Banat & Crisana

Highlights
» Places to explore
» Main Museums
» Performing Arts
» Outdoor Adventures & Parks
» Activities
» Food & Wine 		  Essentials
» Transportation
» Tourist info
» Maps 		  Romania - Regions map - Crisana and Banat

Crisana & Banat - Fast Facts

About the name Crisana is named after the three main rivers in the region: Crisul Alb, Crisul Negru and Crisul Repede. The name Banat comes from the word Ban, the military leader of the region.
Location Romania’s western border - Crisana borders Hungary in the north, and Banat borders Serbia in the south.
Area 19,000 sq miles
Population Approximately 3 million people
Main cities Arad, Oradea, Timisoara
Climate

Crisana has a temperate-continental climate, while Banat boasts a slight Mediterranean influence, with hot summers and  mild winters

» Highlights

The unique mix of architectural and cultural heritages in the history-rich provinces of Crisana and Banat stems from the fact that for centuries Romanians have lived here alongside Germans (Swabs), Serbians and Hungarians (Magyars). A trio of western Romania cities - Timisoara, Oradea and Arad - provides travelers with an insight into this region’s long past and colorful traditions.

Habsburg rule until 1918 introduced Art Nouveau architecture in Banat and established Timisoara as “the garden city.” Frequently referred to as “Little Vienna,” Timisoara has always been a progressive, cosmopolitan city. An important trade and university town, Timisoara features open squares, parks and gardens, elegant boutiques, cafes, restaurants and a great display of Secessionist architecture. Cultural attractions include the Banat Museum (art, natural history and ethnography) the Village Museum, the Botanical Garden, the Timisoara Philharmonic and the Opera House. Places of historical note include the Ruins of Timisoara Fortress, Huniade Castle, Dicasterial Palace, Old City Hall and the Palace of Justice.

Just north of Timisoara on the Mures River banks lies the city of Arad, tracing its history back to the 12th century. Churches and cathedrals span four centuries, several denominations and architectural styles ranging from baroque to neoclassic. The exciting architecture of the buildings in the city’s square reflects the influence of the one-time Austrian-Hungarian occupation; most notable are the City Hall and Cenad Palace. An original Turkish fortress (built in 1550 and rebuilt twice in the 17th and 18th centuries), the Palace of Culture and the State Philharmonic House are some of the other sights to enjoy here.

Oradea, eight miles east of the Romanian-Hungarian border, is one of the most picturesque towns of western Romania, as well as an important cultural center. At the turn of the last century, most of the town’s old houses were rebuilt and customized to the then trendy architectural style from Vienna called “Sezession,” with its richly decorated facades of pale pink, green, blue and white. To get a feel for the city’s past, stroll around the Old Downtown and visit the Museum of the Cris Rivers, housed in a splendid 1770 baroque palace with 365 windows modeled after the Belvedere Palace in Vienna.

Western Romania is a heaven for active travelers and adventure seekers, with abundant opportunities for trekking, mountain climbing, hunting, fishing, horseback riding and more. Crisana and Banat have exquisite natural scenery with a climate similar to that of the Mediterranean region.

Baile Herculane, within driving distance of Timisoara, is an ancient Roman spa, developed in the 19th century as a fashionable resort. Legend has it that Hercules himself bathed in the strength-giving natural springs. Mount Domogled, to the west of the resort, is an extensive forest reservation sheltering rare trees, turtles and butterflies. 

The Bihor Mountains, descending from east to west, hold some of the best-hidden treasures of Romania; explore the cave tunnels, underground waterfalls, hidden lakes, canyons and glaciers. West of the Bihor Mountains is Bears’ Cave.  Named after fossil traces of the cave bear species (extinct 15,000 years ago) discovered here, it features two levels of galleries, extending more than a half-mile with stalactites and stalagmites estimated to be 22,000 years old, some resembling animal and castles shapes.

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» Places to explore

  • The Secession architectural style - an important link between the Byzantine style and the later modernist architecture - in Arad, Oradea and Timisoara
  • Zarandului Land (Tara Zarandului) with its main folk centers: Barsa, Barzava, Burchis-Capalnas and Buteni
  • The ancient spas of Hercules at Baile Herculane
  • The Bears’ Cave (Pestera Ursilor) near the village of Chiscau, a cave of rare beauty, hosting a vast range of stalagmites and stalactites as well as fossil traces of the cave bear species extinct 15,000 years ago
  • The Wind Cave, the longest cave in Romania (more than 24 miles)
  • The Iron Gates of the Danube (Portile de Fier), the narrow Danube gorge between the Carpathian & Balkan Mountains
  • The Nera Gorges (35 km from Oravita)

» Main Museums

  • History Museum in Arad
  • Tara Crisurilor Museum in Oradea
  • Museum of Theatre History in Oravita, the oldest theatre in the country
  • Art Museum in Timisoara
  • Banat History Museum in Timisoara
  • Banat Village Museum in Timisoara

» Performing Arts

  • State Philharmonic House in Arad
  • State Theater in Arad
  • German State Theater in Timisoara
  • National Theater & Opera House in Timisoara
  • State Philharmonic in Timisoara
  • Nord Theater in Satu Mare
  • State Philharmonic in Satu Mare

» Outdoor Adventures & Parks

  • Semenic-Cheile Carasului National Park – wildest cave system in Romania
  • Nerei Gorges -Beusnita National Park - wild gorges and unspoiled natural habitats
  • Iron Gates Nature Park – Danube river gorges, including the narrowest on its path
  • Domogled Valea Cernei National Park – over 100 caves, impressive gorges and rare wildlife
  • Retezat National Park – 80 glacial lakes, including the largest (Bucura, 21 acres) and deepest (Zanoaga, 95 feet) in Romania

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» Activities

Biking, Camping, Caving, Fishing, Hiking, Nature walks, Skiing, Wildlife and bird watching

» Food & Wine

The local cuisine of Banat, displaying Austrian, German and Hungarian influences, is based mainly on pork and on richly spiced vegetables.  Sour cream, thyme, tarragon, cumin and hot paprika are favored to spice up the dishes. A local specialty is homemade noodles, called Iofca – prepared with cabbage or cheese, nuts, milk and poppy seeds. Another traditional dish in the Banat region is paprikash with dumplings made out of flour and egg dough boiled in salt water. Other local dishes include stew with dumplings, peas and fried eggs, chicken and pork goulash, giblet soup, and tarragon chicken stew.

Other local specialties:
Varga Beles – a tasty specialty homemade noodle pudding with cheese and raisins wrapped in a pie puff and baked in the oven.
Pogacele - traditional cakes usually with plum brandy.

» Vineyards

The first records of viticulture in the Banat region date back from the period of the Roman invasion of Dacia, in the first century AD. Within the walls of the medieval citadel of Alba Iulia a network of tunnels were discovered; they were once used as cellars for the production of sparkling wine, the storage of wine for aging, and win-tasting rooms.

Minis Maderat Vineyard
The vineyards of Arad stretch on the hills bordering the western part of the Zarand Mountains, between Lipova and Pancota. Star of the region is the vineyard of Minis. In 1862, at a wine contest in London, Rosu de Minis was awarded the biggest prize. More than a century before, the wines of Minis were exported to England, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and even America.

The red, native variety Cadarca, displaying a ruby-red color with a stinging taste of fresh clove, was the wine of the imperial court of Vienna during the reign of Emperor Franz Josef, in the 18th century.

Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Cadarca are produced employing classical winemaking technologies, while the white wines like Italian Riesling, Traminer, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc, are obtained by using cooling zymurgy, resulting in fruity white wines of great finesse.

For more information please visit www.wineprincess.ro

Recas Vineyard
Nearby Timisoara, lies the vineyard of Recas, with a history dating back to the 15th century.  Some of the award-winning wines produced here include Italian Riesling, Feteasca Regala, Muscat Ottonel/Feteasca Regala, Sauvignon Blanc (white wines); Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir/Merlot (red wines).

For more information please visit www.recaswine.ro

Other vineyards: Teremia Mare, Jimbolia

» Winetasting

Minis Winery
The Minis vineyards feature a tasting room and an interesting wine-producing museum, open for visitors.

Contact information:
Address: Str. Complex de Vinificatie, Recas, Timis County
Telephone: (257) 251.000
Email: office@wineprincess.ro

Recas Cellars
Visitors can sample some of the popular wines produced here, as well as learn about the local winemaking technique and the conservation of bottled wines in the cellars.
Contact information:
Address: Str. Complex de Vinificatie, Recas, Timis County
Telephone: (256) 330.296
Email: office@recaswine.ro

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ESSENTIALS

» Transportation

» By air

Major airports located in:
Arad (ARW) - www.aeroportularad.ro/index.php?lang=en
Oradea (OMR) - www.aeroportoradea.ro/index.php?link=&lang=eng
Timisoara (TSR) - www.aerotim.ro/index.php?lang=en

Airlines with service to the region:
Austrian Airlines - www.aua.com
Blue Air - www.blueair-web.com
Carpatair - www.carpatair.com
Tarom - www.tarom.ro

» By train

Main train stations:
Timisoara, Arad, Oradea, Satu Mare
There are daily trains from/to Bucharest to the main cities in the region.

To check the latest train schedules for domestic routes please visit the website of the Romanian Railways: www.infofer.ro
The site has complete information about domestic train schedules and fares.
Note: For departures from /to Bucharest please select Bucuresti Nord

For the list of international trains with service to/from Romania please visit:
hwww.RomaniaTourism.com/Transportation.html#ByTrain

» Road access

Border crossing points in the Crisana and Banat regions from Hungary and Serbia into Romania include:

Hungary: Bors, Nadlac, Valea lui Mihai, Varsand, Carei, Petea, Urziceni

Serbia: Jimbolia, Naidas, Portile de Fier, Salonta, Stamora-Moravita, Turnu

» Tourist Info

Timisoara Tourist Information Centre (Centrul de Informare Turistica)
Address: Str. Alba Iulia 2
Telephone: (256) 437.973
Email: infoturism@primariatm.ro
Web: http://infocentru.onepoint.ro
Open: Mon. – Fri. 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Closed Sun. 
(April – September):
Mon. – Fri. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.; Closed Sun.
(October – March):

Arad Tourist Information Centre (Biroul de Informare Turistica INFOTUR)
Addres: Bd. Revolutiei 84-86
Telephone: (257) 270.277
Email: turism@primariaarad.ro
Open: Mon. – Fri. 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Sat. 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; Closed Sun.

Oradea Tourist Information Centre (Centrul de Informare Turistica)
Addres: Piata Independentei 39
Telephone: (259) 435.140
Email: cetate@rdsor.ro
Open: Mon. – Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Closed Sat. & Sun.

» Maps

- Regions Map - www.RomaniaTourism.com/.../Historical-Regions-Map.html
- Romania - Detail Map - www.RomaniaTourism.com/.../Romania-Detail-Map.html

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