Iosefin ( hu, Józsefváros; german: Josephstadt) is a historic district of

Timișoara ), City of Roses ( ro, Orașul florilor), City of Parks ( ro, Orașul parcurilor) , image_map = Timisoara jud Timis.svg , map_caption = Location in Timiș County , pushpin_map = Romania#Europe , pushpin_ ...

. Its name comes from that of Emperor

Joseph II Joseph II (German: Josef Benedikt Anton Michael Adam; English: ''Joseph Benedict Anthony Michael Adam''; 13 March 1741 – 20 February 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from August 1765 and sole ruler of the Habsburg lands from November 29, 1780 unt ...

, during whose reign it was founded. Unlike most of the other Timișoara districts, the historic Iosefin is not divided into further districts or residential areas. However, mostly in the 1970s, numerous new development areas with their own names (but without an administrative function) emerged on the southern edge of Iosefin. They are called Dâmbovița, Șagului Vest I, Șagului Vest II and Steaua.

History

Until after 1716, the area of present-day Iosefin was not inhabited. There were no constructions here (except for the so-called "Roman entrenchment", whose actual date of execution is unknown, but which crossed present-day Iosefin). The original core of Iosefin was approved in 1744. Located southwest of the 948-meter-wide ''non ædificandi'' belt, it had three main streets: the present-day Dragalina, Bolintineanu–Văcărescu and Pop de Băsești–Maniu streets. Originally called Noile Maiere Germane ( hu, Új Német Majorok; german: Neue Deutsche Mayerhöfe), Iosefin was designed from the beginning as a village of

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

settlers, on both sides of the

Bega Canal The Bega Canal or Begej Canal (; hu, Béga-csatorna) is a navigation canal of Romania and Serbia. It is the first navigation canal built on the present-day territory of Romania, and serves the city of Timișoara. Its name comes from the Bega riv ...

. The houses had luxuriant gardens, used by the bourgeoisie in Cetate as refuges. Its current name was given in 1773 in honor of Emperor

, after his second visit to Timișoara (Joseph II first visited Timișoara in 1767). Iosefin had a rural aspect until the connection of Timișoara to the railway system of

Central Europe Central Europe is an area of Europe between Western Europe and Eastern Europe, based on a common historical, social and cultural identity. The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) between Catholicism and Protestantism significantly shaped the area' ...

in 1857, when the first

railway station Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

of the city was built north of this district. In the area between Bega and the railway station, the construction of factories spurred in the second half of the 19th century. At that time, alcohol, tobacco, matches, hats, silk, butter, chains and machines, among others, were produced here.

Buildings and structures

Apart from the Roman Catholic church, which was built between 1774–1775, all the buildings in Iosefin are built after 1868, most of them around 1900. There are numerous buildings in

historicist Historicism is an approach to explaining the existence of phenomena, especially social and cultural practices (including ideas and beliefs), by studying their history, that is, by studying the process by which they came about. The term is widely u ...

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style, typical of the second half of the 19th century, as well as some valuable architectural ensembles in the 1900s style with its specific stylistic derivations –

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Modern ...

Jugendstil ''Jugendstil'' ("Youth Style") was an artistic movement, particularly in the decorative arts, that was influential primarily in Germany and elsewhere in Europe to a lesser extent from about 1895 until about 1910. It was the German counterpart of ...

Secession Secession is the withdrawal of a group from a larger entity, especially a political entity, but also from any organization, union or military alliance. Some of the most famous and significant secessions have been: the former Soviet republics le ...

. Today, the old district of Iosefin is a protected urban site of national importance.

Places of worship

File:Iosefin biserica catolica.jpg, Church of the Nativity of Mary (1774) File:Biserica Notre Dame, Timisoara (1).jpg, Notre Dame Church (1894) File:Sinagoga din Iosefin - panoramio.jpg, Orthodox Synagogue (1910)

Palaces

* Anchor Palace (1902) * Gemeinhardt Palace (1912) * Gudenus Palace (1913) * Csermák Twin Palaces (1912) * former Délvidéki Casino (1905) * Hochstrasser Palace (1914) * Miksa Palace (1912) * Pisică Palace (1912) * Schott Palace (1913) * Water Palace (1901)

Bridges

* Heroes' Bridge * Iron Bridge * Labor Bridge * Stephen the Great Bridge * Trajan Bridge

References

{{Districts of Timișoara Districts of Timișoara