← Timișoara Marathon·1 night

Lugoj: A Banat Town Split by the Timiș

A railway-junction town on the Timiș with an eighteenth-century church, a neoclassical theatre and a history museum, easy on the legs.

Duration1 night
TransitTrain on CFR Line 900 or road, east of Timișoara; check current services
DepartsTimișoara

After the Timișoara Marathon: One Night in Lugoj

The Route: Timișoara → Lugoj → Timișoara Logistics: Lugoj is on CFR Line 900. Check the timetable at cfrcalatori.ro and book a return before you leave. Marathon Month: October Duration: 1 night

Timișoara ──(train or road)──> Lugoj (overnight)
                                  │
Timișoara ◄──(train or road)──────┘

Lugoj is a town of about 35,000 people on the Timiș river, which splits it into two halves. People still talk of Romanian Lugoj on the right bank and German Lugoj on the left. It suits a recovery day because the centre is compact and the river gives you somewhere to walk.

October in Banat: the regional monthly mean is roughly 10 to 12°C. A coat is sensible, and so is a plan for a rainy afternoon.

Getting there

Lugoj is a stop on CFR Line 900 and became a railway junction when the line from Ilia opened in 1898. Look up fares and journey times on the day, and buy a return if you can, because you will want to sit down.

Night one: Lugoj

The Orthodox Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos was built between 1759 and 1766. It has two bell towers and is a symbol of the town. The Traian Grozăvescu Theatre, built in neoclassical style between 1899 and 1900, hosts an annual non-professional theatre festival, a tradition that began in 1992.

The History Museum has a Baroque-style façade and occupies a building from 1898 and 1899. Check its opening hours before you go, because museums in Romanian towns often close on a Monday or keep short days.

The town has an old musical tradition. The Ion Vidu Municipal Choir has existed since 1810, and Vidu himself (1863 to 1931) was a composer and choral conductor from the town. If you want music, ask the tourist information for a rehearsal or a concert.

A first-time visitor can see the church, the theatre and the museum on foot in an afternoon. The town was first mentioned in a papal tithe record of 1334 and was granted the status of a regional town (civitas regionalis) in 1551. Its fortress was demolished after the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699, and Banat came under Austrian rule in 1718.

Where to stay

Choose a hotel near the centre so that the church, theatre and museum are all within a short walk. Ask about late check-out and a lift.

Getting back

Take a morning train back to Timișoara. If you are flying out, Timișoara Traian Vuia airport has E4 buses to the centre and E4b to the station; check the current service.