Anina

Anina is a town in Caraș-Severin County, Banat, Romania.

Anina is located between Cheile Nerei-Beușnița National Park and Semenic-Cheile Carașului National Park.

Understand

Anina is located in the forested mountains of the same name, which represent the extension of the southern mountains of the Western Carpathians. The city is named after the Romanian word for alder (anin). It is predominantly a mining town that developed around coal mines. Unfortunately, after 1989, the town recorded a strong economic downturn. The first inhabitants of Anina were the Austrian settlers' families, who have reached the present territory of the city, founding the colony workers Steierdorf. In 1774, colonists from Austria were brought, and then a Slovak colony, counting already 300 inhabitants. In January 1945, local Germans are taken to be deported to forced labor in the Soviet Union. In 1952, this place acquires the status of city area, known as Anina. In 1996 the decline of mining begins, the mines being closed one by one.

Get in

By car

• about 32 km from Reșița, on Route 58
• 33 km from Oravița, on Route 57B
• 34 km from Bozovici, on Route 57B

Hitchiking to and from Reșița is relatively simple. The place to wait in Reșița is the bus station near the Lidl supermarket.

By train

Given that a lot of people come to Anina to ride the Anina-Oravița railway, getting in by train is a natural choice. The train leaves Oravița at 11:15 and arrives in Anina at 13:05. It returns to Oravița at 13:30. (as of December 2014)

By bus

The bus schedule is subject to often changes and information is rarely posted on official sites such as www.autogari.ro. The information below is to give you a rough idea, please contact locals for the most up-to-date bus schedules!

• from and to Reșița hourly minibuses between 08:00 and 15:00 leaving Reșița from the bus stop near Lidl. During the weekend, the schedule is rather random. The seem to only leave when there are enough people, which is almost never. Better hitchhike.
• from and to Timișoara buses leave from Timișoara official bus stop (autogara) at 11:30 (arrives in Anina around 15:30); 13:30 (arrives in Anina around 17:30); 14:00 (arrives in Anina around 18:00). In Anina buses to Timișoara stop in the bus stops in the Center and the center of Steierdorf village. First bus leaves at 4:30 in the morning (arrives in Timisoara around 8:30); 5:30 (arrives in Timisoara around 9:30); 11:30 (arrives in Timisoara around 15:30)

Get around

The city is not so big and thus quite walkable, but a car is required to get around to all the sights and activities. On mountain routes, the best way to travel is, besides walking, using jeeps or off-road motorcycles.

In terms of administrative and urban planning, the city is organized into four main districts: - Anina - Steierdorf - Brădet district - New Town neighborhood

See

Anina-Oravița Railway

The mountains of Anina are formed 70% of karst rocks and the waters have carved various specific formations such as waterfalls, slopes, caves, gorges. Anina is linked to Oravița city by the oldest mountain railway in the country. Although tourism infrastructure is not up to acceptable standards, nearby there are a number of sites that deserve attention:

• 1 Mărghitaș Lake (Lacul Mărghitaș). 
• 2 Mărghitaș Cave (Peștera Mărghitaș). 
• 3 Buhui Lake (Lacul Buhui). The first artificial lake in Romania and Anina water supply 
• 4 Buhui Cave (Peștera Buhui). With a total length of 3217 meters, is one of the largest caves in Banat and in the country, not only impressive in size, but also the wide variety of issues, because of the fossil halls and galleries loaded with concrete. It has a scientific importance due to karst hydrology and bio-speleological problems. Therefore it was proposed in 1969 as a Speleological reserve. The visit of the main gallery can be done only by trained and hardy tourists, led by an experienced caver to explore the cave with water. They should be equipped with long rubber boots, overalls, helmet, means individual lighting, inflatable boat. It's recommended visiting only low water and avoiding pollution of any kind of the underground water course, because the water is drinkable. Visiting time (by foot and boat): a day. 
• 5 Bone Cave (Peștera cu Oase). In 2002, here were discovered the oldest remains of modern human in Europe, about 40,000 years old, called John of Anina 
• Miniș Gorge (Cheile Minișului). 

Do

• 1 Anina Railway Station (Gara Anina). Starting (or ending) point of the Anina-Oravița Railway. The railway was the first mountain railway to be built in Romania, 1856. It is still in use today for touristic purposes, and it is one of the most beautiful railways in Europe due to very picturesque landscapes, viaducts and long tunnels. 

Events

• Fasang party, every year in February
• in 20 and 21 May, Anina days are celebrated, dedicated to the Orthodox cathedral. On this occasion, an outdoor celebration with Romanian folk music and fireworks is organized.
• in June, the festival celebrates the Roman-Catholic church from Steierdorf, the famous KIRCHWEIH. Celebrating Kirchweih is a traditional event, with two distinct sides: a religious side, representing the anniversary of the consecration of the Holy Trinity church and a cultural side, organized by the German Democratic Forum, the City Council and City of Anina. This cultural-religious demonstration is intended to be an expression of cultural identity, language and port for the German minority Steierdorf - Anina. Also, there is the presentation of German folk from other parts of the Banat plain and mountain. Band playing traditional German marches in the area – the event message is the good agreement between the nationalities of the city Anina.
• In October, the celebration of German Culture Decade in Banat and the Banat brass bands festival take place. It is a popular event, with concerts and vendors.

Buy

There are several small shops for daily shopping and a farmers' market.

Eat

• 1 The Gallery. Cute pizza place decorated with vintage photos and with a friendly owner. Has free wifi. 
• 2 Vallvip. Pizza and some other simple dishes. Has free wifi. 

Sleep

During the summer, Anina is a popular tourist destination.

• 1 Pensiunea Anina, Strada Miniş 4, Anina, ☏ +40 745 152 770. Has a rustic, outdoorsy feel. (updated Mar 2021)
• 2 Pensiunea Casa Piri, Strada Stadionului 4, Anina, ☏ +40 770 927 909. This accommodation is pretty inviting with a pool and jacuzzi and outdoor patio seating with the surrounding mountains in view. 132 lei. (updated Mar 2021)
• 3 Pensiunea Muntii Aninei, Colonia I a 1, Steierdorf (about 5 km south of Anina), ☏ +40 733 680 003. A bit like a country lodge with a restaurant and pool table. Probably a good choice for those wanting to experience the natural side of Romania. (updated Mar 2021)

Go next

• go east on the Miniș valley to see the famous Bigăr waterfall (listed under Cheile Nerei-Beușnița National Park)
• go west to Oravița
• go to the south-west (via Oravița) to Sasca Montană, a gateway to the Cheile Nerei-Beușnița National Park