Aurel Lazăr was a Romanian lawyer and politician who unified Transylvania with Romania in 1918. Aurel Lazăr's ancestors settled in Săldăbagiu de Barcău, in the Bihor region, coming from somewhere in Transylvania. One of his ancestors was Ioan Lazăr, mentioned in the 18th century as a church steward in Săldăbagiu de Barcău. He insisted on building a stone church to replace the old wooden one. Ioan Lazăr had four sons: Mihailă, Gavril, Ioan-Dumitru, and Ștefan. The latter became a priest and provost in the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Oradea and was the father of Teodor Lazăr and the grandfather of Aurel Lazăr. At the end of 1897, Aurel Lazăr married Valeria Fejer, the daughter of lawyer Gheorghe Fejer from Ineu (Arad). A vital member of the Romanian National Party, Lazăr participated in the Great Unification and served in legislative and judicial roles.
Your walking tour could start at the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, a spiritual cornerstone of Oradea, reflecting centuries of faith and community. As you meander through the city, you approach the grand Moskovits Palace and the elegant Stern Palace, each a testament to the opulent past and architectural splendor of the city.
Passing the Apollo Palace, you're reminded of the city's artistic and theatrical heritage, culminating at the grand Maria Theater, a cultural beacon that has hosted countless performances. Nearby, the central Piata Unirii (Union Square) is not just the heart of the city but also a gateway to the Black Eagle Palace, an icon of Art Nouveau architecture.
As you explore, the cityscape tells stories of Oradea's literary circles and poets who frequented these landmarks, weaving a rich tapestry of cultural and intellectual history. The Black Eagle Palace, in particular, with its cafes and halls, might have been the very place where literary societies gathered, and muses were met, against a backdrop of architectural beauty. This is a journey not just through the streets of Oradea but through the annals of its vibrant cultural and literary past.
