Dating

In 1727, on this site there was a barracks, afterwards known as the Chamber Administration House, where in 1752 the Catholic bishop also lived. Being built before drawing the new rectangular system of streets, the ground floor building was “rounded” unto the fortress streets network. Between 1754 and 1758, the fortress’ flour warehouse was also added. The Dicasterial Palace was built between 1855 and 1860.

Architectural style

Romantic style, with Tuscany Renaissance elements (mainly Florentine). Architectural language elements used are similar to those in the Palazzo Strozzi and Palazzo Pitti in Florence.

Typical of buildings completed after 1849 is that they have three to four levels, exceeding by far in size the smaller urban tissue from the rest of the Cetate district. With its huge proportions and dimensions, it reflects the neoabsolutist state, established after the defeat of the Revolution.

Other information

After the young Hungarian Republic defeat in 1849 by the Russian and Austrian armies, Hungary was divided into five “crown countries” (Kronländer), an “ad hoc” invention in the Austrian Empire (until then there only existed “hereditary countries” – Erbländer). The “Crown Land” Banat of Temeschwar and Serbian Vojvodina had its capital at Timişoara.

The Dicasterial Palace was built as its seat of “government”. In 1860, when the building was finished, the “Land” was abolished, Banat being once again adjoined to Hungary. Timişoara was no longer the capital of the “Land”, but only a county capital, and thus no government office was need.

Today the building, which has over 300 rooms, arranged around three courtyards, houses justice institutions.

People from Timişoara used to say about this building that it “has one window for each day of the year”. In reality, the Dicasterial Palace has over 400 windows.