Over time, Oradea became a reference point in the area of culture, economy and social life, being considered the most important city in the historical region of Crișana. If you decide on stay at Lounge 8, you will be impressed by the panoramic view that urges anyone to explore the beauties of this city. The history of Oradea’s fortress, located at only 2.8 km from Lounge 8, starts in 1092 during a hunting session. It is said that the King of Hungary, Ladislau I, sat on the shore of river Crișu, and during the night, two angels showed up in his dream and asked him to build a monastery there. He called that place Várad, and around the area of worship he built up a fortress that would defend Christianity for centuries.

The first historical note sees the light of the day only in 1113, when Oradea was mentioned in a chronicle of the Benedictine monks from the Zobor monastery. Built in the Renaissance and Baroque architectural style and developed between the 12th -18th centuries, with the help of several architects, the fortress consists of 12 bodies and 5 bastions (the Golden Bastion, Bethlen Bastion, Ciunt Bastion, Crăișor Bastion and Red Bastion). The most impressive monuments are the Princely Palace, the Gothic Palace and the Roman Catholic Church.
Over the years, the fortress became a living space for an ethnic mosaic that has contributed to the establishment of today’s ethnic group of Oradea: Romanians, Hungarians, Austrians, Germans, Slovaks, Jews, Ukrainians, Turks, etc. After a prolonged siege, Oradea was occupied by Ottomans, in 1660. Since 1867 the city became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, being the most important city after the capital, Budapest. Only since 1919 Oradea is part of Romania, developing a diverse culture, due to its historical background.

Today, Oradea’s fortress is a real attraction, hosting legends, archaeological evidence, monuments, as well as medieval demonstrations, open-air cinema, fairs, craft workshops and street-food festivals. Another point of attraction is the Union Square or the center, as the locals call it. At only 1.3 km walking away from Lounge 8 Studios, Union Square is the city’s point 0, surrounded by many iconic buildings and a variety of cafes and restaurants. Close to the City Hall Palace, you can take a walk on the new mood lighted promenade on the banks of Crișu

If you get to the Union Square, you should also climb the stairs of the Town Hall Tower. Although it is a real challenge for many tourists, this area is composed of unforgettable views. A panoramic view, just as impressive, but perhaps more comprehensive, can be found on the Mushroom’s Hill. This hill is considered to be a place where young people come to relax and socialize, especially during the long summer evenings. Another place where you can relax is dendrological parks (Baroque Palace Park, Dendrological Park fortress, University Park and Petőfi Park). Here you will find yourself in heart of nature, surrounded by trees and shrubs of hundreds species.

After hours of hitting the streets and visiting museums, at the end of a long day, you can pass The Way of the Republic, a pedestrian where the locals, as well as tourists can retire for a well-deserved break. In addition to secession palaces, you can find a lot of terraces on the ground floor of historical buildings. These places are lovely to go for a coffee, have lunch or enjoy dinner. In this place, night life is a continuous happening, being so alive as it has never been before. The historical city center offers a wide range of restaurants, terraces and clubs, where you can spend the late nights among the loved ones.

For those interested in history and culture, Lounge 8 Studios recommends a series of cultural sites that should not be missed out when passing through Oradea. In 2011 the locals chose as a city symbol The Black Eagle Palace. This impressive building was constructed in 1907, following the plans of architects Marcel Komor and Deső Jakob. The two architects were inspired by a famous gallery in Milan for realizing the structure of this monument. The Black Eagle Palace was built on the place of The Green tree Inn, a building existent in 1714 and serving as a shelter of the city hall for a while. This palace is definitely the most representative building of secession style in Transylvania. The Palace has the shape of an Y, with opening to three streets, each of the entrances being dominated by a black eagle. The entrance from Union Square can easily be distinguished by The Clock Tower.

This monument is full of secession motifs combined with other motifs taken from Baroque or rococo styles. All styles encapsulated in these monuments were meant to portray the creativity and artistic vision at the beginning of 20th century.
The main touristic attraction of the palace is the inner passage. Covered in glass, it represents a unique element in the context of secession architecture and is a true delight due to the lightening which pass through the stained glass.A reference point in the architectural landscape of this city is the Cathedral “Dormition of the Virgin Mary” or The Church of the Moon, thus called due to a unique mechanism in Europe. This mechanism was mounted on the church spire and sets in motion a one-meter-diameter sphere of the Moon shape, painted in black and gold. By its movement, similar to the rotation of the moon around the Earth, the sphere shows the phases of the moon.

The monument also benefits from another element that adds to its uniqueness, called The portrait of Horea, one of the leaders of the 1784 insurrection. It is said that this portrait is the only authentic reproduction, with the original being at the Museum of the Orthodox Episcopate, in Oradea. The Neolog Sion synagogue is integrated in the historical Center of Oradea and is included in the historical Monuments list. It was built by reformist Jews in Oradea, immediately after their separation from the Jewish Orthodox Community. The architectural project was born due to a prominent Member of the Jewish community at that time, David Busch, chief architect of the city.

Together with Rimanóczi Kálmán, a well-established name of the Oradean architecture, Busch constructed The Neolog Sion synagogue in 1878. The recent rehabilitation of this remarkable monument means the re-establishment of an emblematic building for the entire community. The building equipped with 1000 places is currently hosting various manifestations of contemporary art.

The Roman Catholic Basilica, together with The Canonical Line and the Roman Catholic Episcopal Palace represents the largest Baroque ensemble of Romania. Each of them has an inestimable value: The Park of the Baroque Complex. The Roman Catholic cathedral is the largest baroque construction built on Romanian territory, and one of the most beautiful Basilica in the entire Europe. The construction, dedicated to Virgin Mary, was built between 1752 and 1780, following the sketches of an Italian architect, Giovanni Battista Ricca. Inside the monastery can be found the relics of Saint Ladislau and the famous organ, given to the Cathedral by Empress Maria Terezia of Austria.

This great edifice lasts in time alongside ten other buildings that compose The Canonical Line. Through the fifty seven arches, the construction preserves a feeling of standing in the middle of an endless corridor.
Baroque Palace or The Palace of the Roman Catholic Episcopate adds to the uniqueness and charm of the Baroque Ensemble. The Palace with 100 rooms and 365 windows is one of the most grandiose buildings of this style in Romania and stands as a symbol for the days comprehended in one year. It bears the signature of the same Italian architect, Giovanni Battista Ricca, and after his death, the construction was finalized by Franz Anton Hillebrandt.

Project of the architect Rimanóczi Kálmán Jr., Moskovits Palace, finalized in 1905, is one of the most beautiful illustrations of secession style, captured in its various means of expression. Enchanted forests, stylized flowers, banisters enriched in secession motifs and high elegance are conveyed in a multitude of architectural ornaments. These details cover sinuously the interior and the front side of the palace, inducting a comfortable feel and a high-class look. The Moskovits Palace has been recently restored and since the last century remains one of the most iconic art Nouveau constructions of Oradea.

One of Oradea’s architectonic monuments is The Darvas La Roche House, a representative building of Art Nouveau style with Viennese motifs. The House is built in the secession style, having clean lines and geometric shapes. This monument is of high importance for the history of architecture and art. Built in the beginning of 20th century, by the Jewish businessman Darvas Imre and his Swiss associate, Alfred in Roche, the building was sold to the Jewish family Simon. A great number of its representatives were deported and killed during the Holocaust. Today, The Darvas La Roche House is declared a protected monument which hosts a century of Art Nouveau and scession style.

The State Theatre in Oradea is a central building of the city and hosts two great theatrical institutions: The Queen Mary Theatre and the Szigligeti Theatre. The architectural project belongs to Rimanóczi Kálmán Jr. and it was built between 21st of July, 1899 and 1st of October, 1900. The main entrance is surrounded by the statues of the Goddess of Comedy, known also as The Muse of Tragedy. On the exterior sides of the building can be found elements of the neoclassical style combined with Neo-renaissance and Neo-Baroque motifs. Interior finishing is expressed by Rococo style.

The Museum of the country of Criș is a museum complex coordinated by the Bihor County Council. This complex is divided in many departments focused towards Archaeology, History, Natural Sciences, Ethnography, Art, Memorial museums, social groups, and history of minorities. Beside these departments, the complex hosts cultural institutions such as The Iosif Vulcan Memorial Museum, The Ady Endre Memorial Museum and The Aurel Lazar Memorial Museum, as well as Vadu Crișului Cave. It is to be noticed that this institution hosts more than 450.000 pieces in all its sections, ranking on the 5th place in Romania, according to a statistics conducted by the Ministry of Culture.
The Greek-Catholic Episcopal Palace is an architectural jewel, in eclectic style. All the merits are accorded to architect Rimanóczi Kálmán. It was built between 1903-1905 with the interior area covered in Neo-Byzantine paintings and stained glass-windows. The Episcopal Palace enriches the Oradea architectural treasure, highlighting a light fusion of several styles: Romanesque, Rococo, baroque and Art Nouveau.
Besides the great edifices previously listed, Oradea gives other monuments worthy to capture the touristic eye.

If you’ve arrived at Lounge 8 Studios and you are still wondering how you can spend your free time in Oradea, where you can relax, or where to find the best culinary dishes at a good price, then you need to know that there are many possibilities.

The Oradea Zoological Garden is situated at only 1.8 km from the accommodation and has one of the most favourable habitats. The garden is covered by a plant bridge, made up of more than 40 tree species. Secular trees represent more than 20% of the flora. The small Zoo universe dates back to 1960 when the first tree species were brought here. Today we can find 650 specimens of domestic and wild animals of more than 140 species. Here, tourists are immersed in a world of traditional childhood, a quiet oasis, ideal for rest and recreation.

The largest Aquapark in this part of Europe, Nymphaea Aquapark, is located 3.5 km away from Lounge 8 Studios. Covering a surface of 7 hectares, the Aquapark is equipped with 10 slides, 15 swimming pools, playgrounds, saunas, massage parlours, Turkish bath, sport grounds and restaurants.
The Oradea Polyvalent Hall is located within a 5-minute walk from Lounge 8 Studio and is due to be completed in 2021. The space will host sports competitions, cultural events and concerts.

For those who love shopping, the nearest shopping centres are located 5 minutes walking distance from our complex and promise an amazing time for everyone, young and old.
Băile Felix, the largest permanent resort in Romania, is located at the outskirts of town and only a 15-minute drive from Lounge 8 Studio. The thermal springs were discovered in the early 1200, but brought to light only in the late 18th century, by the monk Felix Helcher. The success came along with the Golden medal awarded to Băile Felix in 1896, at The Berlin Universal Exhibition. The medal was awarded for thermal water quality. Existing facilities allow treatment of rheumatism, neurological diseases and genecology. Medical facilities include special installations for electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, aerosols, massages, paraffin packs and other specific operations of spa treatments.

Besides the beautiful view of water-lily and lotus lakes, natural reservations, places of worship and historical monuments, you can enjoy the Felixarium Aquapark, located inside the only 5-star thermal resort in Romania, Lotus Therm. Around the city can be found many other thermal water resorts, theme parks or Aquaparks.
If you are hungry, you can stop for lunch at one of the nearest and most recommended restaurants in the area, located 3-15 minutes walking distance from your accommodation: Piața 9, Steak HUB, Corsarul, Rivo Restaurant & Lounge, Allegria Restaurant, Via29, Pizzeria Due Fratelli, Graf Restaurant & Pizzerie, To Chefs Restaurant or you can go for a Fast Food meal at KFC. For Coffee lovers, Tucano Caffee or Ristretto are the best choices. For wine lovers, we strongly recommend ReWine. This bistro offers a variety of high quality wines, but if you would like to taste a good cocktail, than you should look for Rivo, this location can be found only a few minutes away from your accommodation.
If you want to go for a quick shopping, less than 5 minutes away by car, you can stop by Kaufland, Auchan or Carrefour supermarkets. There are also 24-hour shops for any kind of emergencies.

Rental apartments Lounge 8 Studios are located on the Aradului Street, no. 4 A, in Luceafărul district, 3 minutes away from the highway. The nearest airport is Oradea International Airport, located a 5-minute drive (approximately 4.3 km) from our location. As an alternative, the Hungarian Debrecen International Airport is 80 km away from Lounge 8 Studios. The airport transfer service is provided for an additional charge.

Oradea Central Station is located 3.1 km away from Lounge 8 Studios. The coaches, buses or vans stop in the bus terminal (Intrans), which is located 4.8 km from our location. Another possibility would be to rent a car, take a cab or use local public transport (buses, trams).