The Banat- melting pot of cultures

Ethnic groups

Though, the Romanian Banat still represents a melting pot of multiple ethnic groups, which have been influencing life and culture of the region until now. Apart from Romanians there are also residents with Hungarian, Serbian and Croatian roots. But even Roma, Bulgarians, Slovaks, Czechs, Ukrainians and others consider the Banat to be their home. Also the inhabitants with German roots have had an important influence on life of the Banat region. Residing under the custodial care of the Austrian monarchy in the 18th century, soon they were principally influencing the development of their new home area. But not only did they have an influence on economy and landscape of the region. Until the end of 2nd world war the so- called „Banat Swabians“ represented the strongest ethnic group in many villages and cities of the Banat. That way they also had a huge influence on cultural and linguist developments. The deportation to the Soviet Union, starting in 1945 and an emigration- wave to the federal republic of Germany in the 1980s and 1990s made the number of inhabitants with German origin decrease heavily.