Timişoara (Hungarian: Temesvár, German: Temeschwar or Temeschburg, Serbian: Temišvar, Turkish: Tamışvar) 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 Timişel 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). Timisoara was also visited by Eiffel, the creator of the Eiffel tower in Paris built a foot brige over Bega too.

In December 1989 a popular uprising began in Timişoara against the Communist regime of Nicolae Ceauşescu. The Hungarian Methodist pastor László Tökés 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.

History

Main article: History of Timişoara

Metropolitan Cathedral, Timişoara

In 1019 Timisoara (as Dibiscos/Bisiskos/Tibiskos/Tibiskon/Timbisko/etc.) is mentioned for the first time in written documents by byzantine Emperor Basil II (not all historians agree with this identification).

The first tobacco mill in today Romania was setup in Timisoara; Timisoara is the first town in the Empire where the public lightening using suet candles and lamps with oil and grease is introduced and later the town with the first ambulance station in Hungary and today Romania.

In 1989 the Revolution against the communist regime of Nicolae Ceausescu begins in Timisoara. On 20 December, Timisoara is declared the first Free Town. 1,104 people died and 3,352 were wounded.

Landmarks

• Timişoara Orthodox Cathedral

Education

• The Dimitrie Cantemir University of Timisoara
• The "Politehnica" University of Timisoara
• The West University of Timisoara
• Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara
• The Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences in Timisoara

Famous People

• Robert Musil
• Meir Amigo [1]

External links

• [2] (only in Romanian)
• City Hall