Lipova is a town in Romania, Arad County, located in the Banat region of western Transylvania. It is situated at a distance of 34 km from Arad, the county capital, at the contact zone of the Mureș River with the Zărand Mountains, Western Plateau and Lipovei Hills. It administers two villages, Radna and Șoimoș, and its total surface is 134.6 square km. The first written record of the town dates back to 1315 under the name Lipwa. In 1324 the settlement was mentioned as castellanus de Lypua, a place-name that reflects its reinforced character of that time.
Population
According to the census of 2011 the population of the town was 9648 inhabitants. The ethnic groups were: 94% Romanians, 2.89% Hungarians, 1.47% Roma, 1.27% Germans, 0.07% Slovaks, 0.18% Ukrainians and 0.1% of other or undeclared nationalities.
Etymology
Its name is derived from the Slavic word , linden tree with -ova suffix.
History
Situated at the crossing of the roads leading to Transylvania, Banat and Wallachia, Lipova had a history full of vicissitudes. It was situated strategically at the Mureș River's exit from the defile, and consequently it was an extremely enviable centre. After the Tartar invasion in 1241 the fortresses were rebuilt, and the lines of the futureurban settlement started to get contoured around the castle. Several names of famous historical personalities are related to this castle, such as John Hunyadi, Matthias Corvinus, György Dózsa, John Zápolya etc. Due to the continuous disputes, the town has become four times under Turk administration, and starting with 1716 it became under Habsburg domination. In the 18th-19th centuries Lipova was a well-developed economic centre with famous craftsmen working here. In the period of the revolution in 1848-49 and in the beginning of the 20th century Lipova became an important centre of political and national emancipation, due to the activity of remarkable personalities, such as Nicolae Bălcescu, Vasile Goldiș, Alexandru Mocioni and Teodor Șerb. Șoimoș castle has also taken part from the successive vicissitudinary periods related to the historical events of Lipova and to the defensive role of the main entrance gate from Transylvania.
Tourist attractions
The car industry, light industry, services and tourism are the most representative economic sectors. The tourist sites of the town include both natural and anthropic elements. Due to the abundance of tourist attractions, Lipova is an important tourism centre. The natural reservation "Balta Șoimoș", the Șoimoș castle, the monastery called "Saint Mary" in Radna, the church called "Buna Vestire" in Șoimoș, the church named "Adormirea Maicii Domnului", the town museum, the "Sub dughene" bazaar, the environs of the town-hall and the thermal bath where springs with curative mineral water flow.
