Timisoara, Romania

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Timişoara (German Temeswar or Temeschburg, Hungarian Temesvár, Serbo-Croatian Temišvar,TurkishTamışvar) is a city in western Romania, in the Banat region, Timiş county, population 329,554 in 2000. All of the variants of its name derive from the Timisel river, now known as Bega after it was rechannelled. An industrial city with extensive services, it was the first European city to be lit by electricity. Timişoara is a multicultural city with influential minorities, mainly Germans, Hungarians, and Serbs, as well as Italians, Palestinians and Greeks. It was the birthplace of Johnny Weissmuller (an Olympic swimmer, best known for his role as Tarzan). In December 1989 a popular uprising began in Timişoara against the Communist regime of Nicolae Ceauşescu. The Hungarian Methodist pastor Laszlo Tokes was ordered to be deported by the secret police (the Securitate) and as a reaction his house was surrounded by members of his church. People supporting him, including people of Romanian origin, gathered at the central square (Opera Square). The army was ordered to fire at the people by the Communist administration. A number of army officers refused to open fire and sided with the people. That was the beginning of the end for the Communist regime, which fell a week later.

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General Tips about Romania

» Required travel documents for Romania
» Electric power
» Area code to Romania
» Stay safe
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» Do take along toilet paper wherever you go
» Language
» Sighisoara
» Danube Delta
» The Arsena, Sibiu
» Astra Palace, Sibiu
» City Wall, Sibiu
» The Museum of Romanian Rural Technology, Sibiu
» The old Town Hall, Sibiu
» The Fingerling stairway, Sibiu
» "The Large Square", Sibiu
» The Brukenthal Palace, Sibiu
» THE TRASCAULUI MOUNTAINS
» THE VLADEASA MASSIF
» THE BAISORII MOUNTAINS
» THE CHEILE TURZII GORGES
» THE TURDA SPA
» THE BAITA SPA
» THE COJOCNA SPA
» The Botanical Garden in Cluj-Napoca
» Catedrala Patriarhala (Patriarchal Cathedral)
» Muzeul Taranului Roman (Romanian Peasant Museum)
» Zambaccian Museum
» Muzeul Satului (Village Museum)
» Piata Revolutiei (Revolution Square)
» Palatul Parlamentului (Parliament Palace)
» Museum of the Romanian Peasant
» Cismigiu Gardens
» Palace of the People
» Buzau
» Baia Mare
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» Oradea
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» Brasov
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» Craiova
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» Timisoara
» Cluj-Napoca
» Iasi
» Fagaras Mountains
» Brasov
» Dracula's legends
» The painted monasteries of Moldavia
» The Danube Delta
» BLACK SEA RESORT: Mamaia
» Transylvania
» La Boheme in Bucharest
» Bucharest

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