Pinsteps. The Moskovits Miksa Palace in Oradea
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"Unvisitable Monument: About the Moskovits Miksa Palace in Oradea" The palace was built on the order of engineer Moskovits Miksa, who purchased the land in 1904 for 52,000 crowns and lived in the new building. The Moskovits family owned one of the most important enterprises in Oradea at the beginning of the 20th century—Moskovits Mór and Son's Factory for Spirits, Yeast, Rum, Liqueur, and Chemicals. Their products found a market in Serbia and Austria. They even produced and distributed a unique exotic liqueur called "Lotus," made from Nimphaea Lothus Thermalis from the Episcopal Baths (now Baile 1 Mai), with the permission of the then Roman Catholic bishop, Laurențiu Schlauch. The liqueur, dubbed "the table drink of high society," was sold only in select stores and patisseries. Even the poet Ady Endre dedicated some lines to this phenomenon in 1906 ("The Lotus Dies").

Architecture The building was erected between 1904-1905. For the first time in Oradea, ribbed reinforced concrete plates (of the Hennebique type) were used for the load-bearing structure, designed by university professor engineer Zielinszky Szilárd from Budapest. The palace showcases Rimanóczy's particular taste for Munich-derived Secession, also known as Lilienstil—the palace benefits from rich vegetal-symbolic ornamentation, perfect curvature, and finely crafted Secession ironwork. Vegetal elements, long-stemmed curvilinear flowers, are found in all decorated features. The vegetal ornaments are placed under bay windows, consoles, and around lattice openings at the ground level.

The Moskovits Palace has a basement, a high ground floor, a partial mezzanine, and two floors. The basement was for storage, the ground floor for shops and warehouses, and a small two-room apartment with a kitchen in the yard. The entrance on Traian Park Street is accessed through a corridor at the end of the main staircase. A second service staircase is in the wing parallel to the main staircase. The first and second floors have suspended galleries surrounding the courtyard, serving the residences. The apartments have been re-divided over time. Initially, they were more extensive, with three to five rooms facing the street and service spaces facing the inner courtyard (kitchen, pantry, maid's room, etc.).

"The Tree of Life" The vegetal-symbolic characteristics of Lilienstil are best expressed in the decoration of the apse above the corner balcony. The central motif is a woman's head emerging in high relief from a tangle of branches, leaves, and flowers. The lateral motifs consist of a tree with a gnarled trunk adhered to the wall, starting at the balcony level and branching out above the springing line of the arch into threatening, leafless branches resembling deer antlers. A compass and cogwheel can be seen to the left of the woman's head. To the right is Mercury's wand, a symbol of commerce, a hand, and an anvil.

The "Tree of Life" motif in the decoration of the house is a specific Jewish symbol that's been somewhat secularized in this context. Jews played a significant role in the life of Oradea, especially in the latter half of the 19th century. According to Tereza Mozes's research, the Jewish population grew significantly from 1870 to 1900, improving their economic situation. They were involved in grain processing and the food industry and quickly adopted innovative manufacturing techniques.

Contributions from the Jewish community were essential to Oradea's development. Ioan Grunfeld started the first omnibus line; the Sonnenfeld family established the first modern printing house, and Janos Roth was responsible for the city's first telephone network. Moreover, the first alcohol manufacturing factories were set up by the Lederer and Kalman families. Businesses like the Krausz-Moskovits chemical and Moskovits shoe factories were city firsts. Imre Darvas partnered with the wealthy Swiss Alfred La Roche in wood processing, while Dr. Ferenc Berkovits developed the modern water network. Izidor Schwartz managed a carbonated goods manufacturing factory built in the English capital. Numerous smaller Jewish manufacturers were also engaged in various sectors, ranging from textiles and leather to chemicals.


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Evgeny Praisman
Oradea

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.

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Evgeny Praisman (author)
Здравствуйте! Меня зовут Женя, я путешественник и гид. Здесь я публикую свои путешествия и путеводители по городам и странам. Вы можете воспользоваться ими, как готовыми путеводителями, так и ресурсом для создания собственных маршрутов. Некоторые находятся в свободном доступе, некоторые открываются по промо коду. Чтобы получить промо код напишите мне сообщение на телефон +972 537907561 или на epraisman@gmail.com и я с радостью вам помогу! Иначе, зачем я всё это делаю?
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