Liberty Park

If you visit Oradea, it is inevitable to take a walk by the Crișul Repede River that divides the city. Its beautiful green banks full of trees are overwhelmed by people who want to calm down somewhere in nature. One of the most beautiful parts of the river is theLiberty Parkand the nearbyshoreline which can be found on the northern side of the Intellectuals’Bridge, near the city centre. The bridge was opened on 10 December 1910, and a picture of the original bridge can be seen on a bronze relief. Near the bridge, there are several Hungarian-related statues and monuments, including the statue of Imre Szacsvay who was the notary of the Hungarian parliament and was executed for drafting and signing the Hungarian Declaration of Independence of 1849. Two other Hungarian related statues are those of Zsuzsanna Lórántffy (wife of Prince I. György Rákóczi) and Gyula Czárán (the father of Hungarian tourism).

The original bridge was demolished in 1947 and replaced with a new one in the same year. On the centenary of the bridge’s construction, a commemorative plaque in relief by local sculptor Árpád Deák was placed on one of its pillars, but sadly it kept being destroyed or stolen.The atmosphere of the bridge catches tourists’ attention for the first time because of its simplicity. The bridge is full of padlocks left by couples who have been there. Walking above the river feels magical, it is fairytale-like because of the view and the smell oftrees. The park next to the bridge is a place where everyone can relax and feel like they are far away from the noise of the city despite being in the heart of it. In the middle of the park, there is a pavilion with a piano, that gives a heavenly atmosphere to the park when someone plays on it. Music is medicine for the soul. Walking there at sunset is like reading a beautiful poem, overcame by the smell of nature and accompanied by music. You also can find a small flower stall, a newspaper stand, and a café; sounds just like a movie scene, doesn’t it? This is a perfect place to get your first coffee in the morning or sit and calm down by the river, admiring the sunset in the evening. In the case that you decide to visit Oradea, please do not forget to visit this magical place.

By Panni Gombos

Photos: Tamás Petrus and Tamás Orosz

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