'Arad' (pronunciation in
Romanian: ;
Hungarian: ''Arad'';
Serbian: Арад, ''Arad'') is the capital city of
Arad County, in western
Romania, in
Crişana,
Ardeal, on the river
Mureş.
Arad is a modern-built city and contains many handsome private and public buildings, including a cathedral. An important industrial center and transportation hub, it is also the seat of a
Romanian Orthodox bishop and features two universities, a Romanian Orthodox theological seminary, a training school for teachers, and a music conservatory.
Population
The Arad city hall
According to the 2002 census, the municipality of Arad was home to 191,473 inhabitants. The ethnic breakdown of the city was as follows: 160,186
Romanians (83.66%); 22,869
Hungarians (11.94%); 3,178
Roma (1.66%); 2,904
Germans (1.52%); and 2,336 of other nationalities (1.22%).
The largest religious groups represented were the
Eastern Orthodox (72.7%),
Roman Catholic (13.1%),
Baptist (4.5%),
Pentecostal (4.4%),
Reformed (3.1%), and
Greek-Catholic Uniate (1.1%) churches.
History
Arad was first mentioned in documents in the
11th century. The
Mongol invasion of the
Kingdom of Hungary in
1241 showed that defensive fortifications were needed, and in the second half of the
13th century stone fortresses at Soimos (Solymos), Siria (Világos), and Dezna (Dézna) were built. The
Ottoman Empire conquered the region from Hungary in
1551 and kept it until the
Peace of Karlowitz of
1699. After 1699, the city was ruled by the
Habsburg Monarchy. According to 1720 data, the population of the city was composed of 177 German families, 162 Serbian, and 35 Hungarian.
The new fortress was built between
1763 and
1783. Although it was small, it proved formidable having played a great role in the
Hungarian struggle for
independence in
1849. The city possesses a museum containing relics of this war of independence.
Bravely defended by the
Austrian general Berger until the end of July 1849, it was captured by the Hungarian rebels, who made it their headquarters during the latter part of the
insurrection. It was from Arad that
Lajos Kossuth issued his famous proclamation (
August 11, 1849), and where he handed over the supreme military and civil power to
Artúr Görgey.
The fortress was recaptured shortly after the surrender of Görgey to the
Russians at
Şiria/''Világos'' and is now used as an ammunition depot.
Thirteen rebel generals were executed there on
October 6, 1849, by order of the Austrian general Haynau. These men are known collectively as the
13 Martyrs of Arad, and since then Arad is considered the "Hungarian
Golgotha". One of the public squares contains a martyrs' monument, erected in their memory. It consists of a colossal figure of Hungary, with four allegorical groups, and medallions of the executed generals.
Căluş dancer from Arad, early 20th century.
Arad enjoyed a great economic development. In
1834 it was declared a "free royal town" by Emperor
Francis I of
Austria.
''Aradu Nou'' / ''Újarad'' ("New Arad"), situated on the opposite bank of the Mureş/Maros, is a suburb of Arad, to which it is connected by a bridge. It was founded during the Turkish wars of the
17th century. The works erected by the Turks for the capture of the fortress of Arad formed the nucleus of the new settlement.
In 1910, the town had 63,166 inhabitants: 46,085 (73%) Hungarians, 10,279 (16.2%) Romanians, 4,365 (7%) Germans.
[1]
Chronology
★
1028 - First time the area was mentioned
★
1078 -
1081 - The first mention of the town
★
1131 - Arad is mentioned in ''The Painted chronicle from Vienna''
★
1551 -
1697 - The town was occupied and administered by the Ottoman Empire
★
1702 - The furriers' guild was registered - the oldest one
★
1715 - Camil Hofflich, a minorite monk, set up the first school - German language
★
1765 -
1783 - A new fortress was build, in ''Vauban'' style
★
1812 - The foundation of 'Preparandia' - ''the first Romanian pedagogy school in Transylvania''
★
1817 - Hirschl Theatre was built - the first stone theatre in the country
★
★
1868 -
Mihai Eminescu participated as prompter
★
1833 - ''The sixth European Music School was set up in Arad'', after Paris, Prague, Brussels, Vienna, and London - ''Arader Musik Conservatorium''/''Aradi Zenede''
★
1834 – Arad obtained the "free royal town" statute
★
6 October1849 - 13 generals of the Hungarian revolutionary army executed
★
1890 - The founding of The Philharmonic Society''
★
★
1846 -
Ferencz Liszt performed
★
★
1847 -
Johann Strauss the Son performed
★
★
1877 -
Pablo Sarasate and
Henryk Wieniawski performed
★
★
1922 -
George Enescu performed
★
★
1924 -
Béla Bartók performed
★
August 15,
1899 - The first official football game was held
★
April 10,
1913 – 'Arad - Podgoria', the first electrical railway in Eastern Europe and the eighth in the world was built in Arad
★
1918 - Arad becomes the headquarters of ''The Romanian National Central Council'' and a non-official capital of Transylvania
★
★
May 13-
15 -
Iuliu Maniu expresses the decision of separation from Hungary and the union of Transylvania with Romania
★
1937 – Arad was the most important economic centre in Transylvania and occupied the fourth position in Romania
★
1989 – Arad was the second town in Romania to rise against
communism
★
1999 - The Arad Industrial Zone was inaugurated
Economy
With a rich industrial and commercial tradition, Arad is one of the most prosperous towns in Romania. Thanks to numerous investments, Arad has a booming economy.
The main industries are: freight and passenger railcars, clothing and textiles, food industry, furniture and furniture accessories, equipment for the car industry, electric components, meters, and shoes.
Neighborhoods
Aradul Nou,
Aurel Vlaicu,
Micălaca,
Grădişte,
Alfa,
Confectii,
Functionarilor,
Centru,
Gai,
Sânnicolaul Mic,
Colonia,
Subcetate.
Transport
Arad is the most important trans-European road and rail transportation junction point in western Romania, included in the 4th Pan-European Corridor linking Western Europe to South-Eastern European and Middle Eastern countries. The city has an extensive light rail network and a few bus lines.
Arad International Airport, with a
cargo terminal, is situated four km from downtown Arad.
Employees by occupation
★ Industry - 41.5%
★ Commerce - 13.75%
★ Transport and telecommunications - 9.27%
★ Construction - 7.92%
★ Education - 5.99%
★ Health and social services - 5.14%
★ Utilities - 3.16%
★ Public administration - 2.28%
★ Agriculture - 1.97%
★ Credit and insurance institutions - 1.70%
Some tourist attractions
Architectural monuments
Classic Theatre "Ioan Slavici"
★ ''The Fortified Town of Arad'' is one of the Transylvanian fotresses built in the
Vauban star-shaped style, in the second half of the
18th century. It was used as a prison for the rebels led by Horia, Cloşca, and Crişan
★ ''Administrative Palace'', built in
1872-
74,
renaissance architecture
★ ''
Ioan Slavici Classical Theatre'', built in
1874,
neoclassical architecture, architect
Anton Czigler
★ ''Neuman Palace'', built in
1891,
eclecticism
★ ''Judiciary Palace'', built in
1892,
eclecticism
★ ''Cenad Palace'', built in
1894,
eclecticism and
neoclassical architecture
★ ''National Bank Palace'', built in
1906,
neoclassical architecture
★ ''Bohuş Palace'' built in
1910,
Vienna Secession. (For the first time in Arad, reinforced concrete was used)
★ ''Szantay Palace'', built in
1911,
Vienna Secession
★ ''Cultural Palace'', built in
1913,
neoclassical,
gothic,
renaissance architecture, and
Corinthian capitals
★ ''Cloşca Street'',
Vienna Secession
Historic buildings
★ '' The House with Cannon Balls'', built in
1800. Its name derives from the fights between
1848 and
1849. Seventeen cannon balls are incorporated in its walls.
★ ''The High Teacher Training School (Clădirea Preparandiei)'', the first school for Romanian-language teachers from Transylvania,
1812
★ ''The House with the Padlock'', built in
1815
★ ''The Old Theatre (Hirschl)'', built by Jacob Hirschl in
1817, the oldest stone theatre in Romania
★ ''Water Tower'', built in
1896, ''medieval dungeon'' architectural style
★ ''The Old Custom House'', built in
1907, used as a customs point for goods entering the Arad markets
Monuments
★ ''The Statue of St. John of Nepomuk'', raised in
1729,
baroque sculpture
★ ''The monument of the Holy Trinity'', raised in
1746 to commemorate the plague that swept the town in
1738-
1740
The Lutheran Church in Arad
★ ''Reconciliation Park''
★
★ ''The Statue of Liberty'', raised in
1890 by György Zala in the memory of the heroes of the Hungarian revolutionary army
★
★ ''The
Arch of Triumph'', raised in
2004 by Ioan Bolborea in memory of the heroes of the 1848 - 1849 Romanian Revolution (fighting against Kossuth and Garibaldi)
★ '' Martyrs' Cross'', raised in
1936, in memory of the priests martyred between November 1918 and spring 1919
★ ''The Bust of Vasile Goldiş'' (
1862 –
1934)
★ ''The Bust of Moise Nicoară'' (
1784 –
1861)
Religious tourism
★ ''The "St. Peter and Paul" Serbian Church'', raised in
1698-
1702, early
Baroque architecture
★ '' "St. Simon" Monastery '', raised in
1762,
Baroque architecture
★ '' "St. Anthony of Padua" Cathedral'' (Roman Catholic). The Order of Minorite Monks raised this cathedral in 1904, in a
renaissance architecture style
★ ''The "Birth of Saint John the Baptist" Cathedral'' (Romanian Orthodox), raised in
1862-
1865,
Baroque architecture, architect
Antoniu Czigler. The mural painter,
Anastase Damian, started his work in
1957 and finished it one year later
Catholic cathedral St. Anthony of Padua
★ ''The Red Church'' (Evangelical-Lutheran), built in
1906,
Neo-gothic architecture
★ ''The Neolog Synagogue'', built in
1834, ''Greek, Tuscan '' architectural style
Recreational tourism
★ ''Neptun'' Swimming Place, one of the most beautiful places of amusement of this kind in Romania
★ The Mureş Embankment
★ The Grove
★ The Ceala Forest with ''Moltăreţ'' Lake and Mureş Isle
★ The Vladimirescu Forest
★ Ghioroc Lake
★ Miniş - Măderat Vineyard, situated about 30 km east of Arad
Culture and education
Schools
Arad has two universities, the private 'Vasile Goldiş' University of the West, founded in
1990, and the public '
Aurel Vlaicu' University, founded in
1991.
There are about two dozen high schools, some of the more famous being the 'Moise Nicoară' and 'Elena Ghiba-Birta' national colleges, the Economics College, the
Technical College for Constructions and Environmental Protection and the ''Vasile Goldiş'' theoretical lyceum. High schools in minorities' languages include the Hungarian 'Csiky Gergely' group of schools and the German 'A.M. Guttenbrunn'( ro -
[1]) theoretical lyceum.
Cultural life
★ Arad State Theater, hosting an annual Classical Theater Festival
★ Philharmonic orchestra
★ Puppet theater
Museums and exhibitions
★ Arad Museum Complex
★
★ History Department
★
★ Natural Sciences Department
★
★ Art Department
★ ''
Vasile Goldiş'' Memorial Museum
★ ''Doina and Baruţu Arghezi'' Art Collection
★ Delta Gallery, with three major events of Arad artistic life: The International Biennial Drawing Saloon, The Biennial Small Sculpture Saloon, The Annual Art Saloon.
★ Alfa Gallery
★ Clio Gallery
★ Water Tower Gallery
★ Takács Gallery
★ Carola's Gallery
★ 'Expo Arad', The Exhibition Centre of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of the County of Arad.
Twinnings
Sister cities
★
Israel
,
Israel
★
China
,
China
★
Hungary
,
Hungary
★
Hungary
, Hungary
★
Israel
, Israel
Partner cities
★
England
,
England
★
Germany
,
Germany
★
Germany
, Germany
★
Slovakia
, Slovakia
★
Hungary
, Hungary
★
Hungary
, Hungary
★
Serbia
, Serbia
Sports
The
UT Arad (formerly ITA) football team was founded in 1946 and has won six Romanian championships. As of the 2006-2007 season, it plays in the first national league.
In basketball, the women's ICIM and the men's West Petrom teams have national prominence, their record including some recent national championship wins (ICIM in 1998 through 2001, West Petrom in 2001 and 2002).
In men's water polo, Astra Arad also plays in the first division.
The men rugby team Contor Group Arad plays in the National Rugby League, reached the playoff final in 2006.
Notes
1. Atlas and Gazetteer of Historic Hungary 1914, Talma Kiadó
References
★
External links
★
www.aradcity.ro
★
Map of Arad (requires java)
★
Monument to the 13 Martyrs of Arad available in English, Romanian and Hungarian
★
www.virtualarad.net
★
www.aradon.ro
★
www.arad.info.ro
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