Oradea

About

Dating back to 1113, this border town was passed between various empires of the centuries, though its fortress put up a gallant resistance. Much of the town was destroyed by a large fire in 1836 and rebuilt in the then-trendy Secession style. Flush with richly decorated facades of pale pink, blue, green and white, making it a haven for fans of Art Nouveau architecture. The Black Eagle Palace, built in the early 20th century, houses a glass-roofed art nouveau shopping arcade between its two main buildings. Tuesday through Sunday, the City Hall offers the best view of the city from the three observation decks in its 170 foot tall. Its four clocks are operated by a ‘mother clock’ mechanism made by a local watchmaker. Seven distinct architectural styles are visible in the main square: Baroque, Classical, Eclectic, Historicist, Secession, Romantic and neo- Romanian.