Romania travel: Five reasons to visit Oradea

Oradea has been identified as the country’s greenest city, safest city and one of its smart cities. On the traveling side, Oradea’s charms await those who venture to the far northwestern part of Romania: picturesque streets filled with architectural stunners and centuries of history.

The Art Nouveau heritage & many historical monuments Oradea’s architectural heritage is impressive and it earned the city the inclusion in European Art Nouveau Network, alongside cities such as Budapest, Barcelona or Vienna. Many of the buildings have been refurbished recently, and travelers have plenty to add to their to-visit list. Many of these edifices are palaces, built around 1900 by architects who were graduates of the Polytechnic School of Budapest. They display various influences, from the Romantic style of Hungarian architect Odön Lechner and the avant-garde Viennese school to the Lilien style born in Berlin or the “Coup de fouet” movement of the French school. The Black Eagle Palace is a Secession style architectural accomplishment in the city. It was designed to house a theater, ballrooms, a casino, offices and more. Today, it is one of the city’s top get-together places and hosts many cafes and restaurants.