Harghita County

Description:

Geographical situation

                In the central part of Romania, in the middle group of the eastern Carpathians and in the east of the Transylvanian Plateau, the county covers the upper basins of the Mures, Olt, Tâmava Mare and Trotus rivers.

 

Neighbours

                In the north: Suceava County, in the east: Neamt and Bacãu Counties, in the south: Covasna and Brasov Counties, in the west: Mures County.

 

Surface

                6,639 square km (respectively 2,8% of the country's territory).

 

Population

345,000 inhabitants.

 

Towns

                Miercurea Ciucis the  capital of the countyand it has 46,000 inhabitants

 

Relief

                The county is dominated by mountains (in the east the Giurgeu Mountains - 1545 m, the Hasmas Mountains - 1,793 m, the Ciuc - 1,490 m, the Bistr4a, in the west the Caliman Mountains - with lezeru Calimanului 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 Tamave Plateau), intra-alpine depressions (Giurgeu, Ciuc, Gheorgheni, Bilbor, Borsec).

 

Climate

                It is varied, the depressions are characterised 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 June 5- 18°C.

 

Watercourses

                The Mures, the Tamava Mare and Tarnava Mica in the west, the Olt (with the RâuI Negru and the two Homoroade) in the south, the Bistrita and the Trotus, in the east. The hydrographic network is completed with mineral water springs and mofettes (emissions of carbon dioxide and sulphuretted hydrogen), with healing purpose (Borsec, Tusnad) and with the volcanic lake Sfânta Ana, or Karst lakes in the salt massifs of Praid, the natural dam lake - the Red Lake - between the Suhard and Ghilcos Mountains.

 

Touristic Attractions

Mountains

                The Hasmau Mare Mountains are situated in the centre of the Eastern Carpathians and are a very important touristic place due to their landscape (culminating with their impressive Gorges of Bicazul) and to the attraction they offer to climbers-

                Other mountains: The Ciuc Mountains stretches between the springs of Olt and the Casin Pass, fragmented by rivers, with mild slopes, The Harghita Mountains.

 

Caves

•                 The Meresti Cave,is situated on the Varghis Valley
•                 The Sugau Cave, accessible from the village of Voslabeni
•                 Other caves: The Ice Cave and Bears' Cave, near Borsec spa.

 

Gorges

•                 The Gorges of Bicaz
  

 

Lakes

•                 The Red Lake
  
•                 Saint Ana Lake

 

Preserves and monuments of nature

                The Moors from Valea Mijlocie, in the Olt meadow, south of TusnaduI Nou, home of the small beech tree, Siberian species at its most southern location.

                Other preserves and monuments of nature: The Moors from Sâncraieni-Ciuc, 7 km from Miercurea Ciuc, permanently supplied with warm water, The Benes Moors in Tusnad, The "Dupa Lunca"  Moors in Voslabeni, The Salt Mountain in Praid, The Snail Hill in Corund.

 

Spas and Touristical Health Resorts

                Borsec (26 km from TopIita), famous spa with old tradition situated in a natural pictoresque landscape, in the depression with the same name, between the Giurgeu and Bistrita Mountains, at an altitude of 850 - 1000. Its mineral waters are known and recommended for their healing qualities by Italian doctor Burcella since 1594. The Borsec water is a famous drinking water. The international acknowledgement of the healing qualities of these waters came with a series of prestigious awards in Vienna, Paris, Berlin, TriesteYou can get there: by train- Toplita railway station, on Bucharest - Brasov - Ciceu- Satu Mare line, then by bus, by road ON 12 Brasov - TopIita and then ON 15 to the spa.

                Baile Tusnad is situated at 37 km south of Miercurea Ciuc and 67 km from Braso. You can get there: by train - Tusnad-Bai station on Bucharest - Brasov - Satu Mare line, by road - ON 12 from Brasov or from Miercurea Ciuc, ON 11 from Onesti.

                Lacul Rosu (The Red Lake), is situated at 30 km from Gheorgheni and 30 km from Bicaz.
                Other spas and resorts: lzvorul Muresului-spa (18 km south of Gheorgheni, at an altitude of 900 m), Baile Jigodin-spa (3 km from Miercurea Ciuc, at an altitude of 650 m), Praid-Spa (Ia 7 km de Sovata), important for the salt mine microclimate, Bade Homorod-spa (17 km from Odorheiu Secuiesc, at an altitude of 725 m), Toplita (37 km from Gheorgheni).

 

Historical vestiges

                Vestiges of Miko Fortress in Mirecurea . Today it lodges the Ethnographic Museum of the county.

                Other historical vestiges: Vestiges of the Dacian Fortress Sangidava in Toplita, Ruins of the Roman Camp in Odorheiu Secuiesc, Lazar Castle in Lazarea, the Transylvanian prince.

 

Religious buildings

                The Baroque Complex from Somuleu in Miercurea Ciuc, it was built in 1804 on the place of the Franciscan Church built in 1442 by lancu de Hunedoara. It hosts one of the biggest organs in Transylvania.

                Other religious buildings: Unitarian Church in Cristuru Secuiesc (11th century), repairs in the 15^th century, Church Feliceni (i2th - 13th century), the ceiling was painted in 1670, Church Misentea (13^th century), with valuable sculptures. Fortified Roman- Catholic Church in Carta (1444), it still preserves original Gothic elements, Roman-Catholic Church in Gheorgheni (1498), later rebuilt, "Sfântu Margareta" Chapel in Sântimbru (15th century), with wall paintings, Roman-Catholic Church in Armaseni (16th century), in Late Gothic style, with valuable inner wall paintings dating from 1655, Church Delnita (16^th century), in Renaissance style, the only church in this area with external wall paintings.