Parcul Reconcilierii Arad

The Park of Reconciliation in Arad is a green space with strong symbolic weight, conceived as a place of reconciliation between the history of Romanians and that of Hungarians in Transylvania. At its centre stand two monuments facing each other: the Statue of Liberty, raised in memory of the Hungarian generals executed at Arad in 1849 after the defeat of the revolution, and the Romanian Arch of Triumph, dedicated to the struggle for national rights. Placing the two monuments in the same park, after long disputes, was meant to turn a symbol of tension into one of dialogue and shared memory.

Shaded paths, tidy lawns, and benches also make the park a place for locals to stroll. Visitors find here a lesson in nineteenth-century history and in the complicated relations between the peoples of the region. A careful pause at the explanatory panels helps in understanding the meaning of the place.