Discover Lipova: Churches, Bazaar and History

Visitors to Lipova can discover history in various forms: in the museum, at churches and historic buildings, in the surrounding area and along a literary-historical route.

Culture and History

The Muzeul Orașului Lipova was founded in 1958 and reopened in its present form in 2001 after extensive renovation. It is located in Casa Bocu, a building constructed in the 18th century. Casa Sever Bocu once housed an ethnographic collection, weaving workshops and a museum established by Marilina Bocu.

A striking building in the centre is the Bazarul Turcesc. It is one of the few surviving testimonies to Ottoman rule in the Banat and is unique in Romania. The façade of the Bazarul Turcesc “Sub Dughene” features eight cylindrical pilasters. Arches connect the pilasters and span a commercial passageway.

The historic buildings in the surrounding area also include Cetatea de la Șoimoș. Its ruins lie on the “Cioaca Tăutului” hill, 2 km northeast of Lipova, at an altitude of 129 metres. The fortress was first documented in 1278 and was completely rebuilt by Iancu de Hunedoara around 1440–1446.

Sacred Sites

The Biserica Ortodoxă “Adormirea Maicii Domnului” in Lipova dates from the 14th century. Around 1338, it received its porch and approximately half of the present-day nave in the Byzantine style. Its furnishings include Byzantine frescoes by Nedelcu from 1732.

The Mânăstirea Romano-Catolică Sfânta Maria, a monastery, is located in the vicinity of Lipova. Also nearby are the Biserica Ortodoxă Lipova, the Biserica Catolică Lipova and the Biserica Reformată Lipova; all three are churches.

The pilgrimage church Basilica Maria Radna was granted the title of Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1992. The Maria Radna ensemble is classified as a Category A historic monument.

Landscape and Surroundings

Băile Lipova is a spa resort with carbonated waters. The resort is located 3 km from Lipova and has been known since the 18th century. The peaks in the surroundings of Lipova include Cioacă Banoşu Mic, Dealul Bisericii and Capul Vancului. Cioacă Burdiz is a mountain in the vicinity of Lipova.

Literary-Historical Routes

The “Drumul Marei” literary-historical route allows visitors to discover the emblematic places of an era on foot and via an interactive map. The project produced a detailed brochure as well as information panels at the entrance to Lipova and in the area of the monastery. The route thus connects the places mentioned with a literary-historical presentation accessible both on site and via the map.

More Destinations

Other places include Arad, Moneasa, Căprioara, Ineu, Curtici, Ghioroc, Vinga and Șagu.

To the higher-level travel overview: Arad.