Arad is located in the western extremity of Romania, in the high plains of Arad, at about 30 Km away from Zaradnd Mountains, part of the Occidental Carpathians. It is crossed from east to west by the Mures river, including in it's perimeter, in the Padurice rea, a natural lake.
Arad plain is situated between Zarand Mountains and the Ier and Dead Mures's river beds, continuation of the Crisurilor plain, south from the Pancota, Caporal Alexa, Olari, Simand and Sanmartin towns, until the Mures's bed,between Paulis and Pecica. With altitudes as high as 120m close to the mountains and lower than 100 m in the west. At the foot of the mountains ofZarand a piedmont plain is visible, but it does not reach the Mures and turnes easy in a lower plain (less than 100m) as a digression plain, visible at Curtici. The plain of Arad is mainly based on gravel, sands and clays. East from Arad we can find loess and deposits similar to leoss, and arownd Curtici town there are eolian sands with fixed dune relief. Along the digression plain there are frequent dry river loops (meanders), beds, banks, slopes, salty.
The city of Arad is the county seat of Arad County, situated in the western part of Romania, in the plain of Arad. Located at 563 Km of Bucharest, at 417 Km from Brasov, and 813 Km from Constanta. According to the hostory of the city, the first documentary attestation of Arad region dates back to the year 1028. In 2002, Arad city had 172.827 citizens.
Because of it's geographical position and as county seat, Arad is the most important road and railroad knot for the national and transeuropeeanroutes in western Romania. It is an important point on the touristical map of Romania, dew to the anual cutural and artistic events and multiple tourist attractions like monuments of architecture, buildings with historical value, churches, museums and exhibits.
Economy:
Along XIX and XX centuries, Arad was one of the most important economical centers in the region. This is proven by the 1973 evaluation of the city that shows the activity of the 4001 companies, the city being considered the most powerfull economical center in Transivania and the 4th in the country.
Things like geographical position, the intersection of some major trading routes, ethnic and religious
diversity of the inhabitants of the city helped it gain the statute it had. The same things make Arad today one of the most prosper cities in postrevolutionary Romana.
Main industries here are:
construction and reabilitation of train wagons (Astra Vagoane Arad and Astra vagoane passangers),
car constructing industry (alkoa, Fujikura, Leoni Wiring System, Maschio- Gaspardo, Takata Petri)
mesurement, test and control equipment and instrumentation (Control Group)
textile industry
food industry
wood processing industry.
In Aradare the main offices of Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania, known before as West Bank Arad. Anotehr credit institution that has begun in Arad in Railroad Trade Bank (Banca Comerciala Feroviara), the third credit institution with romanian capital.
Monuments of architecture The fortress of Arad is one of the Transilvanian fortifications built in the Vauban style, in the second half of the XVIII century, the late fase of the star- shaped fortification system in Europe.
The administrative palace was built between 1872 - 1874 in the Renaissance style.
The Classic Theatre "Ioan Slavici", built in neo-cassic style after the plans of Anton Czigler, was opened to the public in 21 september 1874. Initialy the building had more funcions, hoasting two restaurants in the nortern side, other shops, and homes. On the east side you can see the blazon of the royal city of Arad.
The park of Reconciliation. After the defeatof the revolution of 1848-1849 the 13 generals have been sentenced to death for lezmajsete crime, and have been killed on october 6, 1849. After 41 years, on october 6th, 1890, the Statue of Liberty was revealed to the public, made by Zala Gyorgy and Huszar Adolf, in their memory. After 29 years, in 1919, the statue was moved away by the administration of that time. Another 85 years, arguments for and against, but the statue saw the light of day in 2004, this time in the park of reconciliation, very close to a 9m high triumphal arch that represents Avram Iancu and other revolutionaries, looking at the passers, work made by Ioan Bolborea.
Newman palace, built in 1891 in the eclectic style.
The Palace of justice, built in 1892, in the eclectic style.
Cenad palace, built in 1894, in a combination of the eclectic and
Bohus palace built in 1910, in Wiener Secession style, the first building in Arad with reinforced concrete slabs. The elevator shaft is unique in Arad, being decorated with forged iron.
The Szantay palace, built in 1911, Secession style.
The palace of Culture, built in 1913, is an architectural masterpiece, binding elements of neoclassical, gothic, renaissance and corinthian styles.
The house with cannonballs, built in 1800, is proof of the fights that were fauhgt in Arad in 1848-1849.
Preparandia building, where in 1812 started functioning the first school in romanian language in Ardeal.
The lock house was built in 1815.
The Old Theatre (Hirschl), built by Jacob Hirschl in 1817, the first stone-built theatre in the country.
The Water Tower was built in 1896 in the medieval donjon style, served as a drinking water pomping station for the city. The construction raises 35 m above ground and has remarcable decorations on the windows and balconies, Now, inside the tower is an art exposition and a restaurant.
The old Customs, built in 1907 was used a customs point for the entrance of mechendise on the markets of Arad.
The Nopcea castle.
Childrens palace, hystorical monument dated back in the XXst century.
Arad's Casino was built in 1872, and is a square building in the eclctic style, with elements of neoclassical and Neo-Baroque styles. It has a beautifull summer garden and the space in front of the building was used as an ice rink.
