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| 1683 Oradea in 2010's: 1. Holy Cross Monastery 2. The City Hall 3. The Theatre 4. Black Eagle Palace 5. Astoria. |
Posted on 20.06.2015, 23.04.2016
Located in an area of transition from relief hills to the Pannonian plain, Oradea, the capital city of Crişana region, is one of the important centers of economic, social and cultural development in the western part of Romania, retaining these characteristics throughout history. Lying on the banks of Crişul Repede River, that divides the city into almost equal halves, it is the gateway to Central and Western Europe. While modern Oradea is first mentioned in 1113, under the Latin name Varadinum, the region was inhabited by Dacians and Celts long before.
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| 2482 Oradea in 1980's: 1. The City Hall 2. View on Crişul Repede River 3. The bridge aver Crişul Repede River 4. Republica Square |
After the conquest of Dacia, the Romans established a presence in the area. The city flourished both economically and culturally during the 13th century, when was built the Citadel of Oradea, destroyed and rebuilt several times over the course of following centuries. In 1474 the city was captured by the Turks after a protracted siege. Their mostly tolerant policies ensured that the city would become an ethnic mosaic of Romanians, Hungarians, Austrians, Slovaks, Hebrews, Ruthenians and Turks, causing Oradea to grow as an urban area starting with the 16th century.
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| 2483 Oradea: The Theater |
After the Ottoman invasion of Hungary, the city became a constant point of contention between the Principality of Transylvania, the Ottoman Empire, and the Habsburg Monarchy. Under the Habsburgs the city entered its golden age. The Viennese engineer Franz Anton Hillebrandt given the task of planning the city in the Baroque style and, starting with 1752, many of the city's current landmarks were constructed. At the end of WWI, Oradea became a part of the Kingdom of Romania. Ethnic tensions sometimes ran high in the area in the past but the different ethnic groups now live together in harmony.
Mănăstirea Sfintei Cruci (Holy Cross Monastery) was founded in 1992, being located approximately 2km from Oradea, in a place where before this time there was no settlement. In 1993 was brought here the first church of the monastery, a wooden church from the village Corbeşti, dating from the early 18th century. In 1994 was laid the foundation stone of the main church, dedicated to the Assumption, unique in Transylvania due to its exterior painting, which makes the spiritual connection with the painted churches from Northern Moldavia.
The City Hall was built by architect Kálmán Rimanóczy Jr in 1902-1903 on the left bank of Crişul Repede River, in the north-west of the Central (Union) Square. One peculiarity is the asymmetry in the construction plan, which combines the Renaissance and Eclectic styles, and has a 50m high clock tower. The Theatre, which dominates with its eclectic style Ferdinand Square, was built between 1899 and 1900 by the same architect. Black Eagle Palace was built between 1907 and 1908 by the architects Komor Marcell and Dezso Jakob in Secession style, comprising, at the time of the inauguration, a casino, a hotel, offices, and a restaurant, grouped in three asymmetrical bodies. Hotel Astoria was built between 1902 and 1906 by architect Ferenc Sztarill in an eclectic architectural style, with deep traces of secession.
About the stamp
On the postcard 1683
The stamp, depicting Common Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis L.), is part of the first series Flora of Romania - Fauna flowers (I), about which I wrote here.
On the postcard 2482
The first stamp is part of the series Monuments, about which I wrote here. The second stamp is part of the series Folk Art, issued on 1982.
On the postcard 2483
The stamp is part of the series Folk Art, issued on 1982.
References
Oradea - Wikipedia
Mănăstirea Sfintei Cruci din Oradea (rom) - Creştin Ortodox website
Sender 1683: Vlad
Sent from Oradea (Bihor / Romania), on 11.04.2013
Sender 2482: Viorel Udrescu
Sent from Oradea (Bihor / Romania), on 20.09.1983
Sender 2483: Adrian Ilie
Sent from Oradea (Bihor / Romania), on 18.03.1989
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