The Maria Theresia Bastion (Bastionul Maria Theresia) is the largest preserved part of the defensive wall of the old citadel of Timișoara. The bastion covers about 1.7 hectares and is named after the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa.
The bastion was built between 1732 and 1734, as the first of 9 bastions to reinforce the former fortifications of Timișoara which were deemed unsuitable to cope with the modernized fighting techniques of the time. In 1744 the bastion was named after Maria Theresia in honor of the Archduchess of Austria.
Over time the Maria Theresia Bastion has served various purposes. It was once the residence of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Timișoara, it has housed several workshops, warehouses, different schools, a printing house, and a state archive.
At the end of the 19th century, most of the fortifications of Timișoara were demolished to accommodate the expansion of the city. The Maria Theresia Bastion was however spared because the building still had useful rooms along its entire lenght. Between 1968 and 1969 a restoration took place and a passage through the bastion for cars and other traffic was made following the plans of the architect Ștefan Iojică. Another restoration took place between 2008 and 2010.
The Maria Theresia Bastion currently houses an exhibition space of the National Museum of Banat, a library, and several commercial spaces, including an art gallery, bars and restaurants.
