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Alba Iulia or it symbol of the Unit Main roads of the Roumanians.

Alba Iulia is located in the center of Transylvania, in the west find the Mounts Metal and in the east the Small valley knew under the name of “Podisul Ardelean” sprinkled by the rivers “Sebes” and “Secas”.

The city is located between Deva and Cluj Napoca (121 km until Cluj and 72km until Deva.) - population: 66 369 inhabitants

History:

The first archaeological vestiges date from the Neolithic era, with various places of the city D ’ Alba Iulia objects were discovered going up at the bronze age, and a ground city was updated. It dates from the time of the Iron Age. (Teleac, 4 km).

A branch of the population of Tracs reached the political apogee in building a strong named city APOULON. (Archaeological discoveries updated a city of Dacs at Piatra Crain, in the north of the city of Alba Iulia).

The city of Apoulon made great great strides at the time of the Empire traco-daco- get (Ier front century J.C.) and this one is at the origin of military resistance counters the Romaine’s invasions.

At the time of king Decebal, during the first war Daco-Roman (101-102), the known city of large
economic difficulties.

It during the second war Daco-Roman (105-106) is carried out by the Traian Emperor, very interested by the high contents in gold and money of area, that known the Apoulon city its fall.

For the Roman period this site had been declared Municipium (into 160 after J.C.), Colony. The governor of Dacie Higher, then it governor of the three parts of the “Dacie” had their residence there.

It is the XIII Roman Legion, named “Geminated” which had settled low.

During XI-ème and X éme century, the locality accepted the name of “White city” or “Balgrad”. The catholic dioceses were create during the Middle Ages.

At X ème century the Magyars in their expansion arrived on these places east transformed the name of the city into “Gyulafehervar”, i.e. “The white city of Gyula”, according to the name of the Guyla chief who had occupied the city.

At the beginning of XIIème century the Saxon ones come to Transylvania used it name of Weissenburg (the White City). In 1241 the city was devastated during the invasions tatares.

Alba Iulia was also devastated by the Othomans and, even the king Matei Corvin made destroy a part as of its walls while testing to capture a group of noble rebels, in 1469. Catholic dioceses were create during the Middle Ages.

In 1541 it becomes the capital of the Principality of Transylvania and, in 1599 it is reigning Prince Michel it Brave man who makes his entry triumphal, by carrying out the first union symbolic system of the three countries Rumanian.

In 1613 prince Gabriel Bathory controls this principality and thanks to that Ci, the city knew one
cultural and musical rise.
- The Rumanian revolts of the peasants are very frequent (XVIII century) because of the conditions and especially of the inequality with other citizens (Saxon or Magyar).

In 1779 representing those of the peasants Rumanian (Horea, Closca and Crisan) manage to make a request with the Emperor of Habsbourgs of L’ time.

The request is ignored is the greatest revolt of the Rumanian peasants started in 1784. It was repressed in a manner very cruel, by the torture of the wheel (on February 29, 1785).

is into 1848 that the city takes part in the revolution of 1848 in taking part in the movement led by Avram
Iancu (which had its district general in Carpates of the West)

On December 1, 1918, following the First World War, it is thanks to the Union which Transylvania is attached to Romania and which the Rumanian State current was creates.

On December 1, 1918 represents a memorable date of the history of Roumanians.
“On December 1, thousand two hundred and twenty eight deputy is joined together with Alba Iulia. Hundred thousand Roumanians makes some come there.

Hundreds of thousands send messages of adhesion and hold of meetings in the majority of the Transylvanian localities.

Alba Iulia is the historical city of Michel the Brave man who, end of the XVI éme century, had joined together under its sceptre the three
Rumanian countries: Valachie, Moldavia, Transylvania.

Alba Iulia thus symbolized the union of all the Roumanians. And this imposing assembled is held on a territory
entirely neutral free of troops, without troop of Agreement, troops of Mackensen in full retirement, without the Rumanian army.

By its width, the demonstration of Alba Iulia or was proclaimed the union from Transylvania with Romania, corresponded to true votes by plebiscite”. (Extracted from an article published in “Le Monde”, December 1 1968, at the time of the birthday of the Union).

Objectives to be visited:

- Castrates Romain and the old city

Archaeological site which sheltered the XIII Roman Legion “Geminated” (106-275) modified during the feudal Middle Ages like city of tipe, known under the name of “Balgrad”.

- The church “Michel the Brave man” is close to the walls of the city on place or, in 1597 Prince Michel the Brave one made build a vault in to remember its passage. Since the XVII century the Ilie priests Iorest and Sava Brancovici made the mass (of which the day is celebrated in the Christian orthodox calendar like Saints of the Orthodox Church Rumanian, each March 24).

- Cetatea will bastionara Alba Iulia

The city which was preserved until our days (of Vauban type) had been built at the beginning of the XVIII century (1714-1738) according to the plans of the Italian engineer Morando Visconti under the direction of the Stephan general of Steinville

It is under the indications of Eugene of Savoy, that which had directed the Austrian army in the wars against the Othomans at the XVII century that the city was finished. Between XVIII and XIX century the city of the 7 bastions the military center of Transylvania represented.

The perimeter of the walls exceeds 12 km. More of the 20000 Rumanian peasants have it built, in operating speed range obliged. Its larger bastion is that of the Trinity (a 135 m height). Walls of the city are out of bricks, stone and recovered vestiges of the old Roman City.

The entry is done by six gates decorated with statues tops reliefs realized by several artists under the direction of the sculptor Johan Konig among whom the sculptors Giuseppe Tencalla and Johann Vischer.

It is the monument most representative for the Baroque art of Transylvania and the theatre of large the events of the history of Roumanians like the end of the “Great revolt of Horea” and the Union of Transylvania with Romania on December 1, 1918.

- The Cathedral of the Unit

Architecture is inspired by the princely church of Targoviste, marked by run romantic. It was built between 1921-1923 those projects of architect D.G. Stefanescu and under the direction of the engineer T. Eremia.

It is here that King Ferdinand (1st King de Roumania) and his Marie wife were crowned, it October 15, 1922.

- The Museum of the Unit

The Room of the Unit Building symbolic system of the history of the Roumanians. It is here that the 1228 representatives of the Roumanians of Transylvania are joined together to decide on the unit of Transylvania with Romania, on December 1, 1918. The flags of the representatives of Rumanian are exposed here. This date becomes the National Festival of Romania afterwards (1989)

the building “Babilon” (the initial destination of this building was soldier; built between 1851-1853) almost 100 rooms which shelter documents, of the books and the objects. The museum was placed under sponsorship of the cultural Company “Astra” after 1918.

The Apor Palate the palate belonged to the Apor Tale. It is builds with the XVII éme century. It is here that the Tale of
Steinville, the joint mandator of the Austrian troops had its residence during first half of the XVIII
century.

- The Bathyaneum Library

Old church baroque transformed and modified en1789 by the Ignatiu bishop Bathyanium (1741-1789), impassioned
bibliophile, bishops of Transylvania. The library holds rare manuscripts and incunables, among which:
“Aureus Codex” (IX éme century)
“Psalms of David” (XII century)
“Burgundus Codex” (XV century)
“Mitigated of Orastie” (1582)
“The Bible of Serban Cantacuzino” (1688)

in 1792 the first astronomical observatory on the Rumanian territory.

- The Princely Palate

It is here that prince Michel the Brave one had his residence during first unit of the three Rumanian countries Moldavia, Valachie, and Transylvania. Chroniclers of the time it described like sumptuous and built out of marble.
Old Police station and the building “Manutanta” Builds to the XVIII century, old deposit of the army Austrian.
Nowadays Alba lilua is the capital of the department of Alba, centers economic, cultural and tourist important of Transylvania



Text: Cléopatra Lorintiu

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