Culture

Caransebes was and remains an important cultural centre of Banat.

The archaeological findings disclose a vigorous material and spiritual culture, first of Gaeto - Dacian - specifics, then of Dacian - Roman specifics.

The ornament objects from bronze or silver, dating from the medieval period can be considered as original creations of art under Byzantine influence.

Although the political-military events from the 15th and 16th centuries weren’t favorable to the promoting of cultural creations, under the influence of religious reforms and of European currents of that age, Caransebes imposes itself as a cultural a spiritual centre of the Romanians in South Banat. Erudites like Stefan Herce and Mihail Halici, who possessed rich libraries, promoted the culture and the education in that age. Although Banat was under Turkish rule, in 1552, in the documents of that time, eight students who studied in Vienna and Krakow are remembered; in 1527 a pupil called Stefan studied at the Vienna University, and before him, in 1482, George Matei studied in Krakow and, in 1486, Nicolae Sas was a student in Vienna.

The development of the culture in Caransebes can be also proved through the circulation of some books printed in the other Romanian regions, like “Psaltirea”, printed at Alba-Iulia in 1651 or the Evangel of the metropolitan bishop Antim Ivireanu, printed at Snagov in 1697.

At the middle of the 19th century, the city affirmed itself as a traditional centre of coral art, folklore and amateur theatre.

Known for its rich artistic activity, the city of Caransebes affirmed itself at the middle of the 19th century as a traditional centre of coral art, folklore and amatory theatre.

About the beginnings and the evolution of local dramatically art, the “Familia” magazine wrote again and again, in laudatory terms, the successes of the artists and amateurs. The foundation of the Lecture Society of Romanian Youth in 1870, which included in its pages various lectures or short declarations, sketches or happy moments about school activity meant a first stage in the respective artistic domain, but it was also a way of affirming real talents.

The promotion and the thriving of coral songs woke up at the end of the 19th century, and kept the flame of national conscience alive.

 At Caransebes, the fuse of the artistic movement and especially of the musical one constituted “the Reunions of Singing and Music” beginning with the Karansebescher Gesang und Musikverein (1867), with “Societatea Romana de Cantari si Muzica” (1876-1877) and “Corul Meseriasilor” (1888), which consolidated in “Reuniunea Filarmonica” (1919), with good relationships of mutual cooperation, especially when there were actions of scope.

The City of Caransebes, in the period of 1883-1972, knows some renowned conductors: Niky Popovici (1883-1886), Antoniu Sequens (1888-1930), Timotei Popovici (1893), Petru Bancea (1918), Constantin Vlad (1924-1938), Dimitrie Cusma (1931-1940) and Gheorghe Dobreanu (1954-1972).

The cultural societies and the Orthodox Church had an important role in the cultural life of the city (the Astra Society, the Society of Orthodox Women, the Romanian Lecture Society, the Romanian Music and Singing Reunion, the Society for the Romanian Theatre Fund, the Reunion of Romanian teachers in the Diocese of Caransebes, the “Ion Popasu” lecture society, the Romanian Youth Society of Caransebes) which promoted, in Caransebes and the nearby area, the Romanian culture. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century (in 1885 the Diocesan Typography is made) local Romanian newspapers like “Vocea granitei”, “Zorile”, “Foaia Diecezana”, “Calendarul romanului”, “Economia”, “Sentinela” or “Lumina” already existed.

We must mention that the first library in Banat was built in 1863 in Caransebes.  

In 1875, at the initiative of the bishop Ioan Popasu the Casina romana (Romanian Lecture Society) is built, where personalities like Vasile Goldis, Stefan Velovan and Patriciu Dragalina held lectures.

Being in an ethnographical area of great beauty and richness, the popular dances and songs ensemble “Doina Banatului” is well-known and so fructifies the richness of the folklore heritage of the area.

Mihai Halici, Stefan Velovan, the writers Sorin Titel, Horia Patrascu and Petru Vintila, the poet George Suru, the critics Cornel Ungureanu and Cornelia Stefanescu, the folklorists Ion Luca Banateanul and Nechifor Mihuta, the historian Constantin Daicoviciu, the patriarch Miron Cristea, the metropolitan bishop Nicolae Corneanu, the bishop Iosif Olaru, the caricaturist Stefan Popa - Popa’s, the painters Achim Miloia and Corneliu Baba, the rock musician Ilie Stepan are only some of the names that certify the cultural valences of the city.

Even today, Caransebes keeps its appetite for culture, the responsible institutions patronizing numerous cultural-artistically activities. A literary circle, whose activity is presented in the “Interferente” magazine, exists in the city. The epigram circle “Apostrof” publishes annually a magazine with the same name. In September, the National Epigram Festival, annually reunites, the most important personalities in the domain of Romanian epigram. Its activity is coordinated by the kind epigrammatist Nicolae Nicolae.

Writers like Horia Vasilescu, Maria Bologa and Ion Gheorgheosu bring to the reader an original literature, where talent gives voice to different themes, from literature critics or prose, to poetry and epigram. The humorists Nicolae Nicolae, Ion Jorz and Ion Ghera keep the good mood alive.

The book launchings of the historian Liviu Groza represents, since several years, special cultural events, which bring diverse personalities to the city.

The city has two typographies that publish diverse books and publications.

The necessity of having a new Culture House is felt. Its construction began immediately after the Revolution, but it wasn’t finished.