Mures County

Description:

Geographical position

                Central-northern Romania, in the middle basin of the Mures River, in the central Transylvanian Plateau.

 

Neighbours

                On the north: Bistrita-Nasaud and Suceava Counties, on the east: Harghita County, on the south: Brasov and Sibiu Counties, on the west: Alba and Cluj Counties.

 

Surface

                6,714 sq. km (respectively 2,8% of the country's)

 

Population

                604,000 inhabitants.

 

Towns

                Târgu Mures, county capital, with 166,000 inhabitants, on the left bank of Mures, at the crossroads of picturesque hills. Other towns: lernut, Ludus, Reghin, Sighisoara, Sovata, Tarnaveni.

 

Relief

                Is very varied and harmonious, slowly descending in levels from the volcanic peaks of the Calimani Mountains (impressive mountains with their highest peak Pietrosu of 1,102 m) and of the Gurghiu Mountains, on the east, separated by the narrow pass Mures - Toplita - Deda, towards south-west in the Tâmave Plateau (heights of 500 - 600 m separated by deep valleys with terraces), to the centre of the Transylvanian Plateau (500 m height and smooth structures and long slopes), on the north- west.

 

Climate

                Is moderate with 127 days of frost, random rain-falls and winds blowing from the north-west. Average temperature in January -2 - -10°C, and in July 10 - 22°C.

 

Watercourses

                Mures River with its tributaries; Niraj, Gurghiu, Paraul de Câmpie, Comlod, Tâmava Mare, Tâmava Mica, with wide valleys and great flows, as well as salt water lakes in Sovata (with healing qualities) and Ursu Lake (with a unique feature in Europe - the heliothermy).

 

Touristic sights

Passes

                Mures Pass (between Toplita and Deda) where the river breaks through the volcanic mountains (Calimani on the north and Gurghiu on the south) creating a narrow corridor with spectacular sights (rocks, peaks, a delightful river bed). The pass is easy to reach with chalets and camping facilities, as surface).

Reservation of Steppe Peony (up north-west of Zau de Campie Village), the only place in Carpathians where this plant grows. During their blossoming season (May), the beautiful meadow attracts many lovers of nature.

                Mociar Forest, forest reservation (12 km far from Gurghiu) with oaks older than 400 years.

 

Spas and Touristical Health Resorts

 

Sovata (15 km far from Târgu Mures) is situated at the foot of Gurghiu Mountains at an altitude of 475 - 530 m and was mentioned as healing place since 1597. The sub-alpine climate is relaxing for the nervous system, winters are mild and summers are chilly. The comfortable hotels of the spa offer modern treatment facilities (for warm mineral salt water baths, hot mud treatments, kinetotherapy, electro and hydrotherapy). The highly efficient cure factors are related to the presence of the heliothermal lakes in this region. The most representative is Ursu Lake which presents the heliotherapy phenomenon, namely a thermal stratification of water depth-increasing salt concentration up to a certain level (3 - 3,5 m). On the surface, the water temperature is lower, the same with that of the environment and it gradually increases down to 3 m, and then is lower or constant. Thus, at the most favourable depth for the human body (1,5 - 2 m) during summer, the water temperature varies between 30 - 40°C. The Negru Lake (Black Lake) is rich in sapropelic mud, and the Alunis Lake in clay-silicious mud. The Verde (Green) and Rosu (Red) Lake located at the foot of the Salt Mountain" form an interesting natural picture. The spa has a lake (good for fishing) fitted with a landing pier, boats, as well as a ski slope with babylift. All of these make Sovata a great place for rest and leisure.

                Other spas: Sangeorgiu de Mures, 6 km far from Targu Mures.

 

Historical vestiges

                Sighisoara Fortress

                The Clock Tower in Sighisoara

                The VIad Dracul House in Sighisoara

                The Medieval Fortress in Targu Mures

                The Stair Passage in Sighisoara

                The Ruins of the Bethlen Castle in Cris (19 km far from Sighisoara)

                Gornesti Castle in Gomesti (17 km far from Târgu Mures)

                Brâncovenesti Castle in Brâncovenesti (1557 - 1558)

 

Religious buildings

                The Church on the Hill in Sighisoara, one of the oldest churches in Romania, documentarily mentioned in 1345. It keeps beautiful decorative sculptures in flamboyant Gothic style and valuable mural paintings (15th century). The church dominates the town with the size of its walls.

                Church of the Dominican Monastery in Sighisoara, was documentarily attested in 1298 and later suffered a series of changes. It exhibits items of great artistic value (Oriental carpets).

                Reformed Church in Tãrgu Mures, interesting monument of architecture in Gothic style. Its construction began in 1316 and was completed in 1442 with the support of the Prince lancu de Hunedoara.

                Other religious buildings: Fortified Church in Daia (1457), Fortified Church in Saschiz, Evangelical Church in Reghin (1300 - 1330), Church of the Leprous in Sighisoara, 15th century Gothic Church, that served as asylum for leprous in the following centuries, Roman- Catholic Church in Târgu Mures, was built by Jesuit friars between 1728 - 1750.

 

Cultural buildings

                Teleki Library in Targu Mures, one of the richest collections of old books in Transylvania, centre of European culture in the past centuries. It was founded by Count Samuel Teleki, former chancellor of Transylvania, at the end of the 18th century. In 1802, it became the first public library in our country. The library holds more than 200,000 volumes (after the association with the Bolyai Library), some of them of exceptional value. The same building (historical monument, 1799 - 1803) hosts the Bolyai Memorial Museum which, together with the library exhibitions, are visited by a lot of Romanian and foreign tourists every year.

                Palace of Culture in Târgu Mures, one of the most impressive buildings in the city was built between 1911 - 1913. The facade is artistically adorned with remarkable statues and bas-reliefs. The famous Hall of Mirrors" draws the attention by the great number of stained glass windows (skilfully manufactured), of Venice mirrors and elegant furniture. The building concentrates several cultural institutions: the State Philarmonic and Theatre, Museum of Art