.1%), Cherestur ( Pusztakeresztúr ; 69.7%), Bodo ( Nagybodófalva ; 64%), Tormac ( Végvár ; 60.6%) and Otvești ( Ötvösd ; 52.6%). Roma are
9246-500: The border crossing points from Cenad , Moravița and Jimbolia . The neighboring Romanian counties with Timiș County are Arad to the north, Hunedoara to the east and Caraș-Severin to the southeast. The relief is characterized by the predominance of plains , which cover the western part (low plain) and the central part (high plain) of the county. Timiș County features all landforms , with altitudes between 75 m in Banat Plain and 1,374 m in Poiana Ruscă Mountains . Proportionally,
9384-437: The capacities of the old enterprises in various industries: machine building, textile and footwear, electrical, food, plastics, optical, building materials, furniture, etc. In December 1989, Timișoara witnessed a series of mass street protests in what was to become the Romanian Revolution . On 20 December, three days after bloodshed began there, Timișoara was declared the first city free of Communism in Romania . Timișoara
9522-452: The city through the Azapilor Gate. After the death of John Zápolya , Habsburgs tried to obtain Transylvania and Banat, including Timișoara, with mixed results; Transylvania even entered into dual vassalage for a time. Timișoara remained under the Ottoman rule for 164 years, controlled directly by the Sultan and enjoying a special status, similar to other cities in the region, such as Budapest and Belgrade . During this period, Timișoara
9660-533: The city was rebuilt and grew considerably during the reign of Charles I of Hungary , who, upon his visit there in 1307, ordered the strengthening of the fortress with stone walls and the building of a royal palace. The palace was built by Italian craftsmen and was organised around a rectangular court having a main body provided with a dungeon or a tower. He even moved the royal seat from Buda to Timișoara between 1316 and 1323. Timișoara's importance also grew due to its strategic location, which facilitated control over
9798-417: The city's population; at present, only the Orthodox synagogue in Iosefin and the Cetate synagogue hold religious services. Timișoara is the seat of the Archiepiscopate of Timișoara, the see of the Metropolis of Banat , as well as the seat of the Diocese of Timișoara , one of the six Roman Catholic dioceses in Romania. The first free local elections in post-communist Timișoara took place in 1992. The winner
9936-493: The climate of hilly and mountainous regions). The western area of the Banat Plain is classified according to Köppen's guide as Cfa , and the mountainous area in the east of the county as Dfb . Due to the high uniformity of the relief, the average annual temperatures are poorly differentiated on the territory of Timiș County. The annual averages are close to 11 °C in the region with plain climate and decrease by 1–2 °C on
10074-404: The coat of arms is inscribed in capital letters in vermilion the word "Romania", and below it is inscribed with the same characters in cobalt blue the words "Timiș County". The county flag was approved in 2021. The coat of arms was approved in 2002 and consists of a cut shield ; at the top, on the red field , a golden lion coming out of the battlements of a wall of built gold; the lion holds
10212-675: The communist period, most Germans in Timiș County left for Germany and Austria , with one last wave after 1990. At present, they account for merely 1/24 of the number at the 1900 census, when the highest number of Germans was recorded. Banat Bulgarians , a Bulgarian Catholic minority, began settling in Banat in the late 17th century from the north and northwest of today's Bulgaria . The largest communities of Banat Bulgarians in Timiș County live in Breștea ( Brešća ; 80.3%), Dudeștii Vechi ( Stár Bišnov ; 66.5%) and Denta ( Dénta ; 5.2%). In Timiș County there are over 300 places of worship. Timisoara
10350-587: The county is business tourism , followed by recreational, shopping and gastronomic tourism. The tourist infrastructure of Timiș County consists of 56 hotels , 14 hostels , two motels , a campsite , four tourist villas, 49 tourist pensions, 27 agritourism pensions and two camps for students and preschoolers with an accommodation capacity of 7,746 places. In 2019, Timiș County had 396,644 tourists, of which 30% were foreigners. Cultural-historical tourism includes many objectives in historical and archeological sites, architectural monuments and museums. Timișoara has
10488-459: The county's area. The fauna, adapted to the relief and vegetation conditions, includes steppe species ( hares , ground squirrels , polecats , field mice , moles , rollers , quails , partridges , larks , starlings , lizards , various insects), forest species ( deer , squirrels , bears , wolves , foxes , wild boars , wildcats , dormice , jays , salamanders , etc.) and water species ( herons , mallards , geese , storks , frogs and
10626-473: The county, the Banatul Philharmonic , was founded in 1947 and organizes, in addition to the music season, events in unconventional spaces and successful festivals, such as Timișoara muzicală , the longest-lived cultural festival in Timișoara, which debuted in 1968. The first music school in the county was founded by the Hungarian administration in 1907 in Timișoara. Until 1907, music education
10764-506: The courses of both Timiș and Bega. The largest of these, Lake Surduc , was arranged on Gladna stream , a tributary of the Bega, and has an area of 460 ha and a volume of 51 million m . In the county there are also two lakes with hot (20 °C) and mineral water at Românești , with an area of 50 m and the muddy volcano from Ohaba-Forgaci , in the Magheruș valley, of 50 m . The high density of
10902-487: The cultivation of agricultural plants, especially for the cultivation of cereals, but also for technical and fodder plants, as well as for fruit growing and viticulture . The forests are relatively few. In the eastern part there are forests of fir , spruce and beech . In the other parts of the county there are small forests of oak , Austrian oak , Hungarian oak , and in the meadows – poplars and willows . The hydrographic network of Timiș County, spread over 3,104 km,
11040-652: The division of the Hungarian Kingdom in three parts, and Banat became the object of contention between the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary and Ottomans . After a failed siege in 1551, the Turks regrouped and returned with a new strategy. On 22 April 1552, a 160,000-strong army led by Kara Ahmed Pasha conquered the city and transformed it into a capital city in the region ( Eyalet of Temeşvar ). The local military commander, István Losonczy, and other Christians were massacred on 27 July 1552 while escaping
11178-591: The end of the 17th century and during the 18th century, in three successive waves, during the reigns of Charles VI , Maria Theresa and Joseph II . They came from different areas of Germany, especially Rhineland , the Palatinate and Swabia , but also Luxembourg , Lorraine , Alsace , Westphalia , Hesse , East Franconia and Bavaria . Deported to the Soviet Union for forced labor after 1945 and subjected to nationalization and collectivization during
11316-513: The entire Pannonian Basin . The landscape is diversified by meadow vegetation, along the main rivers, in which softwood trees predominate: willows , poplars , alders . Within the city limits is the Green Forest ( Romanian : Pădurea Verde ), a forest massif with an area of about 724 ha (1,790 acres), systematically arranged in squares of 15 ha (37 acres). The forest is man-made; first organization plans were carried out in 1860 by
11454-478: The existence of which had also been consecrated by the imperial decree of 18 November 1849, was ruled both militarily and civilly, and the official languages were German and "Illyrian" (what would come to be known as Serbo-Croatian ). Timișoara was designated as the residence of the governor, and the city maintained its privileges as a free royal city. In 1860, the Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar
11592-438: The few counties in the country with a positive trade balance. Timiș County's exports consist mainly of the following groups of goods: electrical machines , appliances and equipment (37%), plastics and rubber (14%), means of transport (11%), footwear (9%), optical instruments and appliances (7%), furniture (5%). Timiș County is also the largest importer of consumer goods, after Bucharest. The industry of Timiș County
11730-789: The finishing of the gun carriages used by the TACAM T-60 tank destroyers (the carriages were designed and cast at Concordia). For Romania's Renault R35 tanks, IAR in Brașov finished the cylinder heads and drive shafts which were cast at the Basarab Works in Bucharest . The Astra Works produced gun barrels for Romania's Skoda 150 mm and 100 mm howitzers. Timi%C8%99oara Timișoara ( UK : / ˌ t ɪ m ɪ ˈ ʃ w ɑːr ə / , US : / ˌ t iː m iː -/ , Romanian: [ t i m i ˈ ʃ o̯a r
11868-471: The first stem cell transplant . As a technology hub, the city has one of the most powerful IT sectors in Romania alongside Bucharest , Cluj-Napoca , Iași , and Brașov . In 2013, Timișoara had the fastest internet download speed in the world. Nicknamed the "Little Vienna" or the "City of Roses", Timișoara is noted for its large number of historical monuments and its 36 parks and green spaces. The spa resorts Buziaș and Băile Călacea are located at
12006-460: The first stem cell transplant . The Pius Brînzeu County Emergency Clinical Hospital and the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases from Timișoara were included by the Ministry of Health in the first class of competence (out of five possible). Première Hospital, run by Regina Maria private health network, is the largest private hospital in the west of the country. Timiș County is connected to
12144-599: The first European city to be lit by electric street lamps in 1884. It opened the first public lending library in the Habsburg monarchy and built a municipal hospital 24 years ahead of Vienna . Also, in 1771 it published the first German newspaper in Southeast Europe ( Temeswarer Nachrichten ). In December 1989, Timișoara was the starting point of the Romanian Revolution . Timișoara is one of
12282-426: The following centuries behind the fortifications and in the urban nuclei located around them. During the second half of the 19th century, the fortress began to lose its usefulness, due to many developments in military technology. Former bastions and military spaces were demolished and replaced with new boulevards and neighbourhoods. Timișoara was the first city in the Habsburg monarchy with street lighting (1760) and
12420-496: The fortifications began in 1899. The main functions of the city thus became the economic ones, especially the commercial and banking ones. On 31 October 1918, local military and political elites established the Banat National Council, together with representatives of the region's main ethnic groups: Germans , Hungarians , Serbs and Romanians . On 1 November they proclaimed the short-lived Banat Republic . In
12558-459: The fortress for a very long time and favored a wet and insalubrious climate, which spread plague and cholera and kept the number of inhabitants relatively low, preventing civic development. With time, these rivers were drained, dammed and diverted. Due to the hydrographical projects undertaken in the 18th century, the city no longer lies on the Timiș River, but on the Bega Canal . This improvement of
12696-779: The hills in the east of the county. The averages of the warmest month (July) exceed 21 °C in the plain and fall below 18 °C in the east. The averages of the coldest month (January) are higher than –2 °C in the plain and rise to values higher than –1 °C in the east of the county. The absolute maximum temperature (42 °C) was recorded in Banloc (24 July 2007), and the absolute minimum temperature (–35.3 °C) in Timișoara (29 January 1963). The average multiannual precipitation amounts to increasing quantities from west to east, i.e. 569 mm in Jimbolia, 620.6 mm in Timișoara, 734 mm in Făget and over 1,200 mm on
12834-404: The hydrographic network, the low slopes of the riverbeds in the plain sector, the reduced depth of the groundwater, the presence of ultisols , all favor the floods and marshes. To reduce the amplitude of these phenomena, since the first half of the 18teenth century, large engineering works (damming, canalization, draining etc.) were made in the region, most of which are still functional today. Among
12972-454: The interval of 2–3 m). Timișoara is a fairly active seismic center, but of the many earthquakes observed, few have exceeded magnitude 6 on the Richter scale . There are two active seismic faults that cross the western part of the city. The earthquakes recorded in the region are normal earthquakes, of crustal type, with depths of foci between 5 and 30 km (3.1 and 18.6 mi). In
13110-431: The labor force for other regions of the country, with a demographic surplus, especially for the counties in northern Moldavia , northwestern Transylvania and Oltenia . Timișoara manages to attract about 8,000 new inhabitants annually, most coming mainly from Timiș County , but also from smaller cities in neighboring counties – Caraș-Severin , Hunedoara and Arad . In fact, 46.2% of the current population of Timișoara
13248-489: The land was made irreversible by building the Bega Canal (started in 1728) and by the complete draining of the surrounding marshes. The city lies only 0.5 to 5 metres above the water table, which disallows the construction of tall buildings. The rich black soil and relatively high water table make this a fertile agricultural region. Taken as a whole, the relief of Timișoara appears as a relatively flat, monotonous surface,
13386-508: The largest architectural ensemble of historic buildings in Romania (about 14,500), consisting of the urban heritage of the Cetate , Iosefin , Fabric and Elisabetin districts. In addition, there are 31 castles and mansions in Timiș County. Notable are the Swabian-specific localities in the western Banat Plain ( Jimbolia , Sânnicolau Mare , Șandra , Lovrin , Lenauheim , etc.), in the past important settlements of colonists from
13524-424: The largest community was represented by Germans , followed by Hungarians , Romanians , Jews , Serbs and many other smaller communities, such as Czechs , Slovaks , Croats , Romas , Bulgarians , Poles , etc. The figures and percentage ratios are much changed today, but the multiethnic aspect of the city persists. Nowadays, 85% of the inhabitants are Romanians, while the minorities are much more diverse due to
13662-456: The least precipitation on average is February with an average of 34.2 mm (1.35 in). Ethnic composition of Timișoara (2021) Religious composition of Timișoara (2021) From a demographic point of view, Timișoara is defined, according to the Zipf's law , as a second-tier city, along with Iași , Constanța , Cluj-Napoca and Brașov , with extensive macro-territorial functions and having
13800-456: The localities near the border with Serbia : Cralovăț (Краљевац/ Kraljevac ; 64.5%), Petrovaselo (Петрово Село/ Petrovo Selo ; 48.4%), Sânmartinu Sârbesc (Српски Семартон/ Srpski Semarton ; 35.6%), Cenei (Ченеј/ Čenej ; 24.2%), Diniaș (Дињаш/ Dinjaš ; 21.8%), etc. Up to the 20th century, the Germans (specifically Banat Swabians ) were a very large community. They were colonized here at
13938-454: The lowest unemployment rates in the country – 0.8% in 2019. Most employees are in manufacturing (27%), trade (15.2%) and agriculture (15.1%). Timiș stands out as the second business pole at national level, after Bucharest–Ilfov , with a turnover of companies of 72 billion lei, which constitutes about 5% of the turnover of 1,400 billion lei of all companies in Romania. The county's exports stood at over 39.05 billion lei, Timiș being among
14076-491: The main and secondary national roads from which a dense network of local roads emerges. The public road network of Timiș County has a length of about 2,930 km, with a density of 33.7 km/100 km . More detailed, there are about 563 km of national roads, 1,145 km of county roads and 1,222 km of communal roads. Also, Timiș County is served by almost 108 km of motorways , represented by the A1 and A6 motorways. In 2019, Timiș County had
14214-415: The major flash floods and floods in the Banat Plain, the most important were those of May 1912, June 1966 and April 2005 . The natural vegetation, strongly influenced by human activities, is characterized by the small-scale presence of forest-steppe plants and by a higher frequency of hydro- and hygrophilous vegetation in low plains and meadows with excess moisture. The extensive agricultural crops in
14352-423: The most important educational centres in Romania, with about 40,000 students enrolled in the city's six universities. Like many other large cities in Romania, Timișoara is a medical tourism service provider, especially for dental care and cosmetic surgery . Several breakthroughs in Romanian medicine have been achieved in Timișoara, including the first in vitro fertilization , the first laser heart surgery and
14490-686: The name of the river probably comes from the Dacian language : thibh-isjo ("marshy"). In Hungarian , Timiș County is known as Temes megye , in German as Kreis Temesch , in Serbian as Тамишки округ/ Tamiški okrug , in Ukrainian as Тімішський повіт, and in Banat Bulgarian as okrug Timiš . Timiș is the largest county in Romania, occupying 8,696.7 km , i.e. 3.65% of the country's area. It
14628-653: The national average, and an annual growth rate of 5–10%. At national level, it ranks third in terms of GDP , reaching 62.5 billion lei in 2021, with a contribution of 6.5% of Romania's total GDP, having a developed economy and among the highest entrepreneurial rates in the country (36 SMEs per 1,000 inhabitants in 2019). The most important sector represented locally is the automotive industry , supported by large companies such as Continental , Delphi Packard , Hella , Mahle , Dräxlmaier , Flex , etc. In recent years, certain high tech know-how-intensive services , such as IT&C , have seen strong growth. Timiș has one of
14766-453: The national rate but decreasing amid an expanding suburbanization . According to the 2011 census, Hungarians are the largest ethnic minority in Timiș County, numbering 35,295 people or 5.2% of the county's population. Significant concentrations of the Hungarian population follow the areas where the policy of colonization of the Kingdom of Hungary manifested itself in the 19th century and
14904-693: The nine deaneries of the Reformed Eparchy of Piatra Craiului . Lugoj is the seat of the Greek Catholic Archbishopric of Lugoj and one of the two deaneries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicarage . Timiș County is administered by a county council ( consiliu județean ) consisting of 36 councilors. Following the 2020 local elections , the council is chaired by Alin Nica [ ro ] from PNL , and
15042-434: The number of animals in the private sector. As of 2019, livestock in Timiș County consisted of 1,524,625 birds , 612,638 sheep , 605,619 swine , 45,332 bee families, 37,305 cattle , 21,890 goats and 5,659 horses . Unlike industry, trade and construction, which also generates a large part of the gross value added (GVA) of the county economy, agriculture stands out with a very high share of employment correlated with
15180-473: The number of companies in Timiș, the manufacturing industry registers a turnover of 40% of the county's total. Timiș County ranks first in the country in terms of both agricultural and arable land. Timiș County has an agricultural area of 691,299 ha, of which 531,472 ha is arable land , 118,671 pastures , 28,632 hayfields , 4,121 vineyards and vine nurseries and 8,403 orchards and fruit nurseries. One of
15318-473: The official time of Romania ( Eastern European Time ). Timișoara lies at an altitude of 90 metres on the southeast edge of the Banat Plain, part of the Pannonian Plain , near the divergence of the Timiș and Bega rivers. The waters of the two rivers form a swampy and frequently flooded land. Timișoara developed on one of few places where the swamps could be crossed. These constituted a natural protection around
15456-405: The oldest and most important agricultural activities in the county, with favorable climatic conditions, is the cultivation of cereals and technical plants, and viticulture is practiced in most of the communes in the plain and hill area of the county. Places like Recaș , Buziaș and Giarmata are renowned for their wine production . The production of vegetables in individual micro-farms is also
15594-407: The past, there were extensive oak forests between the Tisza and Timiș . Over time, they were cleared to obtain the wood needed to build the fortress and houses, as well as to gain arable land. Today, except for the areas forested with Turkey oak and Hungarian oak (Green Forest, Bistra Forest, Timișeni–Șag Forest), the territory falls within the anthropogenic forest steppe that characterizes
15732-463: The people of Banat, through which the Romanian language and culture were promoted. The oldest Romanian choir in Banat was the plowmen's vocal choir, founded in 1857 in Chizătău , which was born from the old church choir. It was also the most famous and appreciated choral formation in the area, which had resounding success at various competitions and festivals, along with other Banat choirs. Banat choirs had
15870-406: The plain alternate with small areas of secondary meadows dominated by fescue associations ( Festuca valesiaca , Festuca rupicola and Festuca pseudovina ) mixed with wormwood ( Artemisia austriaca ) and others. The deciduous forests, made up of pedunculate oak ( Quercus robur ), Austrian oak ( Quercus cerris ) and Hungarian oak ( Quercus frainetto ), occupy insularly or on compact areas
16008-421: The plain covers about 6,700 km , representing 77.2% of the county's area; the hills cover about 1,650 km , i.e. 19.01%; and the mountains cover a relatively small area of 300 km , i.e. 3.45%. The plain penetrates in a gulf-like manner the hilly areas, on the valleys of Timiș (towards Lugoj ) and Bega (towards Făget ). In the east of the county lie the pre-mountain hills of Buziaș and the southern sector of
16146-420: The political composition of the council is as follows: Timiș County is divided into two municipalities ( municipiu ), eight towns ( oraș ) and 89 communes ( comună ) with 313 villages: The flag of Timiș County has a rectangular shape, with its width equal to ⅔ of its length and consists of the county coat of arms superimposed on a white background. White chosen for the flag signifies purity and peace. Above
16284-527: The population of Timiș County , 15% of the population of the West development region and 1.3% of the total population of Romania. As defined by Eurostat , the Timișoara functional urban area has a population of 364,325 inhabitants (as of 2018). According to a study conducted by the World Bank , Timișoara was between 2001 and 2011 the regional city in Romania that attracted the highest number of in-migrants. Timișoara serves as an important polarizer of
16422-480: The presence of Asians, Italians, Muslims, and fewer Germans and Hungarians. Yet, in Timișoara live most Germans in Romania as share in the population of a city. The decline of German and Hungarian communities is mainly due to assimilation (for instance, 64% of Hungarians in Timișoara live in mixed marriages), migration and low birth rates. Timișoara is also home to an important Serb community , which in 2011 numbered almost 5,000 people. Many of them use Serbian as
16560-755: The ridges of the Poiana Ruscă Mountains. The maximum rainfall occurs in June, as a result of the intensification of cyclonic activity in the North Atlantic or in the Mediterranean basin. On the other hand, the lowest average monthly amounts fall in February–March. The snow layer is unstable and has insignificant thicknesses. Predominant winds blow from the north (16.9%), east (15%), northwest (9.1%) and south (8.4%), with average annual speeds between 1.2 and 3.8 m/s. Local winds include austru (dry wind from
16698-492: The school year 2019/2020, Timiș County had a school population of 177,301: 25,266 children in pre-school education , 97,934 pupils in pre-university education and 54,101 students in university , post-university , academic and continuing education . In Timiș County, 617 educational units are accredited and authorized, of which 580 are state-funded . Timișoara is one of the four national university centers, together with Bucharest , Cluj-Napoca and Iași , as established by
16836-410: The second largest functional urban area , after Bucharest , of over 5,000 km (1,900 sq mi). In 2013, Bucharest and Timișoara were also the only metropolitan European growth areas (MEGAs) in Romania. Nationally, Timișoara has been recognized as the largest polarizing center in western Romania. According to the 2021 census , the population of Timișoara amounted to 250,849 inhabitants,
16974-561: The second largest minority, with 14,525 people (or 2.1% of the county's population) at the 2011 census, although unofficial estimates put the figure at 45,000. Măguri , a component locality of Lugoj municipality, is the only village in the county where the Roma have an absolute majority (69.4% in 2011). The largest communities of Serbs , Germans and Bulgarians in Romania also live in Timiș County. The number of Serbs living in Timiș exceeds 10,000. Most of them are located in Timișoara and in
17112-488: The smoothness of the surface interrupted only by the Bega riverbed. Researched in detail, the relief of the city and its surroundings presents a series of local peculiarities, represented mainly by deserted meanders, micro-depressions and ridges (generally made of coarse materials). These are the result of the deposits in the area of the Timiș and Bega rivers, before their drainage, regularization and damming (concretized altimetrically by modest bumps, which do not exceed anywhere,
17250-547: The south), coșavă (high-speed cold wind), rușavăț (in the Banat Plain) and mountain breezes (in the east). Ethnic composition of Timiș County (2021) Religious composition of Timiș County (2021) According to the 2021 census , Timiș County had a population of 650,533 (or 3.4% of the country's population), being the sixth most populous county in Romania. The population density was 74.8/km (193.7/sq mi). Timiș County has an urbanization rate of 61.8%, above
17388-556: The southeastern part of the Pannonian Plain , the subsoil of Timiș County there are deposits of lignite ( Sinersig ), basalt ( Lucareț – Șanovița ), manganese ( Pietroasa ), clay ( Biled , Cărpiniș , Jimbolia , Lugoj and Sânnicolau Mare ), crude oil and gas (in the western part of the county), sand ( Șag ) and glass sand ( Groși – Făget , Tomești and Gladna Montană ). Mineral waters are also exploited in Buziaș , Călacea , Ivanda , Bogda and Timișoara . The soil of Timiș County offers extremely favorable conditions for
17526-526: The temperate ones, of oceanic origin, which bring significant precipitations. Frequently, even in winter, humid air masses arrive from the Atlantic , bringing significant rains and snows, less often cold waves . From September to February there are frequent penetrations of continental polar air masses, coming from the east. In Banat, the influence of cyclones and hot air masses from the Adriatic Sea and
17664-411: The turn of the 20th century there were many enterprises here: two breweries, an iron foundry, a match factory, a brick factory, a gas factory, a chain factory, a hat factory, a chocolate factory, etc. In this period horse-drawn tram, telephone and street lighting were introduced and roads were paved. In 1892, Emperor Franz Joseph I decided to abolish the fortress status of Timișoara. The demolition of
17802-848: Was Viorel Oancea , of the Civic Alliance Party (PAC), which later merged with the National Liberal Party (PNL). He was the first officer who spoke to the crowd of revolutionaries gathered in Opera Square. The 1996 elections were won by Gheorghe Ciuhandu , of the Christian Democrats (PNȚ-CD). He had four terms, also winning elections in 2000, 2004 and 2008. Meanwhile, Ciuhandu took over the Christian Democratic Party and ran for president of Romania in 2004. Nicolae Robu (PNL)
17940-558: Was abolished and most of its territory was incorporated into the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary , although direct Hungarian rule began only following the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 , after the establishment of the dual monarchy . As part of Austria-Hungary , the city experienced a fast economic and demographic growth. Credit institutions invested large sums in the development of local industry; at
18078-713: Was elected mayor in 2012 and again in 2016. In 2020, Dominic Fritz , a native of Germany, was elected mayor on behalf of the USR with support from the FDGR . He won a new mandate in 2024 on behalf of the United Timișoara Alliance ( USR – PMP – FD – UDMR ). The Local Council and the city's mayor are elected every four years by the population. Decisions are discussed and approved by the Local Council ( Romanian : Consiliu Local ) made up of 27 elected councilors. After
18216-497: Was exclusively private. Banat cuisine has been strongly influenced by the Austro-Hungarian one , but to a large extent by Greek , Italian and French cuisines too. The dishes prepared in Banat are mostly made of pork , chicken or beef , with vegetables fried in lard or oil , with flour sauces, to make them more consistent, seasoned with pepper , thyme , paprika or caraway . Broadly speaking, Banat cuisine
18354-515: Was first officially mentioned in 1212 as the Roman castrum Temesiensis or castrum regium Themes . This year is disputed by historians of the opinion that the city's first documentary mention comes from 1266, when heir apparent Stephen V of Hungary donates part of the Tymes fortress, built by his father, Béla IV , to Count Parabuch. The city was destroyed by the Tatars in the 13th century, but
18492-498: Was home to a large Islamic community and produced famous historical figures, such as Osman Ağa of Temeşvar . Except for a period in the late 16th century, the city did not suffer sieges until the end of the 17th century. In 1594, Gregory Palotić, Ban of Lugos and Karánsebes , started an anti-Ottoman uprising in Banat, with its starting point in Nagybecskerek. Following a strong Transylvanian offensive led by György Borbély,
18630-525: Was replaced by a civil one. After the conquest of Banat, the imperial authorities in Vienna began an extensive process of colonization , inviting especially German Catholics from Württemberg , Swabia , Nassau , etc. who would become known as Banat Swabians . In Timișoara, the Swabians settled mainly in Fabric, where they strongly developed craftsmanship. The main function of Timișoara during this period
18768-527: Was that of a military fortress. The existing fortifications could not cope with the new military techniques, so the entire fortress was rebuilt in a late, flat and inconsistent adaptation of the Vauban style . It had an area 10 times larger than the medieval Turkish fortress. Between 1728 and 1732, Bega River was regulated, creating a navigable canal. Under the political pressure of the Hungarian Diet ,
18906-693: Was the first Romanian Youth Capital, and in 2023 it held the title of European Capital of Culture , along with the cities of Veszprém in Hungary and Elefsina in Greece . The Hungarian name of the city, Temesvár , was first recorded as Temeswar in 1315. It refers to a castle ( vár ) on the Timiș River ( Temes ). Timiș belongs to the family of hydronyms derived from the Indo-European radical thib "swamp". The Romanian and German oikonyms (Timișoara and Temeschburg, respectively) derived from
19044-486: Was −35.3 °C (−31.5 °F), on 24 January 1963, while the highest temperature was 42 °C (108 °F), recorded in August 2017. The average number of frost days (with minimum temperatures below 0 °C [32 °F]) is 80, and the average number of winter days (with maximum temperatures below 0 °C) is 17. The average number of tropical days (with maximum temperatures above 30 °C [86 °F])
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