My Hometown, Lipova, Paula Popescu, LAM Lipova, Carmen Butaciu, Romania

My hometown Lipova Lipova​ is a town in ​Romania​, ​Arad County​, located in the ​Banat​ region of western ​Transylvania​. It is situated at a distance of 34 km from ​Arad​, the county capital, at the contact zone of the ​Mureș River​ with the ​Zărand Mountains​, Western Plateau and Lipovei Hills. It administers two villages, Radna and Șoimoș, and its total surface is 134.6 square km.

The first written record of the town dates back to 1315 under the name ​Lipwa​. In 1324 the settlement was mentioned as castellanus de Lypua, a place-name that reflects its reinforced character of that time.

Population Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1930 6,000 — 1948 6,556 +9.3% 1956 10,064 +53.5% 1966 11,705 +16.3% 1977 11,863 +1.3% 1992 12,059 +1.7% 2002 11,491 −4.7% 2011 9,648 −16.0% Source: Census data According to the census of 2011 the population of the town was 9648 inhabitants. The ethnic groups were: 94% Romanians, 2.89% Hungarians, 1.47% Roma, 1.27% Germans, 0.07% Slovaks, 0.18% Ukrainians and 0.1% of other or undeclared nationalities.

Etymology Its name is derived from the Slavic word ​lipa​, ​linden tree​ with ​-ova​ suffix.

History Situated at the crossing of the roads leading to ​Transylvania​, ​Banat​ and ​Wallachia​, Lipova had a history full of vicissitudes. It was situated strategically at the ​Mureș River's​ exit from the defile, and consequently it was an extremely enviable centre.

After the Tartar invasion in 1241 the fortresses were rebuilt, and the lines of the future urban settlement started to get contoured around the castle. Several names of famous historical personalities are related to this castle, such as ​John Hunyadi​, ​Matthias Corvinus​, ​György Dózsa​, ​John Zápolya​ etc. Due to the continuous disputes, the town has become four times under Turk administration (between 1552 and 1595, between 1613 and 1686, between 1690-1691 and between 1695 and 1716), and starting with 1716 it became under Habsburg domination. In the 18th-19th centuries Lipova was a well-developed economic centre with famous craftsmen working here. In the period of the revolution in 1848-49 and in the beginning of the 20th century Lipova became an important centre of political and national emancipation, due to the activity of remarkable personalities, such as ​Nicolae Bălcescu​, ​Vasile Goldiș​, ​Alexandru Mocioni​ and ​Teodor Șerb​.

Șoimoș castle has also taken part from the successive vicissitudinary periods related to the historical events of Lipova and to the defensive role of the main entrance gate from Transylvania.

Tourist attractions The car industry, light industry, services and tourism are the most representative economic sectors. The tourist sites of the town include both natural and anthropic elements. Due to the abundance of tourist attractions, Lipova is an important tourism centre. The natural reservation "Balta Șoimoș", the Șoimoș castle, the monastery called "Saint Mary" in Radna, the church called "Buna Vestire" in Șoimoș, the church named "Adormirea Maicii Domnului", the town museum, the "Sub dughene" bazaar (Turkish bazaar), the environs of the town-hall (Nicolae Bălcescu Street) and the thermal bath where springs with curative mineral water flow.

MARIA RADNA BASILICA - the cultural gem on the Mureș Valley The last day of 2015 was a beauty. Actually we couldn’t miss a small trip nearby. We were longing for some sunshine after a week of fog and grey sky. 2015 was about to say a sunny and cold goodbye and welcome his big brother, 2016.

We remembered that ​Maria Radna Monastery​ has just been restored in 2015 and we never got to see it finished. We happened to pass by this place multiple times in the last few years but the building was always covered with scaffolding. So we decided pretty easily that this will be our destination in this last sunny day of 2015.

This monastery’s past lays over the last five centuries. ​The first church was built here by the Franciscan monks, which came from Bosnia, in 1520. In these times the land was ruled by the Ottomans. The latter attacked the church multiple times and thus it was rebuilt multiple times.

The current church dates back from 1752 and is built in Baroque style​. It was finished in 1782. The buildings that form the compound were built in multiple stages.

The stairs are very generous and are set in the side part of the church. You actually have to climb a little to get to the church entrance. Speaking about the church, it is very impressive especially due to its size and the ​two towers raising 67 m from the ground.

Maria Radna Monastery was granted the “Basilica Minor” title in 1992 by Pope John Paul the 2nd.

If the exterior is impressive be prepared to see one of the most beautiful church interiors that we’ve seen in Romania! ​The gigantic paintings that you can see on the side walls of the main hall, which depict biblical scenes, are amazing, perfectly made, in vibrant colors, of Renaissance style.

The main altar is made from marble brought from Carrara and it also the place where you can see the icon of Virgin Mary​. This icon was miraculously saved during the fire the Ottomans set in 1695. It’s the only thing that survived the fire, or so the legend says.

There is no entrance fee​. Even though it’s free you can lave some money in order for this place to be maintained as you see it now. Quite a lot of tourists come here but most of them are pilgrims. ​The biggest Catholic pilgrimage in the Banat region (SW Romania) takes place here every year on the 15th of August​, the Saint Mary celebration.

People from Timișoara (50 km away) come here on foot in order to reach the small city of Lipova in Arad country​ where this beautiful monastery is. It’s incredible to see how determined people are to finish this hard trip on foot.

It takes a while to absorb the beauty of what you can find inside the church but there is more! Yes, outside, just behind the church you can go up the hill inside the forest on the so called “​Cross Road​“. It’s a commemoration of the road Jesus took before being put on the cross.

On the side of this road there are small statues depicting saints that contributed to Christianity during their lifetime. Unfortunately this park was not restored together with the church compound and is in a pretty bad shape.

Lipova is a small town in Arad county as I said before. It’s better known for its mineral waters.​ Fortunately this beautiful peace of architecture was saved and was given life again! ​It’s a very peaceful place even though it’s right on the side of one of Romania’s most busy highways, DN7. ​Don’t hesitate to visit Maria Radna Basilica. It’s totally worth it!

Camping Baile Lipova​ from Arad county, located 30 km from Arad, offers the possibility of camping with tent or camper camp.

In the resort of Baile Lipova you have the possibility to access the beach​.

The Turkish Bazaar, Lipova

The first written record of the town dates back to 1314 under the name ​Lipva.​ In 1324 the settlement was mentioned as ​castellanus de Lypua​, a place-name that reflects its reinforced character of that time. Situated at the crossing of the roads leading to Transylvania, Banat and Ţara Românească, Lipova had a history full of vicissitudes.

It was situated strategically at the Mureş River's exit from the defile, and consequently it was an extremely enviable centre. After the Tartar invasion in 1241 the fortresses were rebuilt, and the lines of the future urban settlement started to get contoured around the castle. Due to the continuous disputes, the town has became two times under Turk administration (between 1552-1595 and between 1613-1716), and starting with 1716 it became under Habsburg domination. In the 18th-19th centuries Lipova was a well-developed economic centre with famous craftsmen working here.

In the period of the revolution in 1848-49 and in the beginning of the 20th century Lipova became an important centre of political and national emancipation.

The ​Turkish Bazaar​ is perhaps the most important and interesting monument, a true emblem of Lipova. It lasts from the second phase of Ottoman rule (1613-1716), and its construction began in 1637. Its imposing proportions confirm the data in documents about the intense exchange that took place here between merchants coming from the three Romanian countries and from central Europe. The Bazaar, as it survived until today, kept its original shape, with a large facade guarded by eight massive cylindrical pillars connected by arches. In the center of the facade there is a

triangular frontispiece, decorated with five ceramic discs with figures, probably added later. Behind the columns there is a wide passage, where merchants, according to Eastern traditions, exposing the merchandise to reach buyers. The rooms of the Bazaar have been transformed and adapted to other requirements during time. Under the Bazaar is a huge basement, originally used for storage.

The Şoimoş citadel Şoimoş Citadel is located on the right bank of Mures river, opposite Lipova, on Cioaca Tăuțului Hill . It was built after the first Tartar invasions in the area and is documented ever since 1278. Şoimoş Fortress is a historical monument, cod LMI AR-00618-AA-II. The city has earned its name due to the activities that would have brought its fame in the Middle Ages: falconry.

The fortress was built by the late 13th century by a noble family. The first document dates from 1278, when Pál donates “Castrum Somos” to his brother’s sons. Its role has grown steadily since Prince Ladislaus Kan II ruled the city through two intermediaries who were also committing Arad: Alexander (1310) and Dominic (1311). After 1315 it becomes a royal domain, as residence of the rulers of Arad.

Towards the middle of the fifteenth century, the citadel is successively donated, passing through the hands of several masters, King Vladislav I finally donating it to the Orszag family (1440-1444). In 1456 it came into the possession of Iancu de Hunedoara, who then gave it to Czech Hussite captain Jan Giskra in 1471.

In 1509 the city and the domain fall in the hands of George Hohenzollern of Brandenburg, who exploited it ruthlessly. it is besieged in 1514 by Romanian and Hungarian rebels, led by Gheorghe Doja. After a brief resistance, the citadel’s garrison, led by the voivode of Ciuci, the people rise against George Hohenzollern and join the rebels. According to tradition, the rebel camp was situated on the nearby Crow’s Hill. In 1541, when Transylvania became an autonomous principality, Șoimoș was the residence of Prince John Sigismund and his mother, Queen Isabella. In this period it is strengthened and embellished in the Renaissance style, while adding to it the external bastions. To this day, one can see some sections of artistic stone carving, from the princely apartments located upstairs.

The Turks occupied the city in 1552, after repeated sieges, and in 1595 it was retaken

by György Borbély – Captain in the army of Stefan Bathory – under custody of Transylvanian rulers. Moses Secuiul, leader of the resistance against the Austrian occupation (commanded by General George Basta), after being defeated near Teius in 1602, took refuge in the city of Şoimoş. Considering the settlement unsafe, he made a pact with Pasha Bektaş of Timisoara, exchanging the citadel for the city of Kladovo. In 1599-1600 it is passed on to Michael the Brave. The camp was permanently liberated from Turkish domination only in 1688. The damage made during and after the siege had not been remedied, the fortification falling into decay.

In the eighteenth century it gradually loses military importance as a result of improving artillery. In 1784, near here, the rebels lead by Horia clash forces with the imperial nobility. Deserted in 1788, its walls have gradually turned into ruins. In recent years some works were carried out to strengthen the walls.

The castle interior towers in the approximate shape of a triangle, most easily accessible from the west. The path leads across a wide and deep ditch, a once suspended draw bridge, toward the outer fortifications’ gate reinforced by a defense tower. Due to the deplorable state of the bridge, the entry nowadays is dangerous and

therefore the only accessible way is along the trench, towards a breach in the eastern wall.

The interior court and its considerable size (35×22 meters), is dominated by the gate tower and the old tower, several floors high. To the north, the Palace of Queen Izabela is located, adorned with Renaissance sculptures. Truly remarkable is the balcony, kept intact up until today and also bearing the former sovereign’s name.

I LOVE MY HOMETOWN!

Popescu Paula, class X A