Arad. City of Old and New

The nomad tribe’s invasions, more than 800 years ago determined the local people to build defense positions showed that defense positions were needed and in the second half of the thirteenth century there were built fortresses at Soimos, Siria and Dezna on the hills surrounding the city. At the beginning of the 20th century Arad was the biggest town in Transylvania, today being the second largest one after Timisoara. Some of their walls are still standing today and offer a great tourist attraction. It is the seat of a Greek-Orthodox bishop, and possesses a Greek-Orthodox theological seminary and a conservatory for music. It was bigger than the previous ones and had three exterior walls and many small defense points in the immediate surroundings for increased protection.

Arad is situated on the right bank of the river Mures, and consists of the inner town and five suburbs. Later, the region entered under the occupation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and many important treaties were signed in the Arad’s fortress.