Recreation and relaxation in Bihor county
A trip to northwestern Romania.
Daniel Onea, 03.12.2015, 13:58
We start from Oradea, an old city with an extraordinary architecture, and then we’ll continue with Baile Felix spa resort to finally reach the mountain peaks. This is an ideal destination for the winter holidays. We recommend spending Christmas in the rural areas where tourists will be fascinated by the local customs and traditions. The starting point for any trip to Bihor county should be the city of Oradea, the county seat. Here you will see one of the largest Roman-Catholic cathedrals in Eastern Europe, which is also the largest Baroque building on Romania’s territory.
The cathedral’s organ, offered by empress Maria Theresa of Austria in 1780 is equally famous. In the center of Oradea visitors can also admire the “Assumption” Cathedral or the church with a moon, as it was called. The church has a tower located 55 meters above the ground. Under the horologe of this tower there is a sphere with a 3m diameter. It is painted half in black and half in gold, representing the moon. With the help of a mechanism, which is unique in Europe, the ball revolves depending on the movement of the moon around the Earth, rendering exactly all the phases of the moon. Bogdan Pater, an advisor with the Bihor County Council, recommends the city of Oradea to people of all ages.
“Oradea is a multicultural city. All religious denominations are represented here. There are Jewish, Greek Catholic and Orthodox places of worship. Oradea is the perfect destination for those who love cultural and historical tourism thanks to its citadel and the monuments, being also a hot spot for those who love night entertainment. At the beginning of autumn, we organize two festivals: the Oradea Autumn and the International Short Theater Festival. They are preceded by the Days of the City. Then, on October 12, we mark the Day of the city of Oradea”.
Only 8 kms away from Oradea, you will find the famous Baile Felix spa resort, a destination to be considered by tourists, as Adrian Dubere, the head of the National Tourism Information Center of the Bihor County Council, told us: “People can relax in Baile Felix spa resort. Various tour operators promote wellness and relaxation in this spa and they sell tourist packages for both Christmas and the New Year’s Eve when relaxation, good food and traditions are a win-win combination. The packages also include trips to the city of Oradea, a cultural spot also worth a visit. You will see buildings in the art nouveau style and also historical buildings. The Oradea citadel, 80% of which has been renovated, is a landmark of the city.”
The Sălacea commune, located 58 kms from Oradea, is known as the destination of the 1,000 caves. Given their density on a small area, the commune has become a symbol of the region. In the areas with a wine-growing tradition, caves were dug at the foot of the hill from times immemorial. The caves are located on both sides of the road. At present, there are almost 970 caves in Sălacea, dug into the hill, making up the so-called street of caves. Most caves were dug during the past century, and the oldest ones date back to 1803. No less interesting is the history of the Komaromi castle from the Otomani – Sălacea village, known at present as the “Otomani exhibition house”.
Adrian Şimen, the guide of the house, has more details: “Access for visitors is between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and tickets cost 1 euro. The castle is located in the Ierului Valley, a special area in Crisana and the west of Transylvania. In the late 17th century and the early 18th century the mansion became the property of Komaromy Gheorghe II, the son of a reformed priest who translated the Bible into Hungarian. Later, the mansion became an economic center for the Komaromy noble family after 1700. A building was erected in which, for two centuries, these people were the main economic and political actors in the north western part of today’s Romania”.
Adrian Varga is the representative of the Association of guesthouse owners in Vârtop, the mountainous region of Bihor county. He says investment in the area started 14 years ago, the most modern ski slope being inaugurated in 2011.
“We have ski slopes for the winter season and we also have a wide range of opportunities for the summer season when special tourist sites can be visited. The ski lift is operational also in the summer. We have push scooters and carts for sliding down the slope, we also have a zip line and some of the guesthouses have swimming pools. It is a very beautiful mountainous area. In winter, tourists enjoy rides in horse-drawn sleighs. There are three ski slopes with different degrees of difficulty. The longest one measures 1,100 meters and it is equipped with a chairlift system that slows down at the departure and arrival points. There are several renting centers in the area”.
(Translated by: Lacramioara Simion)
