Alba Iulia, Alba Iulia, a European a European

towntown

SummarySummary

1. About Alba Iulia2. Location3. Economy4. The cultural life5. Monuments

1. About Alba Iulia1. About Alba Iulia

““Alba Iulia” is the name of an urban settlement Alba Iulia” is the name of an urban settlement in Romania where the most important in Romania where the most important historical events took place. The town was the historical events took place. The town was the main political, military, administrative and main political, military, administrative and cultural centre in Transylvania.cultural centre in Transylvania.

The town is mentioned at the beginning of the The town is mentioned at the beginning of the Middle Ages in medieval chronicles by the name Middle Ages in medieval chronicles by the name of Alba Iulia in Latin, Fehevar in Hungarian and of Alba Iulia in Latin, Fehevar in Hungarian and Weissemburg in German.Weissemburg in German.

Alba-Iulia gloriously became the first capital of Alba-Iulia gloriously became the first capital of the three Romanian countries at the end of the the three Romanian countries at the end of the sixteenth century. sixteenth century.

Romania’s national holiday, the Union Day (also Romania’s national holiday, the Union Day (also called called Unification Day)Unification Day) on December the 1 on December the 1stst , , commemorates the assembly of the delegates of commemorates the assembly of the delegates of ethnic Romanians held in Alba Iulia, which ethnic Romanians held in Alba Iulia, which declared the Union of Transylvania with declared the Union of Transylvania with Romania. This holiday, set after the 1989 Romania. This holiday, set after the 1989 Romanian Revolution, marks the unification not Romanian Revolution, marks the unification not only of Transylvania, but also of the provinces only of Transylvania, but also of the provinces of Banat, Basarabia and Bucovina with Romaniaof Banat, Basarabia and Bucovina with Romania

2. Location2. Location

Situated at 270 m altitude, distanced at 380 km Situated at 270 m altitude, distanced at 380 km from Bucharest, 100 km from Cluj and 241 km from Bucharest, 100 km from Cluj and 241 km from Arad, the city lies in the perimeter from Arad, the city lies in the perimeter formed by the rivers Ampoi and Sebes and the formed by the rivers Ampoi and Sebes and the top of the Apuseni Mountains that ascend top of the Apuseni Mountains that ascend mildly and lithely towards the terraces of the mildly and lithely towards the terraces of the river Mures and the Transylvanian hills. river Mures and the Transylvanian hills.

4. The cultural life4. The cultural life In a combined manner, through costumes, In a combined manner, through costumes,

traditions and customs, Alba Iulia area traditions and customs, Alba Iulia area gathers the influences from the Apuseni gathers the influences from the Apuseni Mountains, the surroundings of Mures, Mountains, the surroundings of Mures, Sebes and Secas.The Romanians Sebes and Secas.The Romanians harmoniously live together with other harmoniously live together with other nations settled here along ages. The famous nations settled here along ages. The famous vine yards of Alba Iulia, the melancholic vine yards of Alba Iulia, the melancholic Romanian folklore songs inspired from the Romanian folklore songs inspired from the genuine folklore of the Mures valley and the genuine folklore of the Mures valley and the Apuseni Mountains, the beauty of the Apuseni Mountains, the beauty of the costumes, the kindness and wisdom of the costumes, the kindness and wisdom of the people, all these make this county a people, all these make this county a legendary realm. legendary realm.

5. Monuments5. Monuments

1. The Fortress of Alba Iulia (Alba Carolina Fortress)

2. The gates of the fortress

3. The Reunification Cathedral

4. The Roman Catholic Cathedral

The Alba Carolina fortress was built between 1714 and 1738 and The Alba Carolina fortress was built between 1714 and 1738 and it is considered to be the most representative of Vauban type in it is considered to be the most representative of Vauban type in Europe. The fortress was designed by the Italian architect Europe. The fortress was designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Morando Visconti, who worked under the supervision Giovanni Morando Visconti, who worked under the supervision of the general Stefan de Steinville and was later completed under of the general Stefan de Steinville and was later completed under General Weiss. Between the 18th and 19th centuries the fortress General Weiss. Between the 18th and 19th centuries the fortress served as the military headquarters of Transylvania and also as a served as the military headquarters of Transylvania and also as a general armament repository. The perimeter of the outside walls general armament repository. The perimeter of the outside walls is about 12 km. The fortification has seven bastions (Eugene of is about 12 km. The fortification has seven bastions (Eugene of Savoia, St. Stefan, The Trinity, St. Michael, St. Carol, St. Savoia, St. Stefan, The Trinity, St. Michael, St. Carol, St. Capistrano and St. Elisabeth) that make it resemble a star-shaped, Capistrano and St. Elisabeth) that make it resemble a star-shaped, Vauban-style fortress. The largest bastion is the Trinity. On the Vauban-style fortress. The largest bastion is the Trinity. On the whole, the fortress stands out as the most important baroque whole, the fortress stands out as the most important baroque architectural ensemble in Romania and Europe. architectural ensemble in Romania and Europe.

The First GateThe First Gate

The Third GateThe Third Gate

The Fourth GateThe Fourth Gate

The Fourth GateThe Fourth Gate

The Reunification Cathedral The Reunification Cathedral Grandiose building, the Reunification Cathedral was built Grandiose building, the Reunification Cathedral was built

between 1921-1923, following the project drawn by the between 1921-1923, following the project drawn by the architect D.G. Stefanescu, led by the engineer T. Eremia. architect D.G. Stefanescu, led by the engineer T. Eremia. The Great Romanian monarchs were crowned here on the The Great Romanian monarchs were crowned here on the 15th of October 1922. 15th of October 1922. The establishment is shaped as a Greek cross, with an open The establishment is shaped as a Greek cross, with an open porch. porch. One can get inside through a right-angled narthex with three One can get inside through a right-angled narthex with three round headed vault units, a narrow have and a sanctuary. round headed vault units, a narrow have and a sanctuary. Constantin Petrescu painted the fresco in traditional Constantin Petrescu painted the fresco in traditional iconography style. iconography style.

The tower of cathedral

The Roman Catholic Cathedral The Roman Catholic Cathedral Built in the 13th century, the Roman Catholic Cathedral is considered Built in the 13th century, the Roman Catholic Cathedral is considered

to be an important monument of early Transylvanian medieval to be an important monument of early Transylvanian medieval architecture. architecture. It harmoniously combines Gothic and Roman style elements. It harmoniously combines Gothic and Roman style elements. The establishment was meant to be a three Trinitarian semicircular The establishment was meant to be a three Trinitarian semicircular transept. Undoubtedly, the most important early Transylvanian transept. Undoubtedly, the most important early Transylvanian Renaissance building is "Lazo" Chapel situated on the northern side Renaissance building is "Lazo" Chapel situated on the northern side of the Cathedral. The Chapel has a late gothic pointed arch. of the Cathedral. The Chapel has a late gothic pointed arch. The keystone is decorated with blazons of some Transylvanian The keystone is decorated with blazons of some Transylvanian personalities. personalities. Inside the cathedral there is Iancu of Hunedoara`s sarcophagus next to Inside the cathedral there is Iancu of Hunedoara`s sarcophagus next to those of his elder son Ladislau (situated in the lateral southern nave), those of his elder son Ladislau (situated in the lateral southern nave), of Queen Isabella and of son, Ioan Sigismund (situated in the opposite of Queen Isabella and of son, Ioan Sigismund (situated in the opposite lateral nave). lateral nave).

The interior of the Roman-Catholic The interior of the Roman-Catholic CathedralCathedral

The Bathyaneum Library The Bathyaneum Library The Bathyaneum library is a former church, built in The Bathyaneum library is a former church, built in

baroque style. In 1780, bishop Ignatiu Bathyany, also baroque style. In 1780, bishop Ignatiu Bathyany, also known as the Lorsch Gospel, a passionate bibliophile, known as the Lorsch Gospel, a passionate bibliophile, transformed the inside of the establishment into a transformed the inside of the establishment into a library containing Marcu and Matei Gospel, David’s library containing Marcu and Matei Gospel, David’s Psalter, Codex Burgundus (15th century), Biblia Sacra Psalter, Codex Burgundus (15th century), Biblia Sacra (13th century) the Pentateuch from Orastie (1850), (13th century) the Pentateuch from Orastie (1850), Serba Cantacuzino`s Bible, the New Testament from Serba Cantacuzino`s Bible, the New Testament from Balgrad (1648).The first astronomical observatory was Balgrad (1648).The first astronomical observatory was founded here in 1792. founded here in 1792. It is famous all over the world for its ample series of It is famous all over the world for its ample series of manuscripts, incunabula and rare books, such as manuscripts, incunabula and rare books, such as Codex Aureus (19Codex Aureus (19thth century) century)

The Obelisk The Obelisk

The Union Hall The Union Hall

The place where the Union was made on The place where the Union was made on December 1December 1stst..

The Equestrian Statue and theThe Equestrian Statue and the

bas-relief dedicated to Michael the Brave bas-relief dedicated to Michael the Brave

Princely PalacePrincely Palace

The Military high school The Military high school “Michael the Brave”“Michael the Brave”

The city hallThe city hall