Overview

Arad is the capital of Arad County nestled in the western extremity of Translyvania, one of the most prosperous cities in Romania. There are many traditional sights to see in Arad and an impressive number of historical buildings combining several architecture styles from baroque, neoclassical, and Secession.

A beautiful city straddling the >banks of the Mures River, Arad is one of the most important transportation hubs in Romania on the route of the Fourth Pan-European Corridor, connecting Western and Southeastern Europe. In 1913 the first electric railroad in Eastern Europe was inaugurated in the city; the Arad-Podgorica route.

Arad sits in the lower Mures river valley close to the Hungarian border, around 30 miles northeast of Timisoara. A popular stop-off for visitors traveling between both countries.

Things to see and do

Bulevardul Revolutiei is the principal broad tree-lined thoroughfare in the city that runs north-south decorated with impressive buildings such as the ornate City Hall Palace dating back to 1875, and the Palace of Culture among just a few of the impressive buildings and stunning architecture scattered throughout the city.

Strandul Neptun is the second largest swimming pool in Europe, located near the Mures River covering almost 100 acres of land. The area includes tons of wide-open spaces with lodging establishments, sports courts, swimming pools, and numerous restaurants and bars.

The Artist’s Quarter is found in the old industrial zone of the city in hanger-like buildings that now house vibrant art studios and stunning galleries, Gideon Friedman’s sculptural fused glass creations at the Glass Museum are among some of the most interesting exhibits.

The Old Theatre in the city dates to 1817, it became the Urania Cinema in 1903, and today has been restored to a theatre. Mihai Eminescu, the national poet once worked here.

Visit the Vineyards of Arad stretch along the hills that border the western portion of the Zarand Mountains, between Lipova and Pancota. Vineyards of Minis is the highlight of the region, in 1862 the vineyards won an award for their Rosu de Minis took home the biggest prize at wine contest in London. The vineyards produce Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Cadarca.

Arad Fortress or Cetatea Aradului is a huge fortress/citadel on the other side of the Mures River boasting a Vauban-style stronghold with a six-pointed star shape built between 1763-1783 by the orders of Hapsburg empress Maria Theresa. The renaissance style architecture boasts a 177-foot tall tower where visitors can admire a large swiss clock at the top that was manufactured in 1878.

Lipova is a charming historic town that was the meeting point for merchants from Moldova, Muntenia, Transylvania, and neighboring European countries during the 17th century. There are natural springs with mineral waters located 1.6 miles away from the city center, the waters are rich in bicarbonate, calcium, sodium, and magnesium (bottled in Lipova) recommended in treating cardiovascular disease, digestive diseases, and associated affections.

Food and Nightlife

There are some great places to eat in Arad with many restaurants offering a range of different cuisines including authentic Romanian food, Hungarian dishes, Turkish, Mediterranean fare, Italian, Arabic, and other international varieties including popular fast food joints like Mcdonalds, and KFC. There’s a wonderful assortment of restaurants and cafes dotted along Revolutiei Bvd just south of the City Hall.

The local cuisine in Arad has many Turkish influences due to the many Ottomans in the region, some of the most popular local dishes including ciorba, a soup made with meat and vegetables, and sarmale cabbage rolls stuffed with spiced meat, rice, and vegetables.

The Hotel Continental Forum Arad houses the Mondo fine dining restaurant, a luxurious elegantly furnished establishment offering a rich menu, a large bar with live music, and a great viewing platform.

There are verdant vineyards scattered around Arad’s countryside. The region produces some fine wines including Cabernet, Merlot for reds and Cadarca, and Feteasca for light, dry wines.

There are a few great nightlife options to choose from in Arad with sophisticated bars, posh clubs, pubs, and incredible high-class dining restaurants to spend your evening. Some of the great locations to check out in Arad include The Irish Pub nestled along the Bulevard, The English Pub “Old Lady’s Pub” dedicated to Liverpool Football Club. Port Arthur is a great bar with a spectacular terrace overlooking the Mures River with scenic surroundings. Euphoria Biergarten is a great place for food, drinks, and the lovely beer garden out back. A popular student bar in Arad is named “KF” and a range of clubs include pigal, mooskea, and Molly Malones.

Hisotry and Culture

The city has a rich historical heritage dating back to the 11th century, it became the center of the Eastern Orthodox Eparchy of Arad at the beginning of the 18th century, it developed tremendously in size, population, and economic importance during the 19the century. The earliest mentions of Arad are found in documents from the 11th century. Arad was under Hungarian rule in the IX century, in 1329 Arad was given the status of the city, it retained this title until it fell under Ottoman rule in the middle of the 16th century. Prince Michael the Brave conquered the Turks and acquired the city back for a short period from 1595-1615. The first jew allowed to settle inside the city was Isac Elias back in 1717, then the Jewish population grew to over 10,000 people before the Second World War. In 1870 the city was considered the most populated in Transylvania and began to prosper in economic and demographic terms. The city was prominent in producing wooden furniture from the abundant surrounding forests, furniture manufacturers some acquiring great famed beyond the borders of the Empire, along with other enterprises where locomotives, automobile engines, textiles, toys, and watches were manufactured.