Location

The conference will be held in “Politehnica” University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania

How to get to Timisoara

The “Politehnica” University of Timisoara, Romania is one of the largest and best-known technical universities in Central and Eastern Europe. For more then 80 years it has been an outstanding, modern university with a well-deserved reputation for excellence. This excellence is demonstrated by our academic programmes, the research on which our programmes are based, the support we give to our students, the employability and employment record of our students and the physical environment of the University.

Romania is a beautiful country in Central Europe, where more than 23 million Romanians, Hungarians, Serbs, Bulgarians, Ukraineans and other nationalities live peacefully together. The Romanian people are a blend between Romans and Dacians and their soul and culture reflect the combined influences of the Latin world and of Eastern Europe.
Visitors can enjoy a rich variety of scenery, mountains, plains, lakes, rivers and sea, bustling towns and peaceful rural areas. Romania's climate is temperate continental, subject to the influences of the four seasons. More Information at: http://www.turism.ro/english/index.php
http://www.romaniatourism.com/

Timisoara is situated in the western corner of Romania, where three countries (Romania, Hungary and Serbia) and several cultures, nationalities, languages and customs converge.  Timisoara is the place where the 1989 Revolution started in 17 December 1989.

It is often described as the most cosmopolitan city in Romania.
Timisoara means not only economic activity but also social and cultural life. The past and the present meet in this 700 year old, but very European city.

A medieval citadel, baroque monuments and attractive modern buildings complete a wonderful panorama. Numerous parks and the river Bega with its romantic bridges are just some of the features of this city. Cinemas, theatres, an opera house, discotheques, bars and restaurants, sport facilities and local festivals offer lots of possibilities to spend your spare time in this beautiful student town.

Nowadays Timisoara is considerd the Silicon Valley of Central and East Europe due to several world-class high-tech companies which have opened development and production units in the area (Siemens, Alcatel, IBM, Solectron, Kathrein, Delphi-Packard, Zoppas, Continental, Lisa Draxhelmaier, etc). (http://www.cciat.ro/)
 

The first record of the city of Timisoara, built on the site of an ancient Roman fortress called Castrum Regium Themes, dates back to 1212. Over the years, Timisoara, the largest city in western Romania, has been influenced by many cultures. The Romans used it as an important crossroads fortress until the Tatars destroyed it in the 13th century. Conquered by Turkish armies in 1552, Timisoara remained under their protection until 1718 when the region of Banat came under Austrian rule for two centuries. Timisoara later became a vital medieval commercial and manufacturing town. Turks, Austrians, Germans and Serbs all left their mark and their influence can be seen in neighborhoods throughout the city even today.

Thanks to a Mediterranean climate, life is best observed outdoors, in the many public squares and lush green retreats. Timisoara is easy to explore on foot. If you get tired, a tram will be along in a moment; the system is fast, frequent and efficient.

Timisoara abounds with churches of several denominations, a Jewish quarter, an elegant baroque square and a pedestrian-only downtown area. Some of the monuments in the heart of the city afford panoramic views, while the many parks in this "city of flowers" provide an idyllic spot to take a break from sightseeing.

The city consists of an inner town, which formerly was fortified, and four suburbs that are separated from the inner town by parks. Timisoara is a commercial centre and one of the largest cities in Romania.

Buildings of interest include an 18th-century castle, a museum, town hall, county hall, and a Greek Orthodox cathedral. A Gothic column in the main square of the city was erected in 1851 by Francis Joseph I, emperor of Austria, to commemorate the resistance of Timisoara during a 107-day siege by the Hungarian revolutionary army in 1849.

Timisoara used to be nicknamed "Little Vienna" due to its similarity to the capital of the empire to which it belonged. Since 1918, after World War I, Timisoara has been part of Romania.

The official Romanian currency is the leu (plural: lei) and the fractional coin is ban (plural: bani). 1€ = 4,23L

Sights

- Piata Victoriei (Victory Square or Opera Square) - It's the symbol of the Romanian revolution. Here you can find The Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral, The Opera House, The City Hall, The Philharmonic, The Banat Museum and beautiful palaces built at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

- Piata Unirii (Union Square) - With its beautiful palaces and all the coffee houses it is the old city's center. Here you find The Catholic Dome, The Baroque Palace (now a beautiful art gallery), The Serbian Church and other important buildings.

- Piata Libertatii (Liberty Square) - Located between Piata Unirii and Piata Victoriei is a small square with old buildings. Here you can find the old City Hall and the beautiful St. Nepomuk's Statue.

- The Bastion - Part of Timisoara's old defensive walls. The Bastion is located near Piata Unirii.

- Parks -Timisoara is known in Romania as the City of Parks. Important parks you can visit are: Botanical Park (near Piata Unirii, it's the most beautiful park in Timisoara), Rose Park (near Piata Victoriei), Central Park (near Piata Victoriei, just behind the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral), Children's Park (near the Student Campus) and other.

- Piata Traian (Traian Square) -This is a part of the old city. The old buildings are beautiful, but be careful. Try not to visit the area at night and always keep an eye on your valuables.

- The Village Museum - Located near Padurea Verde (The Green Forest). Here you can discover the Romanian tradition.