Located in western
Romania, in the
Banat region, along the
Bârzava river, which meets the
Doman river in the centre of town,
Reşiţa has been attested since the 15th century under the name of
Rechyoka and
Rechycha. In the Conscription act of 1717, it has been referenced under the name of
Retziza, comprising 62 households imposed by the Austrian domination recently instituted at the time (in 1716, Prince
Eugene of Savoy took the Banat region from the
Ottomans).
On the 8th August 1768, the first foundries were founded under the reign of
Austria-Hungary Empress
Maria Theresa. Several months later the Imperial Court approved the proposal and on 1st November 1769, the construction of plants was started. On the 3rd July 1771, two blast furnaces were put into operation, and Reşiţa became the cradle of what will impose itself as one of the oldest and most important European metal-manufacturing centres.
Initially there have been 2 villages fairly close to one another - Reşiţa Română (Reschiza Kamerala or Olah Resitza) and Reşiţa Montană (Eisenwerk Reschitza, Nemet Reschitza or Resiczbanya). Reşiţa Montană, where the plants had been settled, was at first inhabited by Romanian coal men. Later in 1776, 70 German families originating from
Styria,
Carinthia and
Upper Austria have been colonized and between 1782-1787 German families coming from the
Rhine region.
At first, metalworking was the focus of activity, but machinery manufacturing gradually gained prominence. In 1855, with the empire facing financial crisis, the works were bought by an international consortium, St.E.G. In 1872, the factory manufactured the first steam locomotive, called
Resicza, and having the running number 2. It had as model the locomotive
Szekul (number 1), designed by
John Haswell, manager of the railway engine factory St.E.G. from Vienna.
