| GENERAL INFORMATION
ABOUT HARGHITA COUNTY |
| |
| Short History of
Haghita County |
| The teritory of
Harghita county has
been populated already
from time immemorial. The old settlements discovered in the area, prove the presence of different material and
spiritual cultures along the
centuries. During the X. and
the XI. centuries settled down here the székelys (szeklers). They have spoken
the Hungarian language and had the |
| the mission to defend the borders of
Transylvania. In exchange they were
let to guide and
organize themselves according to their own laws. The Tartars have
overrun |
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| the county several times, in 1241, in 1661 and in 1694,
killing many people and burning down everything. The existence of
many settlements is mentioned for the first time in 1332-1333. Also from this period is dated the
presence of some Romanian communities in the area. Numerous wars shook the earth of the county. The szeklers had to fight |
| fight against the Turks for years and than against the Austrian
oppression for their independence and autonomy, in 1690, 1764 and in 1848 with the occasion of great
revolution. Transylvania was part of Hungary till the end of 1918. Since
1919, started a new phase in the history of the region and in the integration
of the szeklers into the political and economical life of Romania. |
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| Geographical
situation |
| In the central part
of Romania, in the middle group of the eastern Carpathians and in the east of
the Transylvanian Plateau. |
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| Neighbours |
| In the north: Suceava
County, in the east: Neamţ and Bacău Counties, in the south: Covasna and
Braşov Counties, in the west: Mureş County. |
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| Surface |
| 6.639 km2 |
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| Population |
| 345.000 inhabitants |
| |
| Towns |
| Miercurea-Ciuc was
founded in the 16th century near by existing localities as: Şumuleu (1333),
Topliţa-Ciuc and Jigodin (the XII-XIIIth century) villages - with which it
has since merged - in the flood area of the Olt river where market (peasant
fairs) was held on Wednesdays (hungarian - szerda). Other towns: Odorheiu Secuiesc, Gheorgheni, Cristuru Secuiesc,
Băile Tuşnad, Topliţa, Borsec, Bălan, Vlăhiţa. |
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| Relief |
| The county is
dominated by mountains ( in the east the Giurgeu Mountains 1.545 m, the
Hăşmaş Mountains 1.793 m, the Ciuc 1.490 m, the Bistriţa, in the vest the
Căliman Mountains with Iezeru Călimanului peak 2.031 m, in the centre, the
Gurghiu Mountains 1.777 m, the Harghita Mountains 1.801 m), hills (parts
of the Transylvanian Sub-Carpathians the Târnave Plateau), intra-alpine
depressions (Giurgeu, Ciuc, Gheorgheni, Bilbor, Borsec) |
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| Climate |
| It is varied, the
depressions are characterized by long, cold winters and enough hot summers,
more than 160 days a year with temperatures below 0 C, in low areas. Late
frosts (even in June) or early in autumn (even in September) can happen here.
The average temperature in January is -4 - -10 C and in July 5-18 C. |
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| Watercourses |
| The Mureş, the
Târnava Mare and Târnava Mică in west, the Olt in the south, the Bistriţa and
the Trotuş, in the east. The hidrographic network is completed with mineral
water springs and mofettes, with healing purpose (Borsec, Tuşnad) and with
the volcanic lake Sfântu Ana, or Karst lakes in the salt massifs of Praid,
the natural dam lake the Red Lake between the Suhard and Ghilcoş
Mountains. |
| TOURISTIC ATRACTIONS |
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| Mountains: |
| The
Hăşmaşu Mare Mountains are situated in the centre of
the Eastern Carpathians and are very important touristic place due to their
landscape and to the attraction they offer to climbers. |
| Other mountains: The Ciuc Mountains stretches between the spring
of Olt and the Caşin Pass, fragmented by rivers, with mild slopes, The
Harghita Mountains. |
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| Caves: |
| The Mereşti Cave, on
the Vârghiş Valley, the longest cave in the Eastern Carpathians. |
| The Şugău Cave, accessible from the village of Voşlobeni, with three superposed
entrances. |
| Other caves: The Ice Cave and Bears Cave, near Borsec spa. |
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| Gorges: |
| The Gorges of Bicaz (3
km away from Lacul Roşu), the famous gorges are cut by the Bicaz river in the
limestone of the Hăşmaş Massif, on a length of 8 km. From the road crossing
this wild region, connecting Transylvania with Moldavia, one can admire
unique beautis. Thus, here and there, we see steep walls, called pietre
(rocks): Piatra Altarului (1.121 m in altitude), Piatra Arşitei, Piatra
Singuratică. The central part, called Gâtul Iadului (Hells Neck),
impresses by its aspect of canyon. The teritory of the gorges has been
declared monument of nature and forms a complex preserve, geological,
floristic and faunistic. |
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| Lakes: |
| The Red Lake (30 km from Gheorgheni and 30
km from Bicaz), the biggest natural dam lake in Romania. It took birth in
1837 by the collapse of a huge tract of soil from the north eastern side of
the Ucigaşul Mountain. The area surrounding the lake was declared floristic
and faunistic preserve. |
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| Saint Ana Lake (17 km from Bixad), it is
situated in the Ciomatu Mare massif in the Harghita Mountains, at an altitude
of 950 m. It is the only lake in Central Europe formed in a volcano crater.
It is the main point of attraction for thousands of visitors arrived to rest
in the resorts of the upper Olt. The area surrounding the lake forms a
complex geological and floristic preserve. |
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| Preserves and
monuments of nature: |
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The Moors from Valea
Mijlocie, in the Olt meadow, south of Tuşnadul Nou, home of
the small beech tree, Siberian species at its most southern location.
Other preserves and monuments of nature: The Moors from Sâncrăieni Ciuc,
permanently supplied with warm water, The Beneş
Moors in Tuşnad, The După
Luncă Moors in Voşlobeni, The
Salt Mountain in Praid, The
Snail Hill in Corund.
|
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| Historical vestiges: |
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| Vestiges of Miko
Fortress in Miercurea Ciuc, it was built in 1621, on the
foundation of a previous fortress, at the order of the royal councilor Miko
Ferencz; later it was rebuilt. Today it hosts the Ethnographic Museum of the
county. |
| Other historical vestiges: Vestiges of the Dacian Fortress
Sangidava in Topliţa, Ruins of the Roman Camp in Odorheiu Secuiesc, Lazăr
Castle in Lăzarea, Medieval Fortress in Odorheiu Secuiesc, Peasant Fortress
in Cârţa, Ruins of Both Fortress in Gheorgheni. |
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| Religious buildings: |
| The Baroque Complex from Şumuleu in Miercurea
Ciuc, it was built in 1804 on the place of the Franciscan Church built in
1442 by Iancu de Hunedoara. It hosts one of the biggest organs in
Transylvania. |
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Other religious
buildings: Unitarian Church in
Cristuru Secuiesc, Church Feliceni, Church Misentea,
Fortified Roman-Catholic Church in Cârţa, Roman-Catholic
Church in
Gheorgheni, Sfântu Margareta Chapel in Sântimbru, Roman-Catholic Church in Armăşeni, Church Delniţa. |
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| Other touristic atractions: |
| Băile Homorod |
|
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| The bath is situated
in the valley of Homorodul Mare and Fürdő stream (height 740-760 m). It is 18
km away from Odorheiu Secuiesc. |
| Băile
Seiche |
|
| Baile
Seiche is the holiday centre of Odorhiu Secuiesc. Its name is closely related
to the name of Balázs Orbán who was buried here. |
| Corund |
|
| Large commune of Harghita county, one of the most famous
settlements of Sóvidék. The name of
Corund is inseparable from the folk ceramics and pot industry. |
| Inlăceni |
|
| Inlăceni is one of the most interesting settlements of the
former Tinutul Odorheiului, today's Harghita county. It shows several
architectural and cultural history values. |
| Izvoare |
|
| The village lies in the valley of the Ivo Stream, in the western
foreground of the Central Harghita, at 750-800 m altitude. The abode can be
approached along a forestier road leading to the Harghita-Madaras (8 km). |
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| Lupeni |
|
| Lupeni is the most significant community of the Nicaul de Sus.
Lupeni and the name of Áron Tamási - the village and the writer live
together in the mind of the locals. |
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| Lutiţa |
|
The name of Lutiţa is closely connected to the Szekler national
assembly of 1506 as well as with the events of the meeting of 1848. These
historical events were of great impor-
tance for the Szeklers. |
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| Praid |
| Praid is the natural centre of the Szekler 'Salt Country', one
of the most important salt-mine places of the Carpathian Basin. The salt dome
of Praid is the 'bread' of the locals. The development of the village is
closely related to the salt mines. |
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| Harghita
Băi |
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| Today the settlement belongs to Miercurea-Ciuc, and it is a real
ski-paradise for the inhabitants of the town. It was registered in 1898. It
is an alpine-type resort lying at 1,300 - 1,400 m altitude. |
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| Jigodin |
|
| Today Jigodin belongs to Miercurea-Ciuc
as its southern outskirt. Together with Jigodin Baths it has united with
Miercurea-Ciuc. Its name is closely related to the works of Imre Nagy, the
famous Szekler painter (1893-1976). |
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| Tuşnad |
|
| Situated in the dike of the Tusnad Stream at 672 m altitude,
Tuşnad-Sat is a significant village of Lower Ciuc. It is largest seed-potato
growing place in the country. |
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| Şumuleu |
|
| Sumuleu-Ciuc was and has remained the centre of faith and
culture in the protecting love of the Holy Virgin, the still living
mythology. The keeping force of this belief still lives in the Szeklers'
minds. |
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| Izvorul
Mureşului |
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| Izvorul
Mureşului is an alpine settlement situated in the southern foreground of the
Hasmasu Mare (1,793 m), at the foot of the Muntele Negru (1,538 m). The
resort got its name from the Mures springing in the nearby. |
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