Romania travel: Five reasons to visit Satu Mare
One of the largest cities in northern Romania, Satu Mare comes with a multicultural history, an old center worth visiting and opportunities for trips in the surrounding areas.
RI Newsroom · Journalist
· Updated · 3 min read
One of the largest cities in northern Romania, Satu Mare comes with a multicultural history, an old center worth visiting and opportunities for trips in the surrounding areas.
Get a bird’s-eye view of the town from the Firemen’s Tower This is a symbol of Satu Mare, and at 45 meters high a perfect place to admire the city. It was built between 1903 and 1904 as an observation point for firemen, on the plans of architect Ferencz Dittler. Lajos Vajnay was its builder. The tower’s walls are 80 cm thick at the base and 30 cm towards the top. Its decorative cupola is made of copper-covered wood. Visitors can reach the top of the tower by climbing the 154 metallic stairs set in a spiral. Discover the area’s Jewish heritage
The city of Satu Mare is part of the European culture route of Jewish Heritage, alongside Sighetu Marmației, Șimleu Silvaniei, Zalău, Baia-Mare, Bistrița and Cluj-Napoca. One of the representative buildings of this heritage is the Great Temple in Satu Mare. Built towards the end of the 19
th
century, it is the only remaining synagogue in the city from among the three such places and over 20 houses of prayer that existed before the Second World War. The Great Temple was built after the plans of Hungarian architect Nándor Bach, in a Moorish style. The city also hosts a Holocaust Memorial since 2004. Tour the nearby castles
There several castles and fortresses those reaching Satu Mare can visit in the surrounding area. In Carei, 36 km west of the city, the revamped Karolyi Castle welcomes visitors to several interiors reflecting the design of a local aristocratic residence towards the end of the 19
th
century. The tourists can see the ball room, a library, a collection of paintings and a permanent exhibition on the history of local guilds,
