The Theresia Bastion is the only structure preserved from the Old Citadel of Timisoara and can be admired today....
The building or the construction of the bastion started in 1732. The bastion belonged to the category of fortyfications with three rings.
The original name of the bastion was Ravelin of the Proviant Deposit, but its name changed to Maria Theresia, around 1744-1745, as a tribute to the queen.
The bastion was a storage place for food. Along with this bastion, another 8 bastions were built: the Bastion of Carol, Francisc, Iosef, Hamilton, The Castle, Mercy, Eugene and Elisabeth. Beside these we have the folowing Gates: Gates of Vienna, Petrovaradin and Transylvania.
Apart from the Maria Theresia Bastion, a fragment of the walls of Timisoara’s former Fortress, whish is located in the Botanical Park and another on Calea Al. Ioan Cuza. The others bastions were demolished to make room for the city’s new buildings.
In 1716, after the conquest of Timisoara by the Habsburgs, they found that the fortifications were not strong enough to keep up with the new battle techniques. The Fortress of Timisoara was completely restored in VAUBAN STYLE between 1726-1765. On this occasion, his surface was enlarged, ten times bigger than the previous one and the inner space was surrounded by three stellar belts that could be filled with water.
The access to the Fortress and the city of Timisoara was made through three Gates: the Gate of Vienna, the Gate of Petrovaradin and the Gate of Transylvania, which were demolished entirely in 1891.
In 2010, the Maria Theresia Bastion, which covers an area of 9.000 square meters, was reopened to the public after two years of reconstruction and redevelopement.
The works were part of the project entitled: ” Rehabilitation and revitalization of Timisoara Fortress, Theresia Bastion”, funded by the Phare program 2005.
Currently, Theresia Bastion is used as a vehicle passage and at the same time it houses commercial spaces, restaurants, bars, a club and a bookstore.
Sometimes, various temporary exhibitions of the Banat Museum are organized in the bastion spaces.
Last but not least, there is a question that I want to emphasize here: Why should you visit Maria Theresia Bastion?
There are three good reasons:
1. The Bastion is located in Timisoara, in the very center of the city, in an accessible area.
2. It is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Timisoara, after the Timisoara Orthodox Cathedral and the Museum of the Romanian Revolution from 1989.
3. The entrance to Bastion is free of charge for all tourists.
Enjoy your journey here.
