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A medieval country fair
Cluj-Napoca is located in the western part of the Transylvanian
plateau, where the hills region ends and the territory of
Gilaului Mountains begins.
On such crossroads, where the hill men used to meet the field
men, in order to trade their goods, had been formed most of
the country fairs, lately developed into the medieval cities
of Transylvania. They had different ranks, being included
in the Hungarian Crown, such as: Sibiu, Brasov, Sighisoara,
Aiud, Medias, ecc.
One of this medieval cities, Cluj, gains the prestige and
nick name of the "treasure city of Transylvania".
The name explanation and some historical headlights
The name Cluj, probably comes from Latin, from CLUSIUM and
also from the geographical setting, meaning a narrow place,
closed between the hills. A local, dacian settlement is mentioned
by the roman historian Ptolemeus, with the name of NAPUCA,
in the III-II BC, by the times when the Romans conquered Dacia.
The archeological site is identified today in the northern
area of Cluj, in the suburb called Someseni.
But, the oldest historical roots of Cluj, go down to the Pre-historical
times, the human presence being archeologically documented
in this area, with about 120,000 -80,000 years forth, in the
Paleolitic age.
During the Roman Age, the settlement has different status
in the hierarchy of the roman settlements, from vicus (a rural
area) to municipium, (urban settlement) in the times of Hadrianus
(118-119 AC) the capital of the region, under Marcus Aurelius
(164-180 AC).The name is also changed, from Napuca comes to
the present name of NAPOCA.
In the early Middle Ages, we read in the documents about the
CASTRUM CLUS and from the XI-th century, about KOLOSVAR, an
Hungarian royal fortress, as from now on Transylvania is part
of the Hungarian Crown for about 6 centuries.
The German colonists are brought here
by the Hungarian king Istvan the IV-th, between 1270 - 1272,
from this point, the settlement gaining also a german name:
KLAUSENBURG. A new status is given, by the Emperor Carol Robert
of Anjou, in 1316, when becoming a CIVITAS, its inhabitants
are also provided with the legal right of fortifying their
settlement: new walls of the fortress, defeating towers and
observation military structures are built.
Under the Hungarian kings, Cluj is provided with many privileges
and is often financially supported by the Crown in order to
develop. The explanation comes from the fact that Cluj isthe
native city of 2 great Hungarian kings: Mathias Corvinus (born
in 1443) and Istvan Bacsai (born in 1557).
Very prosperous years are during the XVI th century, Cluj
being the most important city of Transylvania, autonomous
principality under the turks suzerainty, after 1541.
On the back round of the religious wars, which spread all
over Europe, once that Luther displays in 1517, his complains
against the catholic institutions and priests, once that the
reformed cults gain more and more former catholic territories,
Cluj also becomes the most important Transylvanian center
of the protestant cults. In this context, the Council of Transylvania
(Dieta), held in Turda, proclaims for the first time in the
world, the freedom of religions and manages to avoid a civil
war in the principality. The catholic restoration will come
together with the instauration of the Austrian domination
in Transylvania, after 1686.
Between 1790-1848, Cluj is the official capital of Transylvania,
the Government (Guberniul) and all the important institutions
being sheltered by the new monumental buildings raised up
for this new and important status. At the end of the XVII
th century, the population is about 30.000 people and the
city is enriched with glamorous civilian residences: palaces
and head offices for the different institutions, and beautiful
churches for the different cults, built in baroque and neoclassical
styles.
At the end of the XIX th century, the huge delay reflected
in the building styles, between Transylvania and Central Europe
is canceled, very beautiful still standing in the city center,
art nouveau and secession administrative palaces being raised
up. In 1918, when Transylvania is united with Romania, Cluj
continues to play a very important act in the political and
cultural life of Transylvania. Here, had been strong public
protest in 1940, against the Treaty of Wien, which decided
that Transylvania will go back to the Fascist Hungary.
In December 1989, during the anti-communist revolution, 27
people lost their lives in the center of Cluj, for their courage
of rising up against the dictatorial regime of Ceausescu.
An academic city
There are 120.000 students every
year in Cluj, tudying in one big old and prestigious University,
which is Babes-Bolyai and in some newer, private ones. Many
are the cultural institutions, such as: The Central Library
Lucian Blaga, The Fine Arts Institute, The Conservatory and
3 theaters, the Romanian Opera, a Philharmonic Orchestra and
countless museums, the biggest Botanical Garden in eastern
Europe, The British, French and German Institute, and many
more.
CITY TOURS
All the tours provide the understanding of the social, ethnical,
political, religious, cultural past and present, as they are
reflected in the local mentality.
Our proposals follow a specialized route:
a) HISTORICAL-ARCHITECTURAL TOUR
Includes a historical discussion focused on Cluj and Transylvania,
figured on the presentation of the main sites, from archeology
to contemporary settings, in a chronological order.
Duration: 2-3 hours.
Price: 30 Euros - 1 person, 40 Euros - 2 and 3 persons, from
4 persons up: 10 Euros/person.
b) ARCHITECTURAL-STYLISTICAL TOUR
Stresses a presentation of the most valuable monuments, headlights
the construction styles and techniques which were preferred
by the upper class in different historical times in Transylvania.
Duration: 2-3 hours.
Price: 30 Euros - 1 person, 40 Euros - 2 and 3 persons, from
4 persons up: 10 Euros/person.
c) RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVE TOUR
Focused on Cluj as a historical center, where all the important
Christian cults were represented and they managed to live
together along the centuries, with good and worse episodes
The churches of Cluj, beautiful Transylvanian features of
gothic, baroque, neoclassical style will help us understand
better the Transylvanian conditions of life and the religious
climate from the 12th to the 19th century.
Duration: 2-3
hours.
Price: 30 Euros - 1 person, 40 Euros - 2 and 3 persons, from
4 persons up: 10 Euros/person.
d) BASIC CLUJ
This tour combines information and visits from every field;
from history to ethnography, from architecture and fine arts
to handy crafts shopping, pointing out the main "needs"
to be visit in Cluj.
Duration: 2-3 hours.
Price: 30 Euros - 1 person, 40 Euros - 2 and 3 persons, from
4 persons up: 10 Euros/person.
e) MUSEUMS TOUR
We provide professional art guides for those interested into
the in door culture, such as: the Fine Arts Museum, the History
Museum of Transylvania, the enchanting Museum of the Farmacy
(first drug store, set in 1537) and out door settings, such
as the Etnographic Park or the biggest Botanical garden in
eastern Europe.
Duration: 4 hours.
Price:
40 Euros - 1 person, 50 Euros - 2 and 3 persons, 12 Euros/person
for more than 3 people.
Retro Travel - your travel partner in Transylvania!
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