Place Attachment Assessment through the Lens of Territorial Identity: The Town of Oraviţa as a Case Study (Romania)

Abstract

This study focuses on the analysis of place attachment related to the elements of territorial identity in Oraviţa, a small town in the Mountainous Banat. Oraviţa played a highly significant role from an economic and administrative point of view during the Austrian domination: it was the urban centre that coordinated the mining activity on the territory of Mountainous Banat. This study aims to assess the place attachment to several symbolic buildings in Oraviţa that have been identified as elements of territorial identity. In order to fulfil the purpose of this study, the following research questions were established: What are the main elements of territorial identity in Oraviţa represented in postcards over time? Which of the identified elements of territorial identity are currently being promoted and valued by the local public administration? What are the elements of territorial identity of Oraviţa to which the population is attached? From a methodological point of view, the authors used postcards to identify the elements of territorial identity. Subsequently, the place attachment to the representative historical buildings of Oraviţa was interpreted based on the analysis of the information posted on sites developed by members of the local community. In conclusion, the authors highlighted the particular characteristics of the urban fabric of Oraviţa and their various ways of use, elements through which the physical and social attachment of the local population were preserved.

Contingent Valuation of Built Cultural Heritage in a Small Town: Oraviţa (Romania)

“…The train station in Oraviţa was mentioned by 92 people who would be willing to contribute financially to its preservation (Figure 3). The building was inaugurated in 1847 and is related to the construction of the first railway line in the country (Oraviţa-Baziaş) [8]. The third building menționed by the respondents (68 people) is the former town hall (Figure 4).…”

“…The town was an important administrative and economic center in the Mountainous Banat between the second half of the 18th century and the first part of the 20th century. În 1926, Oraviţa became the residence of Caraş County until after the Second World War [8]. In terms of economic importance, Oraviţa was the administrative center of mining activity of the Mountainous Banat during the Austrian occupation.…”

“…In terms of economic importance, Oraviţa was the administrative center of mining activity of the Mountainous Banat during the Austrian occupation. During the communist era, the town lost its administrative function [8]. The economic and administrative importance of Oraviţa contributed to the creation of cultural, administrative or economic institutions, some of them being imposing: the theater, the building of the former prefecture (current town hall), the headquarters of the National Bank.…”

“…The economic and administrative importance of Oraviţa contributed to the creation of cultural, administrative or economic institutions, some of them being imposing: the theater, the building of the former prefecture (current town hall), the headquarters of the National Bank. Cultural and administrative institutions shaped an intense socio-cultural life that facilitated a harmonious cohabitation of the local community with ethnic groups who were colonized in Oraviţa from different areas of the Habsburg Empire, which led to the formation of an ethnic and religious conglomerate [8]. Thus, Oraviţa has a series of cultural and economic objectives that are unique at national level: the oldest theater and the oldest train station in Romania.…”

“…The development of tourism is also correlated with the need to ensure the conservation and capitalization of the elements of cultural heritage. Some small towns face the problem of deteriorating heritage properties [5,7], and lack of conservation and restoration funds [8]. Small towns are individualized from a tourist point of view by historical values related to a long evolution, sometimes having a relatively varied ethnic structure [4], to which are added the elements of cultural heritage, local gastronomy [3,4].…”