Timișoara

Timișoara
—  City  —
2012 Christmas Market on Victory Square
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Little Vienna
Timișoara Location of Timișoara
Coordinates: 45°45′35″N 21°13′48″E / 45.75972°N 21.23000°E / 45.75972; 21.23000Coordinates: 45°45′35″N 21°13′48″E / 45.75972°N 21.23000°E / 45.75972; 21.23000
Country	Romania
County	Timiș County
Status	County Capital
Government
• Mayor	Nicolae Robu (USL)
Area
• City	129.2 km2 (49.9 sq mi)
• Metro	1,070 km2 (410 sq mi)
Elevation	90 m (300 ft)
Population (2011 census)[1]
• City	303,708
• Density	2,350/km2 (6,100/sq mi)
• Metro	365,777[citation needed]
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Mailbox code	300030
Tel. code	02 56
Vehicle registration	TM
Website	www.primariatm.ro
xTimișoara metropolitan area is a proposed project.

Timișoara (Romanian pronunciation: [timiˈʃo̯ara] ( listen); German: Temeswar, also formerly Temeschburg or Temeschwar, Hungarian: Temesvár, Hungarian pronunciation: ['tɛmɛʃvaːr] ( listen), Serbian: Темишвар/Temišvar, Banat Bulgarian: Timišvár, Turkish: Temeşvar) is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with a population of 303,708 inhabitants (the third most populous city in the country, as of 2011),^[1] and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the western part of Romania.

Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Demographics 4 Economy 5 Transport 6 Cityscape 7 Climate 7.1 Neighborhoods 8 Culture 8.1 Performing arts 8.2 Festivals and Conferences 9 Education 10 Sport 10.1 Association football 10.2 Basketball 10.3 Rugby union 10.4 Handball 11 Foreign relationships 11.1 Twin towns — sister cities 11.2 Consulates 12 Natives 13 Gallery 14 See also 15 References/Notes 16 External links

Geography [edit]

This section requires expansion. (February 2012)

Timișoara lies at an altitude of 95 m on the southeast edge of the Banat plain, part of the great Panonia plain. The rich black soil and relatively low water table make this a fertile agricultural region.

Due to the hydrography projects undertaken in the 18th century, the city no longer lies on the Timiș River, but on the Bega canal. This is a relatively active seismic area, and earthquakes up to 6 on the Richter scale have been recorded.

History [edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2012)

Timișoara was first mentioned as a place in either 1212 or 1266. The territory later to be known as Banat was conquered and annexed by the Kingdom of Hungary in 1030. Timișoara grew considerably during the reign of Charles I, who, upon his visit here in 1307, ordered the construction of a royal palace. Timișoara's importance also grew thanks to its strategic location, which facilitated control over the Banat plain. John Hunyadi established a permanent military encampment here, and moved here together with his family. In 1552, a 16,000 Ottoman army conquered the city and transformed it into a capital city in the region. The local military commander, Stefan Losonczy, was captured and beheaded on July 27, 1552 after resisting the Ottoman invasion with just over 2,300 men.^{[citation needed]}

Timișoara remained under Ottoman rule for nearly 160 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 was home to a large Islamic community and produced famous historical figures such as Osman Aga of Temesvar, until Prince Eugene of Savoy conquered it in 1716. Subsequently, the city came under Austrian rule, and it remained so until the early 20th century except Ottoman occupation between 1788-1789 during the Ottoman-Hapsburg war.^{[citation needed]} During this time, Timișoara evolved from a strategic fortress to an economic and industrial center: numerous factories were built, electric illumination and public transport were introduced, and railroad connections were established. The city was defortified, and several major road arteries were built to connect the suburbs with the city center, paving the way for further expansion of the city limits.^{[citation needed]}

It was the first mainland European city to be lit by electric street lamps in 1884.^[2] It was also the second European and the first city in what is now Romania with horse drawn trams in 1867. Gustave Eiffel, the creator of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, drew the projects of one of Timișoara's footbridges over the Bega.

On October 31, 1918, local military and political elites establish the "Banat National Council", together with representatives of the region's main ethnic groups: Hungarians, Romanians, Serbs and Germans. In 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 1918-1919. In 1920, King Ferdinand I awarded Timișoara the status of a University Center, and 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 August 23, 1944, Romania, which until then was a member of the Axis, declared war on Nazi Germany and joined the Allies. Surprised, the local Wehrmacht garrison surrendered without a fight,^{[citation needed]} and German and Hungarian troops attempted to take the city by force throughout September, without success.

After the war, the People's Republic of Romania was proclaimed, and Timișoara underwent Sovietization and later, systematization. The city's population tripled between 1948 and 1992. In December 1989, Timișoara witnessed a series of mass street protests by Romanians, Hungarians and Serbs, in what was to become the Romanian Revolution of 1989.

Demographics [edit]

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1787	9,479	—
1847	18,103	+91.0%
1869	32,725	+80.8%
1900	53,033	+62.1%
1912	72,555	+36.8%
1930	91,580	+26.2%
1948	111,987	+22.3%
1956	142,257	+27.0%
1966	174,243	+22.5%
1977	269,353	+54.6%
1992	334,115	+24.0%
2002	317,660	−4.9%
2011	303,708	−4.4%
Source: Census data, Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition

As of 2011 census data, Timișoara has a population of 303,708,^[1] while the proposed Timișoara metropolitan area would have a population of 365,777.

Of this population, 86.79% were ethnic Romanians, while 5.12% were Hungarians, 1.37% Germans, 1.3% Serbs, 0.69% ethnic Roma, 0.18% Ukrainians, 0.17% Slovaks, 0.11% Jews and 0.76% others.^[3] 14.2% of the population are under 15 years of age, 4.0% are over 75.

The Ukrainian community is currently growing, partly due to the presence of Ukrainian language educational facilities. In recent years, local investment by Italian companies has spurred the creation of an Italian community,^[4] even leading to calls for an Italian Cultural Center.^[5]

Since 1990, Timișoara saw a slight population decline owing to migration and a drop in birthrates. Notably, the Hungarian and German communities experienced significant decline, with the latter being reduced by half between 1992 and 2002.^[6]

Economy [edit]

Timișoara has been an important economic center since the 18th century when the Habsburg administration was installed. Due to Austrian colonization, ethnic and religious diversity and innovative laws, the economy began to develop. The technicians and craftsmen that settled in the city established guilds and helped develop the city's economy. Notably, in 1717, Timișoara became host to the region's first beer factory.^{[citation needed]}

During the Industrial Revolution, numerous modern innovations were introduced. It was the first city in the monarchy with street illumination, and the first city on mainland Europe illuminated by electric light. The Bega river was also channelled during this time. It was the first navigable canal on current Romanian territory. This way, Timișoara had contact with Europe, and even with the rest of the world through the Black Sea, leading to the local development of commercialism.^[7][8][9]

In the 19th century, the railway system of the Hungarian Kingdom reached Timișoara. Timișoara was the first city in the country with international routes economic boom as the amount of foreign investment, especially in high-tech sectors, has risen.^[10] In terms of living standards, Timișoara ranks fourth nationwide.^[11] In an article in late 2005, French magazine L'Expansion called Timișoara Romania's economic showcase,^[12] and referred to the increased number of foreign investments as a "second revolution".

Apart from domestic local investment, there has been significant foreign investment from the European Union, particularly from Germany and Italy. Continental AG has produced tires since opening a plant in 2000.^[13] The Linde Group produces technical gases, and a part of the wiring moulds for BMW and Audi vehicles are produced by the company Dräxlmaier Group locally. Wiring for Volkswagen and other vehicles are produced at the German company Kromberg & Schubert. Also, Swiss company FM Logistic, already present in Timiș County for Nestlé, P&G and in Bucharest for Cora, L'Oréal, Sanofi Aventis and Yves Rocher, and for companies like PROFI Rom Foods, BIC^{[disambiguation needed]}, Kraft Foods or SCA Packaging - offering them domestic transport services and international transport services for Bricostore, Arctic, Danone, Unilever or Contitech, the growth of FM Logistic in Romania and in Dudești through its 1st own warehouse in Romania (Dudeștii Noi gives FM the opportunity). Nestlé produces waffles here.

The USA company Flextronics maintains a workplace in the west of the city for the production of mobile telephony and government inspection department devices. In 2009, the company laid off 640 workers.^[14] The American company Procter & Gamble manufactures washing and cleaning agents in Timișoara. Smithfield Foods - the world's largest pork processor and hog producer - has two subsidiaries in Timișoara and Timiș County: Smithfield Ferme and Smithfield Prod.

Like most of Romania, Timișoara experienced economic slowdown in 2009, due to the global economic downturn.^[15]

Transport [edit]

Timișoara's public transport network consists of 10 tram lines, 8 trolleybus lines and 20 bus lines, of which 5 are metropolitan lines and 6 are express lines. It is operated by Regia Autonomă de Transport Timișoara (RATT), an autonomous corporation of the City Hall. The city is served by Romania's third busiest airport, Traian Vuia International Airport, which is the hub of the Romania's second-largest airline, Carpatair. The city is connected to a series of major European and domestic destinations. Timișoara is a major railway centre and is connected to all other major Romanian cities, as well as local destinations, through the national CFR network.

Cityscape [edit]

The tallest building, when completed, will be the Tender Financial Center, at 180 meters tall. Currently, the tallest building is the Timişoara Orthodox Cathedral, at 96 meters and the tallest office building is the Fructus Tower, at 65 meters. Other tall buildings, over 50 meters, include: Asirom Financial Center and the Continental Hotel. Another proposed building, the Timișoara High Tower, when completed, will have a height of 138 meters.

Climate [edit]

Climate data for Timișoara, Romania
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	17.4 (63.3)	20.5 (68.9)	28.2 (82.8)	33.0 (91.4)	34.5 (94.1)	38.4 (101.1)	41.1 (106)	41.0 (105.8)	39.7 (103.5)	33.8 (92.8)	27.1 (80.8)	20.2 (68.4)	41.1 (106)
Average high °C (°F)	2 (36)	5 (41)	11 (52)	18 (64)	23 (73)	26 (79)	28 (82)	28 (82)	25 (77)	18 (64)	11 (52)	4 (39)	17 (63)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−1 (30)	1 (34)	5 (41)	11 (52)	16 (61)	19 (66)	21 (70)	21 (70)	18 (64)	12 (54)	6 (43)	1 (34)	11 (52)
Average low °C (°F)	−5 (23)	−3 (27)	0 (32)	5 (41)	10 (50)	13 (55)	15 (59)	14 (57)	11 (52)	6 (43)	2 (36)	−1 (30)	5 (41)
Record low °C (°F)	−35.3 (−31.5)	−29.2 (−20.6)	−20.0 (−4)	−5.2 (22.6)	−5.0 (23)	2.2 (36)	5.9 (42.6)	5.0 (41)	−1.9 (28.6)	−6.8 (19.8)	−15.4 (4.3)	−24.8 (−12.6)	−35.3 (−31.5)
Precipitation mm (inches)	47 (1.85)	44 (1.73)	46 (1.81)	56 (2.2)	71 (2.8)	91 (3.58)	67 (2.64)	53 (2.09)	51 (2.01)	46 (1.81)	57 (2.24)	59 (2.32)	688 (27.09)
Avg. precipitation days	12	10	8	10	13	16	12	11	10	9	11	11	145
Avg. rainy days	2	3	7	10	13	16	12	11	10	9	7	4	104
Avg. snowy days	10	8.5	3	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0.1	3	7.3	32
% humidity	91	87	81	80	77	79	74	75	76	85	92	89	82
Mean monthly sunshine hours	62	85	142	180	210	240	280	279	210	155	60	49	1,952
Source #1: Weatherbase [16]
Source #2: http://www.insse.ro/cms/files/pdf/ro/cap1.pdf

• Highest Recorded Temperature: 41.1 °C (106 °F) - 24 July 2007
• Lowest Recorded Temperature: −35.3 °C (−32 °F) - 24 January 1963
• Snow stays on the grounds 30 days a year on average
• Warmest Month: July
• Coolest Month: January
• Highest Precipitation: June: 91.0 mm(3.589 in)
• Lowest Precipitation: February: 44.5 mm(1.737 in)

The climate which defines Timișoara city is the temperate continental moderate climate which characterizes the Southern-Eastern part of The Pannonian Basin. The temperate continental climate has some submediteranean characteristics as well of the Adriatic climate.

Climatic general features consist of various and irregular weather conditions. The dominating temperate air masses during spring and summer are of oceanic origin and come with great precipitations. Frequently, even during winter period, the Atlantic humid air masses bring rainy and snowy weather, rarely cold weather.

From September until February, frequent continental polar air masses coming from East invade the area. In spite of all that, the Banat climate is also influenced by the presence of cyclones and warm air masses which come from the Adriatic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Their characteristic feature is that of complete snow thaw during the winter period and stifling heat during the summer period.

Freak measurable snowfalls have occurred as early as late October and as late as early April, but snow in those months is rare, and significant falls do not usually occur until November. The median date for the first freeze is October 22, while that of the last freeze is April 15.

Neighborhoods [edit]

Listed alphabetically

Culture [edit]

The city center largely consists of buildings from the Austrian Empire era. The old city consists of several historic areas. These are: Cetate (Belváros in Hungarian, Innere Stadt in German), Iosefin (Józsefváros, Josephstadt), Elisabetin (Erzsébetváros, Elisabethstadt), Fabric (Gyárváros, Fabrikstadt). Numerous bars, clubs and restaurants have opened in the old Baroque square (Unirii Square).

Landmarks include:

• Timișoara Orthodox Cathedral
• St. George's Cathedral (The Dome)
• Millennium Church
• Huniade Castle

Performing arts [edit]

• Banatul Philharmonic of Timișoara (Filarmonica Banatul Timișoara)
• Romanian Opera House (Opera Română Timișoara)^[17]
• National Theatre (Teatrul Național)
• German State Theatre (Teatrul German de Stat)
• Hungarian State Theatre (Teatrul Maghiar de Stat)
• Puppet Theatre (Teatrul pentru copii și tineret "Merlin")
• Festivalul Plai, a world music and jazz festival

Festivals and Conferences [edit]

• StudentFest, a festival of culture and arts created by the students^[18][19]
• ISWinT—The International Students Week in Timișoara^[20]
• TEDxTimișoara, an independent conference organized under license from TED Conference^[21][22][23]

^[24]

• PLAI— Plai is a festival that celebrates multiculturality with worldmusic, jazz, diverse music, workshops and joy, arts and exuberance.^[25]

Education [edit]

Timișoara has four public universities and three private universities:

Public

• West University^[26]
• Polytechnic University^[27]
• "Victor Babeș" University of Medicine and Pharmacy^[28]
• Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences^[29]

Private

• Dimitrie Cantemir University^[30]
• Tibiscus University^[31]
• Mihai Eminescu University^[32]
• Ioan Slavici University^[33]

Sport [edit]

Association football [edit]

• ACS Poli Timișoara
• ASU Politehnica Timişoara
• Ripensia Timisoara
• CFR Timișoara

Historic

• Chinezul Timișoara - 6 titles
• Ripensia Timișoara - 4 titles
• UM Timișoara

Basketball [edit]

• BC Elba Timișoara (M)
• BC Timba Timișoara (M)
• CSȘ Bega Timișoara (W)

Rugby union [edit]

• RCM Universitatea de Vest Timișoara

Handball [edit]

• CSU Politehnica Timișoara

Foreign relationships [edit]

Twin towns — sister cities [edit]

Timișoara has 15 twin towns and sister cities, as listed below:

Shenzhen, China Mulhouse, France Rueil-Malmaison, France Gera, Germany Karlsruhe, Germany Szeged, Hungary Faenza, Italy

Palermo, Italy Sassari, Italy Treviso, Italy Cancún, Mexico Novi Sad, Serbia Zrenjanin, Serbia Nottingham, United Kingdom Trujillo, Peru

Consulates [edit]

Honorific consulate of Austria[34] Honorific consulate of the Czech Republic[35] Honorific consulate of France[36] General consulate of Germany[37] Honorific consulate of Hungary[38] Honorific consulate of India[39] General consulate of Italy[40]

Honorific consulate of the Republic of Macedonia[41] Honorific consulate of the Republic of Moldova[42] Honorific consulate of the Netherlands[43] Honorific consulate of Peru[44] General consulate of Serbia[45] Honorific consulate of Sweden[46] Honorific consulate of Tunisia[47]

Natives [edit]

• Iolanda Balaș — women's high jump athlete, two time Olympic champion
• Mircea Baniciu — musician and composer, Transsylvania Phoenix and Pasărea Colibri
• Ana Blandiana — poet, essayist, and political figure
• Diana Bulimar — artistic gymnast, Olympic Games and multiple European Championships medalist
• Horia Colibășanu — first Romanian mountain climber to reach the summit of K2, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri and Annapurna
• Cosmin Contra — footballer, voted 2 times in 1999 and 2001 the best right defender in the UEFA Team of the Year
• Nicu Covaci — painter and musician, leader of Transsylvania Phoenix
• Edina Gallovits-Hall - professional tennis player
• Hanno Höfer — movie director, producer and musician, co-founder of production company Mobra Films (alongside Cristian Mungiu and Oleg Mutu
• Ioan Holender — longest-serving general director in the history of the Vienna State Opera
• Hugo Jan Huss — orchestra conductor and music director in Mexico and Wisconsin
• Francesco Illy — inventor of coffee machinery
• Ion Ivanovici — military band leader and composer, best remembered today for his waltz Waves of the Danube
• Ștefan Kovács — football manager, one of the most successful coaches in the history of the game
• George Lusztig — multiple prize-winning mathematician and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Zoltán Meskó — a Romanian-born American football punter for the New England Patriots
• Dan Negru - Romanian TV presenter
• Dan Nicolae Potra — artistic gymnast; Romania's first male gymnast to win the European all around title (2002)
• Gabriel Torje — 2011 Romanian Footballer of the Year
• Cornel Trăilescu — opera composer and conductor
• Dorin Tudoran — poet, essayist, journalist, and dissident
• Andrei Ujica — screenwriter and director, professor for film at the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design
• Timotei Ursu — film director, television director, writer, former British Broadcasting Corporation correspondent and current journalist in New York City
• Johnny Weissmuller — Austro-Hungarian-born American swimmer and actor best known for playing Tarzan in films of the 1930s and 1940s and for having one of the best competitive swimming records of the 20th century

Gallery [edit]

• 

  The Orthodox Cathedral

• 

  Bega Canal at night (1)

• 

  Bega Canal at night (2)

• 

  Canal in the 2012 summer

• 

  Victory Square at night

• 

  Romanian Opera House

• 

  Iulius Mall Timișoara

• 

  The Cathedral

• 

  The Millennium Church

• 

  The Fabric Synagogue

• 

  Bus in Timișoara

• 

  Tram in Timișoara

• 

  Huniade Castle

• 

  Tallest hotel (Continental)

• 

  Mid-day

• 

  Evening rush hour

• 

  West University

• 

  University of Medicine and Pharmacy

• 

  Polytechnic University

• 

  Polytechnic University's sports ground

See also [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Timişoara

• Timișoara metropolitan area
• History of Timișoara

References/Notes [edit]

External links [edit]

• People from Timișoara
• An introduction to Timișoara by Prof. Harry W. Morgan
• Timișoara's home page, the oldest Romanian page on the net
• City of Timișoara Homepage
• Tourist Bureau of Romania
• Updated map of Timișoara
• Info about the TimisBega catchment and the 2005 flood on Google Earth

v t e Timiș County, Romania Cities Timișoara (county seat) Lugoj Towns Buziaș Ciacova Deta Făget Gătaia Jimbolia Recaș Sânnicolau Mare Communes Balinț Banloc Bara Bârna Beba Veche Becicherecu Mic Belinț Bethausen Biled Birda Bogda Boldur Brestovăț Bucovăț Cărpiniș Cenad Cenei Checea Chevereșu Mare Comloșu Mare Coșteiu Criciova Curtea Darova Denta Dudeștii Noi Dudeștii Vechi Dumbrava Dumbrăvița Fârdea Fibiș Foeni Gavojdia Ghilad Ghiroda Ghizela Giarmata Giera Giroc Giulvăz Gottlob Iecea Mare Jamu Mare Jebel Lenauheim Liebling Livezile Lovrin Margina Mașloc Mănăștiur Moravița Moșnița Nouă Nădrag Nițchidorf Ohaba Lungă Orțișoara Otelec Parța Pădureni Peciu Nou Periam Pesac Pietroasa Pișchia Racovița Remetea Mare Sacoșu Turcesc Saravale Satchinez Săcălaz Sânandrei Sânmihaiu Român Sânpetru Mare Secaș Șag Șandra Știuca Teremia Mare Tomești Tomnatic Topolovățu Mare Tormac Traian Vuia Uivar Variaș Vălcani Victor Vlad Delamarina Voiteg

v t e Cities in Romania by population 1,000,000+ Bucharest 250,000+ Cluj-Napoca Timișoara Iași Constanța 100,000+ Craiova Galați Brașov Ploiești Oradea Brăila Pitești Arad Sibiu Bacău Târgu Mureș Baia Mare Buzău Botoșani complete list municipalities metropolitan areas counties

v t e County seats of Romania (alphabetical order by county) Alba Iulia Arad Pitești Bacău Oradea Bistrița Botoșani Brașov Brăila Buzău Reșița Călărași Cluj-Napoca Constanța Sfântu Gheorghe Târgoviște Craiova Galați Giurgiu Târgu Jiu Miercurea Ciuc Deva Slobozia Iași Bucharest Baia Mare Drobeta-Turnu Severin Târgu Mureș Piatra Neamț Slatina Ploiești Satu Mare Zalău Sibiu Suceava Alexandria Timișoara Tulcea Vaslui Râmnicu Vâlcea Focșani Bucharest (national capital)