Tourist attractions you cannot miss in Oradea

Oradea is an architecturally rich city, known for the many Art Nouveau monuments it hosts. If you are planning to visit the city on Crisul Repede river and you want to know what beauties await for you, below we prepared a list of some of the attractions which we deem unmissable:

• Oradea Citadel

This is a symbol of the city whose existence took shape in the 11th century. Here, the entire cultural life of Oradea takes shape, being the place where events such as festivals, film evenings, and other activities to promote the cultural spirit take place. This is also the best-preserved fortress built after the Italian Renaissance architectural style in Central Europe. Numerous legends are associated with the name of this fortification, which you can learn more about by wandering around the Citadel Museum. The complex includes several annexes that are meant to transport you to distant historical periods. We are talking about the Princely Palace, various Bastions (Aurit, Bethlen, Ciunt), the Roman Catholic Church, the bakery and other characteristic elements. It is fascinating to have contact with this long-gone world which manages to survive, despite the contemporary context where modern architecture dominates.

 

• The Black Eagle Palace (Palatul Vulturul Negru)

This is one of the most beautiful buildings in Oradea and dates back to 1908. The Black Eagle Palace is representative of the secession architectural style. In its heyday, it was the meeting place of the locals and it hosted various social, cultural and political events. Over time, the location was the seat of the town hall, after which it became a hotel. The interior passage is a truly unique element, the way in which the light penetrates the stained glass windows is like an image taken from the most successful illustrated stories. Inside, there are cafes, restaurants and pubs, which makes the place full of liveliness. The palace is located at 1 Independenței Street. 

• Moskovits Palace

Another visual splendour, the palace was built in the Art Nouveau style in 1904. The palace is full of floral ornaments combined in a harmonious way. But its beauty is not only characteristic of the exterior, because the interior is also rich in impressive decorations, represented by 100-year-old paintings. The monument is located on Vasile Alecsandri Street at no. 1.

• Oradea Town Hall Palace (Palatul Primariei din Oradea)

We continue the series of architectural discoveries with another emblem of the city that has been operating since 1903. The style in which the building is designed is eclectic. The clock tower is a perfect place to look over at the historic center of the city, with its towering monuments. At the same time, the level structure of the tower offers you the possibility to get acquainted with the past of Oradea as various paintings of Romanian soldiers as well as with the city in the interwar and communist period decorate the walls on each level. The palace is located on Tudor Vladimirescu Street at no. 3.

• Ullman Palace

This is another secession-style building that has delighted the eyes of passers-by since 1913. The construction whose architecture attracts everyone’s attention is a symbol of the Jewish community. The symmetry, the bas-reliefs along with its proportions make this building a grandiose monument. Ullman Palace is located at 1 December Square.

• Kovats House

It is a neoclassical-style building that was built in the early nineteenth century. Since 1807, the “Golden Cross” pharmacy has been operating on the ground floor of the building, after which the building also housed a cafe, the House of Savings and Credit, as well as the Civil Storage House. The building was reconditioned in 1836, following a fire. Since then, the building has kept the same look that we can admire today. Kovats House is located in Unirii Square, at number 5.

• The Moon Church

This monument is unique in Europe due to the existence of the mechanism of Georg Rueppe, hence the name of the church. It is a globe that shows the phases of the moon, located in the church tower. The building belongs to the late Baroque architectural style which harmonizes with neo-classical elements. The construction dates from 1790 and is located in Unirii Square, at number 2.

Visiting hours:

Monday – Sunday: 08.00 – 20.00

• Neolog Zion Synagogue

We carry on with the monuments that bring Romania on the leading places in Europe. This time it is the Zion Synagogue, which is the third largest in Europe in terms of size. It was built in 1870 by the neolog Jewish community in the city. The synagogue at 8 Independeței Street is part of the historical monuments of the municipality.

Visiting hours:

Tuesday – Sunday: 10.00 – 17.00 (November – May)

Tuesday – Sunday: 12.00 – 19.00 (April – October)

Ticket price:

Adults: 10 lei

Pupils, students, pensioners, groups over 10 people – 5 lei

• Darvas House – La Roche

Yet another example of secession-style architecture which took shape at the end of the twentieth century. It distinguishes itself from other buildings by its typical Viennese elements and geometric shapes. The house currently houses an Art Nouveau museum that includes both temporary exhibitions (ground floor) and the museum collection (1st floor). You will have the opportunity to enter an architecturally valuable place, with period interiors, colorful windows and furniture characteristic of the neo-rococo style.

Visiting hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 12.00 – 19.00

Ticket price:

Ground floor: free

Floor:

Adults: 5 lei

Students/groups: 3 lei

• Baroque Complex

This was built in the second half of the 18th century and includes three elements: the Baroque Palace or the Palace of the Roman Catholic Episcopate, the Roman Catholic Basilica and the Canonical Chain. The palace has 365 windows, as if there was one for each day of the year. The cathedral is on the list of the most beautiful basilicas in all of Europe, and the row of Canons contains 10 buildings that were built over a century.