Heritage of Timișoara

Fabric 3 Episcop Joseph Nischbach str.

Károly Mühlbach House

Completion date:

October 27, 1891

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Former Owner: Erszébet (Varga) Mühlbach Károly (Karl) Mühlbach
  • Owner: "Status Quo" Jewish Community of Fabric
  • Construction authorization: April 13, 1891
  • Property type: Private property
  • Protection type: Architectural Ensemble
    Urban ensemble "Fabric" (II)
    TM-II-a-A-06097
  • Main arch. style Historicist/Eclectic
  • Current condition Fair
  • Planimetry Rectangular Complex
  • No. of levels 1
  • Current functions Single property




In 1858, south of the boulevard currently known as ”3 August 1919”, between Romanilor (Romans’) Square and Regina Maria (Queen Mary) Park, lay The Rope Makers’ Field (Seiler Wiese). Then, in the second half of the 19th century, the place was a park (the so-called Vorpark) which belonged to the city after the army had given it up condition that it regularly be maintained. However, the park was neglected and used mainly as playground and for setting up market stalls.  

In 1888, although the army opposed the decision, the town decided to divide the park into 26 plots (on condition that on Andrássy Way, currently ”3 August 1919” Boulevard, all the buildings will be two storey high). Among those who purchased the plots, the members of the Kunz family saw the potential of real estate in the area and bought 6 plots. 

The plot that the building presented here is located on was initially owned by Josef Kunz, the bricks and sodium manufacturer, who paid for it  2119 crowns (the equivalent from forints) in 1889. Subsequently, Kunz sold the plot to Károly (Karl) Mühlbach, the city’s former chief prosecutor. The building permit for a one storey building was issued to Mühlbach on 13 April 1891 and the works were finished on 27 October 1891.

In April 1905, the former prosecutor’s wife, Erszebet Mühlbach (born Varga), sold the house to the "Status Quo" Jewis Community in Fabric for 28,000 crowns. 

Károly Mühlbach had entered civil service in 1878 as deputy prosecutor. He later became chief prosecutor. He stayed in function until retiring in 1890 and died in 1910. 

The building was home to rabbi Dr. Ernest Neumann who spent his last years here. He was the last resident rabbi of Timișoara (an information provided by the rabbi’s daughter, the writer Gretta Neumann). In honour of the rabbi, the street was given his name.

Authors of this file:

Research & text: Alexandra Palconi-Sitov

Field research & mapping: arh. Vlad Pată

Translation into English: Cristina Chira

Photographer: Flavius Neamciuc

Last modified: 2 years ago

Published on: 05 May 2020

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