Romania

Simona Valcan LICEUL TEORETIC IRIS TIMISOARA

Our high school educates children at different levels: - from six to ten years (basic) - from ten to fourteen years (gymnasium) - from fourteen to eighteen years (secondary) Here learn visual impaired or blind childre who benefit of a pleasent enviroment and a professional teacher team. The children envolved in the project were a group of the secondary level.



THE BANAT GEOGRAPHICAL REGION

1.**The Banat region** is located in the west-south of Romania, on the 45o parallel northern latitude. This geographical region is delimited by the country border of the states in the neighbourhood, Serbia and Hungary in the west, and by some geographical regions, Hunedoara, Hatzeg and Oltenia in the east. The farthest points of the region are the localities called Beba_Veche (20o 16’eastern longitude) and Poieni (23o 23’ eastern longitude). Its density consists of 24,271km2 and it means 9% from the territory of Romania. 2. **The relief** is varied; the stages and relief shapes are displayed as follows: the mountains are situated in the east-south of the region and make a sub-unit which is called **the Mountainous Banat (Banatul de Munte);** a plain lies in the west-north and north, and it makes the sub-unit which is called **the Plain Banat (Banatul de Campie).** Due to the varied geological structure, **the wealth of the subsoil of the Banat region** is diverse: high quality coal in the Banat Mountains, iron ore, manganese ore, gold, marble, limestone and others. **The mineral waters and the thermal springs** are famous abroad, too, due to their therapeutic qualities. These waters had been known from early times by the Romans, especially the ones of **Termae Herculis (Baile Herculane).** The mineral waters are harnessed in the balneoclimateric spas and resorts for remedial treatments, as the ones of Buzias, Lipova, Calacea and Ivanda localities.
 * **The Mountainous Banat** means the mountainous place of the Banat geographical region, with higher altitudes; the maximum height is of the Gugu Peak (2292 m), in the Godeanu Massif. There are some other mountains, too: the Tzarcu Mountain, The Short Mountain (Muntele Mic) and the Semenic Mountain.
 * **The Plain Mountain** regards a place with lower altitudes in which the Banat Plain is a sub-unit of the Western Plain. The Western Plain, in turn, belongs to the larger plain of Europe, called the Panonian Plain. The Banat Plain consists of Timis Plain, Ardeal Plain, Lugoj Plain, and Vinga Plain. These plains are situated at 75-143m altitudes; they are smooth, with a lot of river meadows and terraces. The rivers that cross the Banat Plain cause many floods; that is why many of them have been equipped, canalized and embanked.
 * **The Danube Defile (Defileul Dunarii)** is the longest defile of Europe (144 km). This defile belongs to **the National Park of the Iron Gates ( Parcul National al Portilor de Fier) and to the Steam Boilers of the Danube (Cazanele Dunarii).**



The most impressive one is **the Art Museum**. It is the located in the oldest building of the city; the building was the last residence of the Hungarian kings. This museum comprises a lot of varied section (history, art ethnography, natural sciences).
 * 3. The climate of the Banat region** is a continental-moderate one, with Mediterranean influences, because of the vicinity of the Mediterranean Sea. The influence of the Mediterranean air mass determines a mild climate in the south of Banat, with shorter winters and higher temperatures. Thus, Orsova locality has the highest annual average temperature (11.8o C). The atmospheric condensation grows from the west (600 mm) to the east (1400 mm), from the plain, where it usually rains less, to the high mountains. The droughts are rarely met in the Banat region, due to the humid air mass brought from the Atlantic Ocean.
 * 4. The Banat region** has a **population** of 1,453,000 inhabitants, out of which the urban population means 55%, and the rural population – 45%. The territorial distribution of the population is unequally made in this region; most of the inhabitants live in the Plain Banat, in theTimis Plain and the Arad Plain where most of the cities are located: Timisoara, Arad, Lugoj, Jimbolia.
 * **The majority of the Banat region consists of Romanians**; there some national minorities live, too: Germans, Hungarians, Serbs and others.
 * **The Banat region is, administratively, composed of three counties**: Timis county, Caras – Severin county and Arad County.
 * 5. The most important cities and towns** are: **Timisoara** **– the capital city of the** **Timis county**, with the largest number of inhabitants and with the widest surface, **Arad****, Resita, Caransebes, Oravita, Orsova, Jimbolia, Lugoj** and others.
 * **Timisoara** lies in the middle of the Banat Plain, at a 75-100m altitude, on the Bega river banks. Timisoara is the residence of the Banat region. Timisoara came into being in the medieval age around the Timisiensis Fortress. **It was first** **mentioned** in 1266 in the documents of the time. It was the residence of Carol Robert de Anjou, a Hungarian king, between 1315 and 1323. In the 15th century it became the battle field against the Turkish. In 1716 the city was conquered by the Turkish.
 * During that historically agitated period of time **numerous historical and** **architectural monuments** were built in the central part of the city: **the Holy** **Trinity monument** – a memorial dedicated to the people killed by the plague, the **Dome** – one of the most beautiful churches of the Banat region**, the Baroque Palace**. They were all built in the baroque architectural style, and they are located in **the Union Square (Piata Unirii**), a famous place for its architectural value in Europe.
 * There are a lot of **museums** in Timisoara, which belong to the cultural tourist route, developed especially after the 1989 revolution.

At the same time, new buildings are built and new neighbourhoods come into sight (Cetate, Iozefin, Fabric); the city area expands a lot.
 * The Banatian Village Museum (Muzeul Satului Banatean)** spread on an impressive large area, is located next to the Green Wood (Padurea Verde). Here people can admire Banatian dwellings and Banatian folk costumes. This museum complex, the Green Wood and the Forestry Research Institute represent important tourist attractions of the city.
 * **The Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral** is located in the centre of Timisoara, and it is built in a Moldavian Byzantine style.
 * **The urbanistic development** of Timisoara starts at the end of 19th century. In 1858 the city is first lit with aerial gas, and in 1869 the horse tram means of transportation is first introduced in the city. The streets of the city are first lit up with electric power in 1884. Timisoara was the first European city which introduced the public electrical power. The tramway system is electrified since 1899.
 * In the structure of the city we can distinguish beautifully decorated **parks,** with a lot of roses, cypress trees and other trees. That is why Timisoara is called “The city of parks”. The most famous parks are located in the centre of the city: the **Park** **of Roses****, the Central Park and the People’s Park**. Others are located in the east –north of the city: **the Green Wood**. The Green Wood is an important tourist sight because the Zoo Garden and the Forestry Research Institute are located there.
 * **Timisoara** has got a **population** of 340,000 inhabitants. Timisoara is an academic and cultural city. Here come to study many pupils and students who enjoy living in modern students’ hostels in the **Students’ Quarters**, near the **West University** and **“Politehnica” University**. “Politehnica” University is famous in many foreign countries; a lot of young people from European countries come to study here. The city also has numerous scientific research centers: the French, the English, the German centers are well known in Timisoara.
 * Remarkable **theatres** develop a rich cultural activity in Timisoara: “Mihai Eminescu” Romanian Theatre, the German Theatre, the Hungarian Theatre. There also are a Serbian ensemble, the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Opera House.
 * **The Medicine Institute, the Agronomical Institute, the Astronomical Observer, the Meteorological Institute and Weather Station, the Seismographic Station** are important reference marks on the map of our city. **There are a lot of elementary schools, high schools, vocational schools and colleges in Timisoara**, too.



The city is founded in the Medieval Age, around the Arad Fortress of the 12th century. It has a lot of historical and art sights, museums, sports grounds. It also has a very powerful industry (textile, mechanical engineering, vinification) and a very important tourist and cultural role. **The Arad Fortress, the History and Ethnological Museum** are important sites of Arad. More than that, the surrounding sites can be distinguished: **The Arad Vineyard** is connected to the city through an electric line of transport. In the neighbourhood there are some other touristic localities: Siria, Pancota, Ghioroc and Savarsiniri**. Siria** is famous for its **medieval fortress and Ioan** **Slavici’s memorial house**, a well known Romanian writer; the house is situated in a noble mansion. ·  **Resita** is the capital city of the Caras-Severin County with a population of 100,000 inhabitants; it is a center of metallurgical industry. It is an important touristic center; it comprises the **Museum** **of The Locomotives**, and other important historical and cultural sights.
 * **Arad** is the second in size in the Banat region (182,000 inhabitants); it is located in the Arad Plain, on the Mures river banks.

**6.** The tourism of the Banat region is highly developed due to its natural sights and its architectural, cultural and historical ones. The balneoclimateric resorts are famous for developing an old tradition since the Roman Empire, as many of the inscriptions found in **Termae Herculis** prove (Baile Herculane). Termae Herculis lies in the Cerna Valley, in an excellent under-Mediterranean climate, which, combined with the thermal waters, gives good condition of treatment for many diseases. This spa, together with **the Domoglet Natural Park** in Cerna Valley and Cerna Mountains with a karstic relief, make a very important touristic area in Banat. Another important touristic area is the **Iron Gates National Park on the Danube River**, with the Danube Defile at the “Boiler Rooms” (Cazane), having a length of 144km (it’s the longest defile in Europe). The most famous **mountain health resorts in the Banat Mountains** are Semenic Resort and Muntele Mic. **The Semenic Resort** (1400m altitude) is available both in summer and winter. People can admire the Semenic Mountains which carry the name of a flower (the Semenic flower), an endemical flower which is specific to this mountain only. These mountains look like a plateau, with a smooth relief; three picks emerge from this plateau just several tens of meters above the plateau. They are covered with alpine grazing fields. The highest of the three picks is **Goznei Rock** **(Piatra Goznei** – 1446 m). Many **rivers** spring from the Semenic Mountains: **Timis** **River****, Barzava River, Nera River** - which produce spectacular gorges in the calcareous stone, the so called **the Nera Gorges (Cheile Nerei).** The **Muntele Mic Resort** is close to Caransebes town in the area of the Meridional / Southern Carpathians. The resort can be a starting point for longer trips towards the Tarcu Mountains, the Godeanu Mountains and the Retezat Mountains. The most impressive mountains of this area are **the Godeanu Mountains** with their pick – Gugu (2,292 m). The most important national park which protects nature is the Retezat National Park. **The Retezat National Park and the Danube Delta are the most important areas in Romania, where nature is protected by law.

** **7.** The **predominant religion of the Banat geographical region** is the Orthodox one, and, in less percentages, the Catholic religion and others. **The Banatian folk costume** is still preserved in an archaic manner; it distinguishes itself through its sobriety in its cut an in its adornment. It is influenced by the mountain forest dwellers’ folk costumes. The shirt has a common cut, but its adornment is very rich round the neck and along its sleeves. The “key” is the background element which joins the linen skirt, delicately sewn in varied designs. The Banatian “key” is one of the most authentic adornments of this kind met at the Romanian national costume. The motifs are geometric and they are woven in white. It is important to mention that the Banatian shirts worn on festive holidays are woven with golden thread.