Introducing Oradea
Elegant Oradea, the capital of Crişana, lies a few kilometres east of the Hungarian border, at the edge of the Carpathian Mountains. Inhabited since the Bronze Age, the area has been an important commercial, trade and communications point since the 11th century.
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In the 18th century, Viennese engineer Franz Anton Hillebrandt planned the city in baroque style, leading to the construction of many contemporary landmarks such as the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace (now the Museum of the Land of the Criş Rivers). The river Crişul Repede runs through the city centre, accentuating the architectural beauty of the area.
Of all the cities of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Oradea has best retained its 19th-century romantic style. It was ceded to Romania in 1920 and has since taken on an air of arresting but faded grandeur.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
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