View source for Oradea

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Short description|City located in Bihor County, Romania}}
{{Infobox settlement <!--more fields are available for this Infobox--See Template:Infobox Settlement-->
| official_name      = Oradea
| other_name         = {{native name|hu|Nagyvárad}}
| map_caption        = Location within [[Bihor County]]
| image_flag         = ROU BH Oradea Flag.gif
| flag_link          = 
| image_shield       = Coa Oradea RO.png
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 320
| image_style              =
| perrow                   = 1/2/3
 | image1 = Ferdinand Square Oradea.jpg
 |alt1 =
 |caption1 = Overview of the Ferdinand Square
 | image2 = Crișul Repede & Palatul Primăriei Oradea (2023).jpg
|alt2 =
 |caption2 = {{ill|Oradea City Hall|ro|Palatul Primăriei Oradea}}
 | image3 = Palatul Baroc-Oradea.jpg
 |alt3 =
 |caption3 = [[Baroque Palace of Oradea]]
 | image4 = Palatul Vulturul Negru, Oradea (2023) - img 4.jpg
|alt4 =
 |caption4 = {{ill|Black Eagle Palace|ro|Palatul Vulturul Negru din Oradea}}
 | image5 = Oradea - Astoria Grand Hotel (April 2023) - image 01.jpg
|alt5 =
 |caption5 = {{ill|Astoria Hotel of Oradea|ro|Hotelul Astoria din Oradea}}
 | image6 = Sinagoga Neologa din Oradea (2023) - img 22.jpg
|alt6 =
 |caption6 = {{ill|Oradea Neolog Synagogue|ro|Sinagoga Neologă din Oradea}}
}}
| image_map          = File:Oradea jud Bihor.svg
| mapsize            = 150px
| settlement_type    = [[Municipiu|County seat and Municipality]]
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{ROU}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Counties of Romania|County]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Bihor County]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Subdivisions of Romania|Status]]
subdivision_name2  = {{Autolink|County capital}}
| leader_title       = Mayor {{no bold|(2020&ndash;2024)}}
| leader_name        = Florin Birta<ref>{{cite web|title=Primăria Oradea ["Oradea Townhall", official website.] Primar ["Mayor"]|language=ro|url=http://www.oradea.ro/primar|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref>
| leader_party       = [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|PNL]]
| area_total_km2     = 115.56
| population_as_of   = [[2021 Romanian census|2021 census]]
| population_total   = 183,105
| population_footnotes = <ref name="RPL2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tabel-1.03_1.3.1-si-1.03.2.xls|title=Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Romania)|INSSE]]|language=ro|date=31 May 2023}}</ref>
| population_rank    = [[List of cities and towns in Romania|9th]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_est     = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|47|04|20|N|21|55|16|E|region:RO|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map        = Romania
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within [[Romania]]
| timezone           = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset         = +2
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +3
| population_metro   = 245,537
| elevation_m        = 142
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = 4101xx
| area_code          = (+40) 59
| registration_plate = BH
<!-- language(s), patron saint(s), main festivity --------------->| blank_name_sec1    = {{nowrap|[[Languages of Romania|Official language]]}}
| blank_info_sec1    = [[Romanian language|Romanian]]
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[Languages of Romania|Recognized minority language]]
| blank1_info_sec1   = [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]<ref>Law 215/2001 ({{langx|ro|Legea nr. 215 din 2001 a administrației publice locale}})</ref>
| blank2_name_sec1   = [[Patron saint]]
| blank2_info_sec1   = [[Ladislaus I of Hungary|Saint Ladislaus]]<ref name="hram1">[http://www.erdon.ro/szent-laszlo-nagyvarad-vedoszentje/2019991 Dr. János Fleisz – Szent László Nagyvárad védőszentje] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105212524/http://www.erdon.ro/szent-laszlo-nagyvarad-vedoszentje/2019991 |date=5 January 2017 }}. Retrieved 19 May 2016.</ref>
<!-- Climate                    --------------------------------->| blank3_name_sec2   = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank3_info_sec2   = [[Humid continental climate|Dfb]]
| website            = {{URL|oradea.ro/}}
}}
{{Multiple issues|{{Peacock|date=March 2013}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2025}}}}

'''Oradea''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ɒ|ˈ|r|ɑː|d|i|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|US|ɔː|ˈ|r|-|,_|-|d|j|ɑː}},<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Oradea|access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190510181631/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Oradea "Oradea"] (US) and {{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Oradea |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322182622/https://www.lexico.com/definition/oradea |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-03-22 |title=Oradea |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Oradea|access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|ro|oˈrade̯a|lang}}; {{langx|hu|Nagyvárad}} {{IPAc-hu|'|n|a|gy|v|á|r|a|d}}; {{langx|de|Großwardein}} {{IPA|de|ˌɡʁoːsvaʁˈdaɪn|}}) is a city in [[Romania]], located in the [[Crișana]] region. It serves as the administrative [[county seat|seat]] of [[Bihor County]] and an economic, social, and cultural hub in northwestern [[Romania]]. The city lies between rolling hills on the Crișana plain, on both banks of the [[Crișul Repede]] river.

The city lies about {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the Hungarian border. Oradea is Romania's [[List of cities and towns in Romania|ninth most populous]] city (as of [[2021 Romanian census|2021]]).<ref name="RPL2021"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-26058967-harta-interactiva-populatia-romaniei-fiecare-localitate-din-tara-recensamantul-2021-2011-cele-mai-mari-creseri-cele-mai-drastice-scaderi.htm|title=Populația României în fiecare localitate din țară - Recensământul 2021 vs. 2011|publisher=hotnews.ro|language=ro|date=2 February 2023}}</ref> It covers {{convert|11556|ha}} between the [[Apuseni Mountains]] and the Crișana-Banat plain.

Oradea is known for its high standard of living and is frequently ranked among Romania's most liveable cities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adevarul.ro/economie/stiri-economice/topul-celor-mai-bune-orase-tara-alexandria-ultimul-loc-1_5a96a41adf52022f7511681e/index.html|title=Topul orașelor românești, după condițiile de viață. Alexandria, pe ultimul loc|date=28 February 2018|newspaper=[[Adevărul]]|access-date=30 January 2019}}</ref> It serves as the region’s major industrial and economic hub, hosting several of the country's largest industrial enterprises. The city is also renowned for its striking [[Art Nouveau]] architecture and is a member of both the [[Réseau Art Nouveau Network]] and the [[Art Nouveau]] European Route.

==Etymology==
The Romanian name ''Oradea'' originates from the city's [[Hungarians|Hungarian]] name ''Nagyvárad'', colloquially shortened to ''Várad''. ''Nagyvárad'' means "[[wiktionary:nagy#Hungarian|large]] [[wiktionary:vár#Hungarian|castle]]" or "great citadel" in Hungarian. The Hungarian suffix [[wikt:-ad#Hungarian|''-ad'']] or ''-da'' is used for settlement names.<ref>https://www.arcanum.com/hu/online-kiadvanyok/Lexikonok-a-magyar-nyelv-ertelmezo-szotara-1BE8B/k-359B8/kicsinyito-35CF5/ Retrieved: 2023.09.10</ref>

The city also has a German name, ''Großwardein'', with a [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]] version, גרױסװאַרדײן (''Groysvardeyn)''. Other historical names include [[Turkish language|Turkish]] ''Varat'' or ''Varad'', [[Latin]] ''Varadinum'', and [[Italian language|Italian]] ''Gran Varadino'',<ref name="Agostini">''Atlas. L'atlante geografico de Agostini'' [dubious, implausible title], Istituto geografico de Agostini, Novara 1993, p. 109.</ref><ref name="Ademollo">Map of Romania in Ademollo, Umberto: ''Gli Stati d'Europa dopo la Grande Guerra'' ["The States of Europe after the Great War"], in "Le Vie d'Italia e del Mondo" ["The Roads of Italy and the World"] series, year I, number 2 (February 1933-XI), p. 143</ref> as well as Romanian ''Oradia'', ''Oradea Mare'' ("Great Oradea"), ''Varadia Mare'' ("Great Varadia") and ''Urbea Mare'' ("the Grand City").<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oradeainimagini.ro/istoria-orasului/ |title=Oradea în Imagini – Istoria Orasului |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=oradeainimagini.ro |access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Oradea sunset.jpg|thumb|280px|A sunset in the city of Oradea.]]
The city lies at the junction of the Crișana plain and the [[Crișul Repede]] river basin. It sits 126 meters (413 feet) above sea level, bordered to the northeast by the Oradiei Hills, part of the Șes hills. The main part of the settlement lies on the floodplain and the terraces along the river Crișul Repede. Oradea is known for its [[Hot spring|thermal springs]]. The river Crișul Repede flows through the center of the city. Its flow depends on the season; the levees near [[Tileagd]] have partly controlled its floodwaters since the early 1980s.

===Climate===
Oradea has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Dfb'') with oceanic influences. Summers are long and hot, with cool nights.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oradea Weather & Climate {{!}} Year-Round Guide with Graphs |url=https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine,Oradea,Romania |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=World Weather & Climate Information |language=en}}</ref> Winters are short and moderately cold. The city's local climate is influenced by the prevailing Western winds. 

The annual average [[temperature]] is {{convert|10.4|°C|°F}}. In July, the average temperature is approximately {{convert|21|°C|°F}}, while in January, it averages {{convert|-1.9|°C|°F}}. Rainfall is sufficient for the woods and vegetation of the zone, registering an annual average of about {{convert|78.1|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Check Forecast for Oradea Average Rainfall by Month|url=https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-precipitation-Rainfall,Oradea,Romania}}</ref> [[Rainfall]] is variably distributed throughout the year, with a maximum in June and a minimum in the late Autumn and Winter months.<div style="width:75%">{{Weather box
|location = Oradea
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 1.4
|Feb high C = 4.7
|Mar high C = 10.7
|Apr high C = 16.9
|May high C = 22.1
|Jun high C = 24.9
|Jul high C = 27.1
|Aug high C = 26.8
|Sep high C = 23.0
|Oct high C = 17.1
|Nov high C = 9.3
|Dec high C = 3.4
|Jan low C = -5.2
|Feb low C = -2.7
|Mar low C = 1.0
|Apr low C = 5.5
|May low C = 10.1
|Jun low C = 12.9
|Jul low C = 14.2
|Aug low C = 13.9
|Sep low C = 10.8
|Oct low C = 5.9
|Nov low C = 1.9
|Dec low C = -2.4
|Jan precipitation mm = 39.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 30.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 36.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 44.9
|May precipitation mm = 63.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 90.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 69.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 55.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 39.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 37.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 46.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 49.4
| Jan record high C = 15
| Feb record high C = 18
| Mar record high C = 24
| Apr record high C = 29
| May record high C = 32
| Jun record high C = 37
| Jul record high C = 38
| Aug record high C = 39
| Sep record high C = 35
| Oct record high C = 28
| Nov record high C = 21
| Dec record high C = 16
|year record high C = 39
| Jan record low C = -27
| Feb record low C = -27
| Mar record low C = -24
| Apr record low C = -8
| May record low C = 0
| Jun record low C = 7
| Jul record low C = 7
| Aug record low C = 7
| Sep record low C = 0
| Oct record low C = -10
| Nov record low C = -28
| Dec record low C = -28
|year record low C = -28
| Jan snow days = 8
| Feb snow days = 7
| Mar snow days = 3
| Apr snow days = 0
| May snow days = 0
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0
| Oct snow days = 0
| Nov snow days = 3
| Dec snow days = 7
|source 1 = Administrația Natională de Meteorologie<ref name="climate-a">{{cite web|url=http://www.meteoromania.ro/index.php?id=475|title=Medii lunare multiannual 1961–1990|publisher=Romanian National Administration of Meteorology|accessdate=15 July 2010|language=ro}}</ref>
|source 2 = MSN Weather (for extreme and snowy days)<ref name="climate-b">{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/Weather/records/oradeabihorromania/we-city?q=oradea-bihor&form=PRWLAS&iso=RO&el=Cb7r0ZJXGkAp60hiqNZsMw%3d%3d|title=Record and Averages for Oradea, Romania|publisher=Microsoft|accessdate=23 February 2021}}</ref>
}}
</div>

==History==
{{Main|History of Oradea}}
{{Quote box 
 | title = Historical affiliations
 | align = right
 | bgcolor = #B0C4DE
 | fontsize = 90%
 | quote = {{flagdeco|Kingdom of Hungary (1301–1526)}} [[Kingdom of Hungary (1000–1301)|Kingdom of Hungary]] 1113–1526<br />{{flagicon image|Coa Hungary Country History John I of Hungary (Szapolyai) (1526-1540).svg}} [[Eastern Hungarian Kingdom]] 1526–1570<br />{{flagicon image|Arms of Transylvania in Cod. icon. 391.svg}} [[Principality of Transylvania (1570–1711)|Principality of Transylvania]] 1570–1660<br />{{flag|Ottoman Empire}} 1660–1692<br />[[File:Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg|22px]] [[Kingdom of Hungary (1526–1867)|Kingdom of Hungary]] 1692–1867<br />{{flag|Austria-Hungary}} 1867–1918<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of Hungary (1915-1918; angels).svg}} [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]] 1918–1919 <small>(''de jure'' Hungary [[Treaty of Trianon|until 1920]])</small><br />{{flagicon|Romania}} [[Kingdom of Romania|Romania]] 1920–1940 <small>(''de facto'' [[Hungarian–Romanian War|from 1919]] to 1940)</small><br />{{flag icon|Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)}} [[Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)|Kingdom of Hungary]] 1940–1945<br />{{flag|Kingdom of Romania}} 1945–1947<br />{{flag|Romanian People's Republic}} 1947–1965<br />{{flag|Socialist Republic of Romania}} 1965–1989<br />{{flag|Romania}} 1989–present}}

While modern Oradea was first mentioned in 1113, under the [[Latin]] name "[[Varasdinum|Varadinum]]", in a diploma belonging to [[Order of Saint Benedict|Benedictine]] [[Zobor Abbey]], the archaeological findings around the city provide evidence of virtually continuous habitation since the [[Neolithic|Neolithic age.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/stiinta/descoperiri-importante-in-oradea-urme-care-arata-ca-zona-era-locuita-inca-de-acum-7-000-de-ani.html|title=Descoperire importantă la Oradea|publisher=[[Pro TV]]|date=11 October 2017|language=ro}}</ref> This includes various [[Dacians|Dacian]] and [[Boii|Celtic]] settlements. After the conquest of [[Roman Dacia|Dacia]], the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] built in the area, most notably in the Salca district of the city and [[Băile Felix]].<ref name="bookref1">{{cite book|author1=Cataldi Raffaele |author2=Hodgson Susan |author3=Lund John |title=Stories from a Heated Earth, Our Geothermal Heritage|year=1999|publisher=Geothermal Resources Council|page=245|isbn=0934412197}}</ref><ref>E. J. Brill. ''Rumanian Studies, Vol. 3''. [[Brill Publishers]], Leiden, 1976.</ref> According to the ''[[Gesta Hungarorum]]'', the region was ruled by [[Menumorut]] in the late 9th and early 10th centuries until the Hungarian conquest. Its citadel was centred at Biharea.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Oradea Oradea on Britannica]</ref> Historians debate whether Menumorut was a historical ruler or merely [[legend|legendary]]. According to [[Anonymus (notary of Béla III)|Anonymus]], Menumorut's duchy was populated primarily by [[Khazars]] and [[Székelys]], and he acknowledged the [[suzerainty]] of the (unnamed) [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine Emperor]] of the time.
[[File:Képes_krónika_-_99.oldal_-_A_nagyváradi_egyház_építése.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|Construction of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Oradea Mare|church]] of Várad (now Oradea) by King [[Ladislaus I of Hungary|Saint Ladislaus of Hungary]] ([[Chronicon Pictum]], 1358)]]
In the 11th century, [[Ladislaus I of Hungary|King St. Ladislaus I]] of [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]] founded a [[Diocese|bishopric]] settlement near the city of Oradea, the present [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Oradea]]. 
[[File:Képes krónika - 101.oldal - László király temetése.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|The burial of King [[Ladislaus I of Hungary|Saint Ladislaus of Hungary]]: the carriage carries the body of the king without horses to the burial place he desired, towards the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Oradea Mare|church]] of Várad (now Oradea). ([[Chronicon Pictum]], 1358)]]
The [[Regestrum Varadinense]] is a record of legal proceedings between 1208 and 1235, containing 711 place names and 2,500 personal names. The city flourished both economically and culturally during the 13th century as part of the [[Kingdom of Hungary]]. It was at this time that the [[Citadel]] of Oradea, first mentioned in 1241 during the [[Mongol invasion of Europe|Mongol invasion]], was first built. The fortress would be destroyed and rebuilt several times over the following centuries. The 14th and 15th centuries were the most prosperous periods in the city's history up to that point. Many monuments were erected, including statues of Saints Stephen, Emeric, and Ladislaus (before 1372) and the [[equestrian sculpture]] of [[Ladislaus I of Hungary|St. King Ladislaus I]] (1390). The famous statue of St. Ladislaus was the first proto-Renaissance public square equestrian monument in Europe. Bishop Andreas Báthori (1329–1345) rebuilt the Cathedral in [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] style. From that [[Epoch (reference date)|epoch]] dates also the Hermes reliquary, now preserved at [[Győr]], containing the [[Ladislaus_I_of_Hungary#Herma_of_King_Saint_Ladislaus_and_Genetics|skull of St. Ladislaus]], a masterpiece of the Hungarian goldsmith's art.

It was at this time that astronomer [[Georg von Peuerbach]] wrote his ''Tabula Varadiensis'', which was published posthumously in 1464. This publication marked the city's Observatory of Varadinum as the terrestrial point of reference and [[Prime meridian|prime meridian]].

In 1474, the city was besieged by the [[Ottoman Empire|Turks]] during the absence of King [[Matthias Corvinus]] from the country. The city was severely damaged, but the king later resettled it with inhabitants from other parts of Hungary whom he exempted from taxes, a policy retained by [[Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor|Ferdinand I]] in 1553.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oradea.ro/pagina/istoria-orasului-oradea | title=Istoria orașului Oradea }}</ref>

The Peace of Várad was concluded between [[Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Ferdinand I]] and [[John Zápolya]] here on 4 February 1538, in which they mutually recognized each other as legitimate monarchs. After the [[Ottoman wars in Europe|Ottoman invasion of Hungary]] in the 16th century, the city became a constant point of contention between the [[Principality of Transylvania (1570–1711)|Principality of Transylvania]], the [[Ottoman Empire]], and the [[Habsburg monarchy]]. After the 1570 [[Treaty of Speyer (1570)|Treaty of Speyer]], parts of Crișana, including Oradea, were incorporated into the newly formed Principality of Transylvania, a successor to the [[Eastern Hungarian Kingdom]].

The Ottomans unsuccessfully laid siege to the city in 1598. After the [[Treaty of Vienna (1606)]], the city became a permanent part of the Principality of Transylvania by imperial decree.

[[File:Fn braun-varadinum.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Varadinum (Oradea) in a 1617 engraving by Braun & Hogenberg]]

After the [[Prince of Transylvania|Transylvanian Prince]] [[Gyorgy Rakoczi II|György Rákoczi II]]'s failed attempt to gain the throne of [[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|Poland]], the Ottomans again sent an expedition against him and his [[Wallachia]]n and [[Moldavia]]n allies: [[Gheorghe Ștefan]] and [[Constantin Șerban]]. In 1660, an Ottoman force of 45,000 men [[Siege of Nagyvárad (1660)|besieged]] the city for the last time. The 850 defenders managed to hold out for 46 days, but eventually, the city fell on 27 August 1660 due to internal treachery. The siege is described in detail by [[János Szalárdi]], in a contemporaneous chronicle. The Ottomans designated the city as the capital of the newly formed [[Varat Eyalet|Eyalet of Varat]]. The [[eyalet]] included the sanjaks of Varat (Oradea), [[Salonta|Salanta]], [[Debrecen|Debreçin]], [[Nagyhalász|Halmaş]], [[Săcueni|Sengevi]], and [[Balmazújváros|Yapışmaz]]. The Ottoman rule of the city ended in 1692 when Habsburg imperial forces conquered it after a 14-month siege.

The city had been severely damaged in the war, with only 114 houses standing and 21 undamaged.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lego.rdsor.ro/tont/oradea/rom/istorie/istorie.html | title=Istoria Orasului }}</ref> Under the Habsburgs' reconstruction, in the 18th century, Oradea entered its golden age. The [[Vienna|Viennese]] engineer Franz Anton Hillebrandt was given the task of planning the city in the [[Baroque]] style. Starting in 1752, many of the city's current landmarks were constructed, such as the [[Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary, Oradea|Roman Catholic Cathedral]], the [[Moon Church]], the State Theatre, and the [[Baroque Palace of Oradea|Baroque Palace]].

The city played a major role in the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1848]], being the home of the largest Hungarian arms factory.

[[File:Oradea 1897.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Map of Oradea in 1897]]

After [[World War I]], Oradea passed under Romanian control during the [[Hungarian–Romanian War]] of 1919 and became a part of the [[Kingdom of Romania]] under the [[Treaty of Trianon]] of 1920. In 1925, the city was designated a [[Municipalities of Romania|municipality]], dissolving its former civic autonomy. Under the same ordinance, its name was changed from ''Oradea Mare'' (Great Oradea) to simply Oradea.

The [[Second Vienna Award]], brokered by [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] and Mussolini in 1940, allowed Hungary to recover [[Northern Transylvania]], including Oradea, and mass celebrations welcomed the Hungarian administration.<ref>[http://www.hhrf.org/erdelyinaplo/cikk_nyomtatas.php?id_cikk=10427 A nagyváradi „verőfényes magyar ünnep” (The "shiny Hungarian holiday" in Oradea), Erdélyi Napló, 4 February, 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129131644/http://www.hhrf.org/erdelyinaplo/cikk_nyomtatas.php?id_cikk=10427 |date=29 November 2014 }}</ref> On 12 October 1944, Oradea was captured by [[Red Army|Soviet]] troops of the [[2nd Ukrainian Front]] during the [[Battle of Debrecen]] and reverted to Romanian administration in March 1945. After [[World War II]], Hungary relinquished its claims to the city in accordance with the terms of the [[Paris Peace Treaties, 1947|Treaty of Paris]] concluded on 10 February 1947.

After the [[Romanian Revolution]] of December 1989, many of the city's inhabitants looked forward to a more prosperous future as part of Romania's reforms toward [[democracy]] and a free market economy. Due to its history and institutions, Oradea is one of the most important economic and cultural centers of Romania, and is one of the country's main academic centers, with a unique Romanian-Hungarian bilingual dynamic.
{{clr}}
==Demographics==

At the [[2021 Romanian census|2021 census]] Oradea had a population of 183,105,<ref name="RPL2021"/> a decrease from the figures recorded during previous censuses.<ref name="INSSER">{{cite web | url = http://www.bihor.insse.ro/phpfiles/Comunicat%20-%20DATE%20PROVIZORII%20RPL%202011.pdf | title = 2011 Census | date = 2 February 2012 | access-date = 10 March 2012 | publisher = [[National Institute of Statistics (Romania)|INSSE]] | language = ro | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120616230135/http://www.bihor.insse.ro/phpfiles/Comunicat%20-%20DATE%20PROVIZORII%20RPL%202011.pdf | archive-date = 16 June 2012 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<div style="float:left">
{{Pie chart
|thumb=left
|caption=Ethnic composition of Oradea (2021)
|label1=[[Romanians]]|value1=77.49|color1=#8080ff
|label2=[[Hungarians in Romania|Hungarians]]|value2=20.90|color2=#80ff80
|label3=[[Romani people in Romania|Romani]]|value3=0.84|color3=#80ffff
|label4=Others|value4=0.77|color4=#9f9f9f}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb=right
|caption=Religious composition of Oradea (2021)
|label1=[[Romanian Orthodox Church|Romanian Orthodox]]|value1=62.17|color1=#8080ff
|label2=[[Reformed Church in Romania|Reformed]]|value2=13.36|color2=#80ff80
|label3=[[Catholic Church in Romania|Roman Catholics]]|value3=8.66|color3=#ffff80
|label4=[[Pentecostal Union of Romania|Pentecostals]]|value4=5.64|color4=#3fc03f
|label5=[[Union of Christian Baptist Churches in Romania|Baptists]]|value5=3.78|color5=#80ffff
|label6=[[Romanian Greek Catholic Church|Greek Catholics]]|value6=2.89|color6=#ff80ff
|label7=Others|value7=1.71|color7=#9f9f9f
|label8=[[Irreligion|Irreligious]],[[Atheism|atheist]] and [[Agnosticism|agnostic]]|value8=1.80|color8=#555555}}
</div>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:93%;width:200px;height:16px;border:0;text-align:left;line-height:120%;margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px;"
|-
| height="24" style="text-align:center; background:#f4f4f4;" colspan="14" |'''Historical population of Oradea'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://varga.adatbank.transindex.ro/?pg=3&action=etnik&id=1233|title=Erdély etnikai és felekezeti statisztikája|website=varga.adatbank.transindex.ro}}</ref><ref>[http://www.edrc.ro/recensamant.jsp?regiune_id=2140&judet_id=2141&localitate_id=2142 Structura etno-demografică a României la recensământul din 2002]</ref>
|-
! Year
! Population
! %±
!Romanian
!Hungarian
|-
| 1787
| 9,790
| —
|n/a
|n/a
|-
| 1830
| 19,091
| 95%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
| 1857
| 22,443
| 17.5%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
| 1880
| 31,324
| 39.5%
|6.5%
|86.8%
|-
| 1900
| 47,018<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Nagy-Várad |volume= 19 | pages = 152&ndash;153 |short=1 }}</ref>
| 50.1%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
| 1910 census
| 64,169
| 36.4%
|5.6%
|91.0%
|-
| 1930 census
| 82,687
| 28.8%
|27.1%
|51.5%
|-
| 1948 census
| 82,282
| −0.4%
|32.8%
|63.8%
|-
| 1956 census
| 98,950
| 20.2%
|35.9%
|59.0%
|-
| 1966 census
| 122,534
| 23.8%
|46.0%
|51.3%
|-
| 1977 census
| 170,531
| 39.1%
|53.9%
|44.0%
|-
| 1992 census
| 222,741
| 30.6%
|64.7%
|33.3%
|-
| 2002 census
| 206,614
| −7.2%
|70.3%
|27.5%
|-
| 2011 census
| 196,367
| −4.9%
|73.1%
|24.9%
|-
| 2021 census
| 183,105
| −6.8%
|77.5%
|20.9%
|}

{{clr}}

===Jewish community===
:''This section incorporates text from the 1901–1906'' [[Jewish Encyclopedia]]'', a publication now in the [[public domain]].''
[[File:Sinagoga Neologa din Oradea (2023) - img 22.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Interior of the Neolog Synagogue]]
The ''[[chevra kadisha]]'' ("holy society") was founded in 1735, the first synagogue in 1803, and the first communal school in 1839. <!--Update please: The old Jewish quarter, known as "''[[Katona Város]]''" (Soldier Town), is in the neighborhood of the fort. It still bears its ancient architecture and is still occupied mainly by Jews. The old synagogue remains, though no longer used for worship. The Jewish hospital also stands there.--> Not until the beginning of the 19th century were Jews permitted to do business in any other part of the city, and even then, they were required to return at nightfall to their own quarter. In 1835, permission was granted to live in any part of the city.

The Jewish community of Oradea [[Schism in Hungarian Jewry|became divided]] into [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] and [[Neolog Judaism|Neolog]] [[Wiktionary:congregation|congregations]]. While the members of the Neolog congregation still retained their membership in the ''chevra kadisha'', they started to use a cemetery of their own in 1899. In the early 20th century, the Jews of Oradea had won prominence in the public life of the city. There were Jewish manufacturers, merchants, lawyers, physicians, and farmers; in 1902, the chief of police was a Jew; and in the municipal council, the Jewish element was proportionately represented. The community possessed, in addition to the hospital and ''chevra kadisha'', a Jewish women's association, a grammar school, a trade school for boys and girls, a [[yeshiva]], a [[soup kitchen]], etc.

According to the ''Center for Jewish Art'':

<blockquote>The Oradea Jewish community was once the most active both commercially and culturally in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1944, twenty-five thousand Oradean Jews were deported to concentration camps by the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]], thus decimating this vital community. Only three hundred Jews reside in Oradea today. In the center of the city, on the riverbank and towering over other buildings in the area, is the large Neolog Temple Synagogue, built in 1878. The unusual cube-shaped synagogue with its large cupola is one of the largest in Romania. Inside, there is a large organ and stucco decorations. In 1891, the Orthodox community also built a complex of buildings, including two synagogues and a community center.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hum.huji.ac.il/CJA/NL14-Romania.htm |title=Uncovering and Documenting Jewish Art and Architecture in Western Romania |access-date=2007-03-05 |date=Summer 1998 |work=Center for Jewish Art |publisher=The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208145953/http://www.hum.huji.ac.il/cja/NL14-Romania.htm |archive-date=8 December 2006 |df=dmy-all }}</ref></blockquote>

In 1944, during the [[Operation Margarethe|occupation of Hungary by Nazi Germany]], [[Government of National Unity (Hungary)|Hungarian authorities]] forced the Jewish inhabitants into the [[Oradea ghetto]] before sending them to the [[Auschwitz concentration camp]]. Descendants of the pre-[[Holocaust]] [[Hasidic]] rabbinate in Oradea established a synagogue in the [[Willowbrook, Staten Island|Willowbrook]] area of [[Staten Island]], New York City. The synagogue maintains both a traditional Hasidic [[Nusach Sefard]] and a [[Nusach Ashkenaz]] service, the latter of which operates under the name ''Bais Medrash Igud Avreichim of Groisverdain'' (the Yiddish pronunciation of Grosswardein).

As of 2021, there is also a project to build a [[rabbinical seminary]] in Oradea.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.g4media.ro/oradea-va-avea-prima-scoala-rabinica-ridicata-in-aceasta-parte-a-europei-dupa-cel-de-al-doilea-razboi-mondial.html|title = Oradea va avea prima școală rabinică ridicată în această parte a Europei după cel de-al Doilea Război Mondial|date = 26 April 2021}}</ref>

== Politics and administration ==

{{See also|List of mayors of Oradea}}

The city government is headed by a mayor.<ref name=LawAdmin>{{cite web |title= Law no. 215 / 21 April 2001: Legea administrației publice locale |publisher= Parliament of Romania |language= ro |access-date= 2008-03-12 |url= http://www.cdep.ro/pls/legis/legis_pck.htp_act_text?idt=27123 |archive-date= 21 March 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080321151128/http://www.cdep.ro/pls/legis/legis_pck.htp_act_text?idt=27123 |url-status= live }}</ref> Since 2020, the office has been held by Florin Birta. Decisions are approved and discussed by the local government (''consiliu local'') made up of 27 elected councilors.<ref name=LawAdmin/> 

{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#ccc" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
! style="background:#ccc" | Party
! style="background:#ccc" | Seats
! style="background:#ccc" colspan="20" | Current Local Council<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/alegeri-locale-2020/rezultate-finale-alegeri-locale-2020-bihor-florin-birta-noul-primar-in-oradea-cine-conduce-consiliul-judetean.html|title=Rezultate finale alegeri locale 2020 Bihor. Florin Birta, noul primar în Oradea. Cine conduce Consiliul Județean|publisher=Pro TV |date=30 September 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| [[National Liberal Party (Romania)|National Liberal Party]] (PNL)
| style="text-align: right" | '''20'''
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|National Liberal Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania}} &nbsp;
| [[Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania|Democratic Alliance of Hungarians]] (UDMR/RMDSZ)
| style="text-align: right" | '''4'''
| {{party color cell|Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania}} &nbsp;
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| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Social Democratic Party]] (PSD)
| style="text-align: right" | '''3'''
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
| {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party (Romania)}} &nbsp;
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==Quarters==
[[File:Oradea Districts EN.svg|thumb|300px|Map of the current 30 districts]]
Before 1848, Oradea was made up of four separate towns: Várad-Újváros (Villa Nova, former Vicus Szombathely), Várad-Olaszi (Villa Latinorum Varadiensium, "olasz" meaning Italian), Várad-Velence (Vicus Venetia), and Várad-Váralja (Civitas Waradiensis). The names Vicus [[Venice|Venetia]], Villa [[Latium|Latinorum]], Vicus [[Bologna|Bolognia]], Vicus [[Padua]], and others refer to the French, [[Wallonia|Walloons]], and Italian inhabitants who settled in the 13th century.

Today, the city is made up of the following districts, called quarters (''cartiere'' in Romanian, ''negyedek'' in Hungarian):

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Calea Aradului
* Calea Sântandrei
* Orașul nou (city centre)
* Dacia – Decebal
* [[Cantemir, Oradea|Dimitrie Cantemir]]
* Dragoș Vodă
* Dorobanților
* Eastern Industrial Zone
* Episcopia Bihor 
* Europa
* Gheorghe Doja
* [[Ioșia]]
* Ioșia Nord
* Ioșia Sud
* Mihai Eminescu
* Nicolae Grigorescu
* Nicolae Iorga
* [[Nufărul]]
* Olosig
* Oncea
* Podgoria
* [[Rogerius, Oradea|Rogerius]]
* Salca
* Seleuș
* Splaiul Crișanei
* Subcetate
* Tokai
* Tineretului
* Universității
* [[Velența]]
* [[Vie, Oradea|Vie]], also known as Podgoria
* Western Industrial Zone
{{div col end}}

==Economy==
Oradea has long been one of the more prosperous cities in Romania. The per capita GDP of Oradea is approximately 150% of the Romanian average.<ref>[http://www.zmo.ro/movie.html Zona metropolitană Oradea – Prezentare multimedia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304180020/http://www.zmo.ro/movie.html |date=4 March 2007 }}</ref> After 1989, due to its base of consumers, Oradea experienced an economic renewal, mostly in the services sector, such as trade and tourism.

<!-- [[File:OradeaCity.750px.jpg|thumb|left|300px|[[Oradea]] City center ]] -->
Oradea has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, slightly lower than the Romanian average but significantly higher than [[Bihor County]]'s average of approximately 2%. Oradea produces around 63% of the industrial production of Bihor County while accounting for 34.5% of the county's population. Its main industries are furniture, textiles, clothing, footwear, and food processing. Oradea's economy is sustained largely by small and medium businesses and the property taxes paid by citizens.

In the fiscal year 2012, Oradea had the largest budget in the [[Transylvania]] region, overcoming its neighbuor cities, [[Arad, Romania|Arad]] and [[Cluj-Napoca]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/locale/topul-bugetelor-locale-din-transilvania-si-banat-253725.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120319192435/http://www.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/locale/topul-bugetelor-locale-din-transilvania-si-banat-253725.html| archive-date = 2012-03-19| title = Topul bugetelor locale din Transilvania și Banat|newspaper=[[România liberă]]}} </ref> Some large Romanian companies, such as Adeplast, RCS-RDS, European Drinks, and FrigoExpress are located in Oradea.

Oradea is using [[Geothermal power|geothermal electricity]] from water two kilometers below ground, which provides 7% of the energy for its district heating system. That system serves 70% of the city's population with heat and hot water.<ref name=":42">{{Cite web|title=How to build a cohesive and inclusive Europe|url=https://www.eib.org/en/stories/just-transition-mechanism|access-date=2021-06-07|website=European Investment Bank|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-10|title=Romania's Oradea city starts tender for geothermal district heating|url=https://balkangreenenergynews.com/romanias-oradea-city-starts-tender-for-geothermal-district-heating/|access-date=2021-06-07|publisher=Balkan Green Energy News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=How a city can benefit from EU funds|url=https://www.eib.org/en/stories/romania-oradea-urban-development|access-date=2021-06-07|publisher=[[European Investment Bank]]|language=en}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:ULF in Oradea.jpg|thumb|Oradea [[Ultra Low Floor]] tram]]
{{Main|Transport in Oradea}}

The public transport network in Oradea is operated by [[Oradea Transport Local|OTL]] (Oradea Transport Local), a municipal agency. It includes eight tram lines (1R, 1N, 2, 3R, 3N, 4R, 4N, and the newly introduced line 8), 17 local bus routes (numbered from 10 to 26), and one international suburban bus line to [[Biharkeresztes]], [[Hungary]]. The metropolitan area is also served by regional buses connecting Oradea to nearby localities such as [[Băile Felix]], [[Băile 1 Mai]], [[Borșa|Borș]], and [[Sânmartin, Bihor|Sânmartin]].

The city has four train stations: Oradea Central Station (commonly known as “Oradea”), West Station (located in the Ioșia district), East Station (in the Velența neighborhood), and Episcopia Bihor Station, near the Hungarian border, which serves international rail traffic.

[[Oradea International Airport]] reopened in late 2015 following runway renovations. It offers both domestic and international flights. The airport is connected to the city center via OTL bus line 28, as well as taxi and ride-hailing services.

Additional modes of transport in Oradea include:

* Taxi and ride-hailing services: Uber and Bolt operate in the city, offering ride options for various budgets and comfort levels. These services are also available for airport transfers.
* Bike and e-scooter sharing: Bolt and Uber occasionally offer shared bicycles and electric scooters. The city has more than 30 kilometers of dedicated bike lanes, including a cross-border cycling route to [[Hungary]].
* [[Carsharing|Car sharing]] and vehicle rental: Bolt Drive allows users to rent cars by the hour or by the day directly from the app. Traditional car rental services are also available through local providers such as FlexiRent.
{{clr}}
==Education==
The city is home to the [[University of Oradea]], one of the largest universities in [[Romania]]. There are also several private universities, one being Agora University, founded in 2000. [[Emanuel University]], an accredited private Baptist university, has also existed in the city since 1998.<ref name="emanuel.ro">{{cite web|url=http://www.emanuel.ro/|title=Prima Pagina – Universitatea Emanuel din Oradea|website=Universitatea Emanuel din Oradea}}</ref> The [[Partium Christian University]] was established in 1995 and teaches in [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]. 

As of 2012, there had been 232 years since the inauguration of higher education in Oradea and 48 years of continuous higher education. A higher institution for philosophic teaching was founded in Oradea in 1780, which became the Faculty of Law in 1788, the oldest [[faculty (division)|faculty]] within a region of Eastern Europe.

After 1921, all courses at the Faculty of Law were taught in [[Romanian language|Romanian]]. In 1923, two theological academies were founded in Oradea. The Law Academy of Oradea, together with the two theological academies, was to make another step forward by integrating a faculty of letters, thus achieving the old desire of creating a University of Crișana in Oradea.<!-- Whose desire and what is this university? -->

After a thirty-year break in the activity of the Law Academy of Oradea, on 1 October 1963, an order of the Ministry of Education established a 3-year Pedagogic Institute meant to address the scarcity of teachers in secondary education. The new institution of higher education began its activity with two faculties: Philology and Mathematics-Physics, and a year later, two other faculties, History-Geography and Physical Education, were added.

In May 1990, a decree of the Romanian Government established the Technical University of Oradea, later called the [[University of Oradea]]. This was an act of scientific and cultural restoration, and an achievement in [[Crișana]] after the [[Great Union]] on 1 December 1918. A historian of Oradea explains: "As regarding the future, the desire of all well-meant Romanians is to establish in Oradea a complete university, the lights of which will shine across the entire western border of Romania."<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNIVERSITY OF ORADEA - THE FACULTY OF LETTERS |url=https://www.ceebd.co.uk/ceeed/un/rom/ro034001.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.ceebd.co.uk}}</ref> The University of Oradea is an integrated institution of higher education, comprising 18 faculties.<ref name="UOradeaAbout">“In May 1990, by a decree of the Romanian government, the Technical University was founded…, later renamed the University of Oradea.”, *About Us*, University of Oradea official site.</ref>

[[File:Medicina Oradea.jpg|left|200px|thumb|The Faculty of Medicine]]
The structure of the university contains academic education, postgraduate education, and scientific research. 

Research within the University of Oradea is developing in natural and physical sciences, as well as in the area of social and human sciences, covering Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Medical Sciences, Technological Sciences, Economical Sciences, Geography, History, Juridical Sciences and Law, Linguistics, Pedagogy, Political Sciences, Psychology, Letters and Arts, Sociology, and Philosophy.<ref name="PCUHistory">“Partium Christian University was founded in 1995 in Oradea… emerged from the Calvinist Sulyok István Reformed College founded in 1990… fully accredited in 2008.”, *Partium Christian University – History*.</ref> 

The Sulyok István Reform College was founded in the spring of 1990 by the [[Reformed Diocese of Királyhágómellék|Királyhágómelléki Reform Church]]. In 1999, the school became entirely independent from the [[Protestant Theological Institute of Cluj|Protestant Theology College of Cluj-Napoca]] and changed its name to [[Partium Christian University]]. It presently operates with 12 faculties and a student body of 1400 and is taught in Hungarian.
{{clr}}
==Architecture==
{{ad section|date=September 2024}}
{{unsourced section|date=September 2024}}
[[File:Ferdinand Square.jpg|thumb|272x272px|Ferdinand Square]]
[[File:Roman Catholic Basilica.jpg|left|thumb|250x250px|Roman Catholic Basilica]]
[[File:Sinagoga Ortodoxă, Oradea - (2023) - IMG 03.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Orthodox Synagogue]]
Oradea's architecture reflects a blend of historical influences, shaped by its political and cultural transitions over time. The city features a combination of Communist-era apartment blocks, predominantly in its peripheral neighborhoods, and a significant stock of historical buildings from the period when it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In addition to many [[Baroque]] buildings, Oradea has a collection of [[Art Nouveau]] architecture.

Located on Romania's western border, Nagyvárad (renamed Oradea after the [[Treaty of Trianon]]) was part of the [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungarian Kingdom]] until 1921, which was also part of the Central European [[Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian Empire]], thereby being influenced by the artistic currents of Central Europe.

Many buildings constructed in Oradea during the early 20th century reflect influences from [[Ödön Lechner]] and the [[Vienna Secession]] movement. Architectural works from this period include a range of building types: rental palaces such as Moskovits Palace I and II, Apollo Palace, Stern Palace, Adorján Houses I and II, and Darvasy Palace; private villas including La Roche, Vágó, and Okany Schwartz; hotels such as Pannonia, Emke, Rimonoczy, Weiszlovics, and Fekete Sas (also known as Vulturul Negru); as well as military buildings along Armatei Române Street.

The city also developed industrial buildings and warehouses—such as beer, spirit, and brick factories, and the former electric plant chimney—alongside public institutions including the City Hall, the Palace of the Orthodox Bishopric, the Palace of the Greek-Catholic Bishopric, the Palace of Justice, and various bank and commercial buildings.

These structures were designed by a number of architects active in the Central European architectural scene of the early 1900s, including [[Ödön Lechner]], [[Dezső Jakab]], Marcell Komor, József and László Vágó, Valér Mende, Ferenc Sztarill, Ferenc Löbl, Kálmán Rimanóczy Sr. and Jr., and Anton Szallerbek.
[[File:Republicii Street.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Republicii Street, with the Stern, Apollo and Moskovits-Miksa palaces]]
Like many Central European cities, Oradea features architectural styles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including [[Secession (art)|Secession]] ([[Art Nouveau]]), [[Eclecticism in architecture|Eclectic]], [[Romanian Revival architecture|Romanian Revival]], [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]], and [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] influences. The city has occasionally been referred to as "Small Paris" in reference to this architectural heritage. While the buildings are modest in scale, they are noted for their distinctive detailing and historical character.
The architectural character of Oradea’s city center reflects a broad historical range, with buildings dating from the 16th century to the early 20th century. This area includes preserved urban layouts, historic structures, and monuments that illustrate the city’s development over several centuries. While the early 20th century is particularly well represented in the central district, architectural heritage can be found throughout various neighborhoods of the city.

The historic district contains numerous examples of Baroque, Neoclassical, Eclectic, and Romanian Revival styles, contributing to its architectural variety. Republicii Street is notable for its concentration of Secession (Art Nouveau) palaces, which exemplify the influence of Central European design trends. The city center has been recognised for its cultural, architectural, and urban planning significance within both national and regional heritage frameworks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visit Oradea |url=https://www.visitoradea.com/en/unique-architectural-heritage |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.visitoradea.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin_V2 |date=2024-09-23 |title=Oradea Heritage |url=https://www.artnouveau-net.eu/oradea-heritage/#readmore |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=RANN - Réseau Art Nouveau Network |language=en-GB}}</ref>

{{clr}}
==Tourist attractions==
[[File:Crisul Repede River.jpg|thumb|266x266px|[[Crișul Repede]] river, with Continental Hotel, and Dacia Bridge in the background]]
[[File:Oradea Town Hall.jpg|left|thumb|Oradea City Hall|253x253px]]
[[File:Black Eagle Palace.jpg|left|thumb|Black Eagle Palace|254x254px]]
The old city centre is one of the main tourist highlights in Oradea, as are the [[Băile Felix]] health [[destination spa|spas]], accessible by bus and located just outside the city.

Other sites that attract tourists include:
[[File:The State Theater of Oradea.jpg|thumb|230x230px|The State Theater of Oradea]]
* [[Baroque Palace of Oradea]] – today ''Muzeul Țării Crișurilor''. It was the Roman Catholic bishop's palace until 1945, when the Communist regime took the building into public ownership. It was returned to the Roman Catholic Church in 2003. Its collection includes many [[fossils]] of dinosaurs and birds from the [[bauxite]] mines at Cornet-[[Brusturi, Bihor|Brusturi]].
*[[Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary, Oradea|Roman Catholic Basilica-Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary]], or simply "Baroque Cathedral" ("Catedrala barocă") – the largest Baroque cathedral in Romania, and home to a skull relic and 2 statutes of [[Ladislaus I of Hungary|St. King Ladislaus I of Hungary]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.welcometoromania.ro/Oradea/Oradea_Bazilica_Rom_Cat_r.htm|title=Bazilica romano-catolica, Oradea|last=WR|website=welcometoromania.ro}}</ref>
* Cetatea Oradea – Oradea's Fortress, with a pentagonal shape, is a fortification with walls of rock on some portions and wood towers situated at the gate and at the corners.
* [[Biserica cu Lună]] – a church with an [[astronomical clock]] depicting the phases of the moon, a unique feature in Europe.
* Pasajul Vulturul Negru – the "Black Eagle Palace" (or "Eagle Palace") shopping galleria, named after its famous stained glass eagle in the ceiling.
* Ady Endre Museum – a museum dedicated to one of the greatest Hungarian poets and a former resident of Oradea.
* Teatrul de Stat Oradea – the Oradea State Theatre (also known as the Queen Mary Theatre, or ''Teatrul Regina Maria'') on Ferdinand Square in the heart of the city, completed in 1900.
* Strada Republicii – regarded as one of the most beautiful streets of [[Transylvania]], it displays a great number of [[Art Nouveau]] buildings.
* Some 100 religious sites of different denominations in Oradea, including three synagogues (only one still in use) and the largest [[Baptist]] church in Eastern Europe, Emmanuel Baptist Church.
{{clr}}
==Sports==
[[File:Arena Antonio Alexe.jpg|thumb|200px|left|"Antonio Alexe" Arena]]
[[File:Municipal Oradea.jpg|thumb|200px|right|"Iuliu Bodola" Stadium]]
[[File:Bazinul Ion Alexandrescu Oradea.jpg|thumb|200px|right|"Ion Alexandrescu" Water Polo Centre]]
[[CSM Oradea (basketball)|CSM Oradea]] is Oradea's professional basketball club that plays in the country's 1st division, [[Liga Națională (men's basketball)|Liga Națională]], a competition that the club won in 2016 and 2018, also competing in international competitions such as [[Basketball Champions League|Champions League]]. The team plays its home matches at the [[Arena Antonio Alexe]].

[[FC Bihor Oradea (1958)|FC Bihor]], founded in 1958, with club colors red and blue, featured a logo displaying the year 1902, marking the first football match played in Oradea in Réday Park. It was the city's most prominent football club for 58 years until it was dissolved in 2016, due to significant financial difficulties. A phoenix club appeared in 2022, under the same name [[FC Bihor Oradea (2022)|FC Bihor Oradea]]

[[CA Oradea]] (CAO), founded in 1910, became famous after the annexation of Northern Transylvania by Hungary during WWII. The football club played in the Hungarian Championship under the Hungarian translation Nagyváradi Atlétikai Club (NAC), and won the championship at the end of the 1943–1944 season. CA Oradea is one of only three football clubs who played and won national championships in three countries (the other two are [[SK Rapid Wien]] and [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]). After FC Bihor's dissolution, CAO was refounded in the spring of 2017, at 54 years after its dissolution. In the late years another club appeared on the city's football stage, [[CS Luceafărul Oradea|Luceafărul Oradea]], club that was founded in 2001 and now is playing in the [[Liga II]], being the most representative football club of the city and [[Bihor County]], at this moment.

Many important footballers were born in Oradea over time, such as: [[Iuliu Baratky]], [[Cosmin Bărcăuan]], [[Elemér Berkessy]], [[Zeno Bundea]], [[Zoltan Crișan]], [[Claudiu Keșerü]], [[Attila Kun]], [[Erik Lincar]], [[Marius Popa]], [[Paul Popovici]], [[Francisc Spielmann]], [[Albert Ströck]], and [[Ion Adrian Zare|Ion Zare]].

[[CSM Digi Oradea]] is Oradea's professional water polo club, it evolves in the [[Romanian Superliga (water polo)|Romanian Superliga]], competition that it won 9 times in a row and also have a regular presence in [[LEN Champions League]] or [[LEN Euro Cup]], being a finalist in the last one.
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==Twin Cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Romania}}

Oradea is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Ceyrat]], France
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Coslada]], Spain
*{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Debrecen]], Hungary
*{{flagicon|ISR}} [[Givatayim]], Israel
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Linköping]], Sweden
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Mantua]], Italy
*{{flagicon|MLD}} [[Băcioi]], Moldova
|}
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==Metropolitan area==
{{Main|Oradea metropolitan area}}
Oradea metropolitan area is a metropolitan area located in Western Romania, in the County of Bihor, Crişana Romania and was founded on 9 May 2005.
[[File:The metropolitan area of Oradea.jpg|thumb|312x312px|The metropolitan area, seen from Ciuperca hill]]
The metropolitan area comprises the city of Oradea and 8 adjacent communes:
*[[Biharia]]
*[[Borş, Bihor|Borş]]
*[[Cetariu]]
*[[Nojorid]]
*[[Oşorhei]]
*[[Paleu]]
*[[Sânmartin, Bihor|Sânmartin]]
*[[Sântandrei]].
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==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" widths="200" heights="200">
File:Medicina Oradea.jpg|The Faculty of Medicine
File:Oradea-Nagyvárad - Crişul Repede and synagogue.jpg|The [[Crișul Repede]] River
File:The State Theater of Oradea.jpg|The Ferdinand Square
File:Black Eagle Palace.jpg|The Black Eagle Palace
File:Roman Catholic Basilica.jpg|[[Baroque]] Roman Catholic Cathedral
</gallery>

==Notable people==
[[File:Pazmany Peter ismeretlen mester alkotasan.JPG|thumb|140px|Pázmány Péter, 17th C.]]
[[File:Beöthy Ödön.jpg|thumb|140px|Beöthy Ödön, 1842]]
[[File:Wagner Nandor.jpg|thumb|140px|Nandor Wagner, 1964]]
===Those born in Oradea===
* [[Péter Pázmány]] (1570–1637), philosopher, theologian, cardinal.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Pázmány, Péter |volume= 21 |last= Bain |first= Robert Nisbet |author-link= Robert Nisbet Bain| page = 2 |short=1 }}</ref>
* [[Sigismund Báthory]] (1572–1613), prince of [[Transylvania]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Báthory, Sigismund |volume= 3 |last= Bain |first= Robert Nisbet |author-link= Robert Nisbet Bain| pages = 513&ndash;514 |short=1 }}</ref>
* [[Gabriel Báthory]] (1589–1613), prince of [[Transylvania]]
* [[Francis Rhédey]] (1610–1667), prince of [[Transylvania]]
* [[Ödön Beöthy]] (1796–1854), Hungarian deputy and orator.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Beöthy, Ödön |volume= 3 |last= Bain |first= Robert Nisbet |author-link= Robert Nisbet Bain| pages = 757&ndash;758 |short=1 }}</ref>
* [[Emanoil Gojdu]] (1802–1870), lawyer
* [[József Nagysándor]] (1803–1849), [[Royal Hungarian Honvéd|honvéd]] general in the [[Hungarian Army]]
* [[Ede Szigligeti]] (1814–1878), playwright.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Szigligeti, Ede |volume= 26 |last= Bain |first= Robert Nisbet |author-link= Robert Nisbet Bain| page = 320 |short=1 }}</ref>
* [[Antal Csengery]], (1822–1880), publicist and historical writer.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Csengery, Anton |volume= 7 | page = 591 |short=1 }}</ref>
* [[Kálmán Tisza]] (1830–1902) the Hungarian prime minister between 1875 and 1890.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Tisza, Kálmán | volume= 26 |last= Bain |first= Robert Nisbet |author-link= Robert Nisbet Bain| pages = 1016&ndash;1017 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Lucreția Suciu-Rudow]] (1859–1900), poetess
* [[Lajos Bíró]] (1880–1948), novelist, playwright and screenwriter
* [[Lajos Jambor]] (1884–1954), painter, muralist, illustrator
* [[Ernő Tibor]] (1885–1945), [[Impressionist]] and [[Neo-Impressionist]] painter
* [[Ernő Grünbaum]] (1908–1945), [[Expressionist]] painter
* [[Iuliu Baratky]] (1910–1962), footballer
* [[Francisc Spielmann]] (1916–1974), footballer
* [[Nándor Wagner]] (1922–1997), sculptor
* [[János Kristófi]] (1925–2014), painter
* [[Ovidiu Cotruș]] (1926–1977), essayist and literary critic 
* {{ill|Mircea Malița|ro}} (1927–2018), academic, diplomat, and politician
* [[Mircea Zaciu]] (1928–2000), critic and literary historian 
* [[Titus Popovici]] (1930–1994), screenwriter
* [[Eva Heyman]] (1931–1944), Jewish girl, often compared to [[Anne Frank]] because of the diary she kept
* [[Iosif Demian]] (b. 1941), cinematographer and film director
* [[A. G. Weinberger]] (b. 1965), musician and radio producer
* [[Gavril Farkas]] (b. 1973), mathematician
* [[Cosmin Bărcăuan]] (b. 1978), football player
* [[Erik Lincar]] (b. 1978), football player and manager
* [[Alin Suciu]] (b. 1978), coptologist and papyrologist
* [[Kálmán Kádár]] (b. 1979), water polo player
* [[Mihai Neșu]] (b. 1983), football player
* [[Gabriella Szűcs]] (b. 1984), handball player
* [[Claudiu Keșerü]] (b. 1986), football player

===Those who lived in Oradea===
[[File:Fráter György MTA.jpg|thumb|140px|Cardinal George Martinuzzi, 18th C.]]
* [[Roger of Torre Maggiore]] (1205–1266), Italian monk
* [[John Vitéz]] (1408–1472), bishop and humanist, he established in Oradea the first observatory from Southeast Europe
* [[George Martinuzzi]] (1482–1551), [[Bishop of Nagyvárad]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Martinuzzi, George |volume= 17 |last= Bain |first= Robert Nisbet |author-link= Robert Nisbet Bain| page = 803 |short=1 }}</ref>
* [[Michael Haydn]] (1737–1806), Austrian composer
* [[Ignațiu Darabant]] (1738–1805), [[Eparchy of Oradea Mare]] bishop
* [[Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf]] (1739–1799), Austrian composer and violinist.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Dittersdorf, Karl Ditters von |volume= 8 | pages = 324&ndash;325 |short=1 }}</ref>
* [[Wenzel Pichl]] (1741–1805), [[Czechs|Czech]] composer
* [[Samuil Vulcan]] (1758–1839), [[Eparchy of Oradea Mare]] bishop
* [[Mihail Pavel]] (1827–1902), [[Eparchy of Oradea Mare]] bishop
* [[Iosif Vulcan]] (1841–1907), magazine editor, poet, playwright, novelist 
* [[Roman Ciorogariu]] (1852–1936), [[Romanian Orthodox]] bishop
* [[Demetriu Radu]] (1861–1920), [[Eparchy of Oradea Mare]] bishop
* [[Valeriu Traian Frențiu]] (1875–1952), [[Eparchy of Oradea Mare]] bishop
* [[Endre Ady]] (1877–1919), [[Hungarians|Hungarian]] poet
* [[Alex Leon]] (1907-1944), painter
* [[Iuliu Bodola]] (1912–1992), football player
* [[Emerich Jenei]] (n. 1937), former football player and coach
* [[Alexandru Darie]] (1959–2019), theater director
* [[Antonio Alexe]] (1969–2005), basketball player
[[File:Ladislaus I (Chronica Hungarorum).jpg|thumb|140px|Ladislaus I, 1488]]
===Royalty buried in Oradea===
* [[Ladislaus I of Hungary]] (1040-1095).<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Ladislaus, Saint |volume= 16 |last= Bain |first= Robert Nisbet |author-link= Robert Nisbet Bain| page = 59 |short=1 }}</ref>
* [[Stephen II of Hungary]] (1101-1131)
* [[Andrew II of Hungary]] (1175-1235).<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Andrew II |volume= 1 |last= Bain |first= Robert Nisbet |author-link= Robert Nisbet Bain| page = 972 |short=1 }}</ref>
* [[Fenenna of Kuyavia]] (1276-1295)
* [[Beatrice of Luxembourg]] (1305-1319)
* [[Mary, Queen of Hungary]] (1371-1395)
* [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor]] (1368-1437).<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Sigismund |volume= 25 | pages = 66&ndash;67 |short=1 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Diocese of Oradea (disambiguation)]]
* [[History of Oradea]]
* [[Timeline of Oradea]]

==Sources==
{{Catholic|wstitle=Diocese of Grosswardein}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Oradea}}
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Oradea}}
* [http://www.oradea.ro/ Oradea Town Hall] {{in lang|ro}}
* {{JewishGen-LocalityPage|1165711|Oradea, Romania}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Nagy-Várad |volume= 19 | pages = 152&ndash;153 |short=1 }}

{{LocalitiesBihor}}
{{Cities in Romania}}
{{RoJudCapitals}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Oradea| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Bihor County]]
[[Category:Localities in Crișana]]
[[Category:Cities in Romania]]
[[Category:Capitals of Romanian counties]]
[[Category:Jewish communities in Romania]]
[[Category:Hungary–Romania border crossings]]
[[Category:Place names of Hungarian origin in Romania]]
[[Category:Art Nouveau architecture in Romania]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Romania]]