Another historical province is CRISANA [spelled: Crishana], with two important towns: Oradea (population 206.000 in 2006) – with the second astronomical observatory from all times on Romanian territory, since the half of the XV-th century and Arad (192.000) – with the oldest theatre in Transylvania: Hirschl Theatre – olso the first stone theatre in the country.

Its relief, from east to west, is represented by the Bihor Mountains (with peaks over 1880 m), the so-called group of low mountains (Padurea Craiului, Codru-Moma and Zarand), the "piemont" hills and the Cris Plain.

The climate is milder than in the rest of Romania, varying from the plain climate (warm summers and mild winters) to the climate of depressions (rich in rainfalls).

Underground, there are various riches (bauxite, lignite, coloured soils, bitumen, high quality clay etc.). More than 3/4 from the arable surface is cultivated with cereals, great surfaces being occupied with fodder plants. In depressions fruit-tree growing is developed.

CRISANA is named after the three tributaries of the Cris [crish] Rivers that flow through it: the Whitw Crish (Crisul Alb), the Black Crish (Crisul Negru) and the Fast Crish (Crisul Repede).

CRISANA is bounded by the Maramures [Maramuresh] to the north, Transylvania-proper to the east, Banat to the south, and the Hungarian Great Alfold to the west

 

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

- The Old Theatre (Hirschl Theatre) in Arad is the oldest theatre in Transylvania.

- Oradea Court is in Oradea County and it is the most significant popular architecture monument in the western part of the country. It was destroyed by Tartars in 1241.

- The Roman Catholic Cathedral in Oradea is the largest Baroque style church in Romania. It was made a basilica in 1991 by Pope John Paul the 2nd.

- The Moon Orthodox Church in Oradea has its name due to the fact that under the church tower clock there is a sphere that indicates all the phases of the moon.

- Cris County Museum in Oradea is a copy made after Belvedere Palace in Vienna.

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