What Timis is known for

Nicknamed "Little Vienna," the capital city of Timis County, Timisoara showcases distinct architecture, various green spaces, and cultural elements. The city hosts year-round musical and theatrical performances, art galleries, museums, various eateries, and cafes. One of the recognized figures, Francesco Illy, known as the inventor of illeta, considered a precursor to modern espresso machines, was born in Timisoara. He also pioneered a packaging method using pressurization, which remains an industry standard for preserving coffee freshness during transport. Furthermore, Timisoara is known as the second city, after New York, to illuminate its streets with electricity. In terms of sightseeing, tourists can visit various churches, a Jewish quarter, a local baroque square, and a car-free downtown area. Its Secessionist architectural style evolved in two phases, characterized by curved lines and floral embellishments in the first phase and geometric designs in the second. Timisoara is home to six public squares in the historic center, including Piata Libertatii, Piata Unirii, and Piata Victoriei. Piata Unirii, an 18th-century Habsburg-era square, showcases various places of worship, public institutions, and historic buildings.[6]

Near Timișoara, visitors can discover the spa resorts of Buziaș and Băile Călacea. Buziaș features a park with an imperial colonnade stretching 510 meters. This area also houses historical monuments, namely the "Bazar" Hotel, "Grand" Hotel, a casino, and a 20-hectare dendrological park with ancient trees. The Turkish and Byzantine-style architecture is distinctive in the Buziaș area, similar to promenades in Karlovy Vary and Baden-Baden in Europe. Buziaș is reportedly visited for its mineral water springs. People can visit the Buziaș Balnear Museum, featuring Thracian ceramics, Neolithic artifacts, and the "Iulia Florea Troceanu" folk art collection. Apart from the historical landmarks and spas, the county of Timis can offer outdoor natural attractions as it is home to several protected areas. For instance, mountaineering, climbing, hiking, and cycling on the mountain tourist routes in the Poiana Ruscă Mountains is one of the options. There is also an adventure park near Nădrag where people can climb, zipline, bungee jump, and paintball. The Surduc Lake area can provide the means for swimming, diving, water skiing, fishing, and camping as well.[5] 

The 18th-century village of Charlottenburg, also known as Șarlota, is located in the northern part of Timis County. Charlottenburg is known for its circular design, featuring a central plaza which makes it the only circular-shaped village in Banat and in the entire country. This distinctive layout earned it a place on the list of historical monuments by Romania's Culture Ministry. Established more than two centuries ago, Charlottenburg was founded in 1771 by German settlers. With a 210-meter diameter and 4 entrances, the village's houses are uniformly sized in height.[7]

Geography

Timis County's geography offers a landscape with plains in the central and western regions, followed by hilly terrain to the east and the Poiana Rusca Mountain massif, culminating at Pades peak at an altitude of 1,380 meters above sea level. Rivers such as Bega and Timis flow through the county from the east to the southwest, while the Aranca River meanders in the north. The county's lakes, often remnants of former marshes, tend to be smaller in area and depth. Satchinez, in particular, is home to rare bird species, including small egrets, shovellers, and yellow herons. Two thermal lakes with 20°C water are found in Radmanesti and Forocici. Due to the varied geography, soil types differ. Chernozem prevails in the northwest, while forest soils cover hilly areas. Brown soils dominate the southeast, and mountain soils are present in the east. Natural resources found within Timis County include lignite ores, basalt, manganese, clay, oil and natural gas, sand, glass sand, and mineral waters.[1]

Regarding local flora, Timis County spans several bioregions influenced by Central European, sub-Mediterranean, Atlantic, Pontic, and Circumpolar elements. The landscape transitions from forest-steppe in the central and western plains, gradually integrating steppe vegetation. The forest steppe blends with cultivated lands, extending from the plain into hilly areas. The beech, oak, hornbeam, fir, and spruce trees can be found at various altitudes. On the other hand, high plains are covered by sedges and oaks. Meadow forests persist in some areas, home to willow, poplar, sedge, heather, hawthorn, and dogwood, among others. Timis County's nature is conserved through 45 designated protected areas, covering around 13% of the county's surface. In terms of fauna, Timis County intersects three zoogeographical units. The area forms part of two bird migration routes. Oak forests support herbivores such as deer and carnivores, including foxes, while a variety of bird species inhabit the region. Concerning the types of fish, barbel and carp areas can be found, with various species such as scobar and catfish. Additionally, aquatic mammals, namely otters and muskrats, are present.[5]

Timis County experiences a temperate continental climate with reportedly mild winters and hot summers. Temperatures tend to be consistent across the county, averaging around 11°C in the plain and slightly lower in the east. July, the warmest month, sees average temperatures exceeding 21°C in the plain and dropping below 18°C in the east. January, the coldest month, maintains temperatures above -2°C in the plain and above -1°C in the east. Annual precipitation increases from west to east, ranging from 569 millimeters in Jimbolia to over 1,200 millimeters in the Poiana Ruscă Mountains. Peak rainfall occurs in June due to cyclonic activity, while the lowest precipitation falls from February to March.[4]

History

The history of Timis is intertwined with the broader history of the Banat region. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Banat area has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic era. Historical chronicles record the existence of a Romanian principality in the 11th century. Two centuries later, Castrum Timissiensis, known today as Timisoara, was mentioned as a city. Timisoara, first documented in 1212, emerged as a considerable economic and military hub during the 14th century. In 1857, the Timisoara-Szeget railway opened, providing a gateway to Central Europe. Shortly after, telegraphic and telephone connections with Vienna were established, and a bank had been in operation in Timisoara since 1790. Historical records also attest to the presence of schools and theaters in the region by the mid-18th century. December 1989 marked a significant moment in the history of Timisoara and Romania as a whole, as it became the center of the events that ultimately led to the fall of communism.[1] 

In terms of the county's territory, Timis initially included districts such as Buziaș, Centrală, Ciacova, and others. In 1923, a border adjustment between Romania and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes led to some villages changing hands. In 1925, a law unified administration and divided Timis-Torontal County into districts. It was later integrated into a broader region, and in 1950, it was disbanded in an administrative reform.[2]

Concerning the history of Timis' capital, archaeological findings suggest the presence of Neolithic and Roman settlements in Timisoara. In 1212, the town of Timisoara was first documented as the Roman fort of Temesiensis. Later, in the 14th century, it transformed into a fortress amidst marshlands. Although the Tatars raided it in the 13th century, the citadel was reconstructed and even served as the residence of Charles I of Hungary for a brief period. Starting from 1552, the town was under Ottoman rule until the Austrians captured it in 1716. Following the Treaty of Passarowitz in 1718, Timisoara and the surrounding region, known as the Banat of Temesvár, were administered from Vienna and settled with non-Magyar populations, primarily Swabian Germans. In 1848, during the Hungarian Revolution, the city endured a 107-day-long siege. After being occupied by Serbia in 1919, it was awarded to Romania according to the Treaty of Trianon in 1920.[3]