<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Today we travel to Romania’s central-western part, in
\nthe county of Cluj. Cluj-Napoca is the county seat and one of Romania’s leading
\nacademic centers. In 2015, Cluj-Napoca was designated the European Capital of
\nYouth. So we start off through the city, which is a very, very special one.
\nWe’re actually heading towards the county’s most attractive tourist assets. Our
\nguide for the trip is an official of the Cluj-Napoca Municipality’s Tourism
\nInformation and Promotion Center, Karin Elisabeth Hann. Right from the start,
\nshe told us the city’s tourism offer is extremely generous. The origin of that
\nis the city’s special flavor, provided by the two-thousand-year-old history of
\nthe settlement. So the municipality’s historical center is the ideal starting
\npoint for the tourists who have more than on option at their fingertips.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Karin Elisabeth Hann: <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They have several routes to choose
\nfrom. The Gothic Cluj, the Baroque Cluj, then there’s also the historical
\nsquares Route or the religious and the palaces buildings Route. By all means,
\nCluj-Napoca is one of Europe’s most accessible and tempting cities, since it
\nhas been included des in several European and world rankings because of its
\nliving standard or the urban and youth policies. For a tourist, our city has
\nabout all the ingredients it needs, to be attractive. The medial city accrued
\nwithin the fortified precincts, with their towers and bastions, just like in
\nany other old city in Transylvania. Later, Cluj-Napoca was mainly inhabited by
\nHungarians and Romanians, while after World War One, he city became part of
\nthen the Romanian kingdom.<\/p>\n
\n
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<\/p>\n
We continue our journey with another guide by our
\nside, another official working with the Cluj County’s National Information and
\nTourism Promotion Center, Raisa Losonti:<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The main square which is worth visiting and where tourists need to take
\ntheir time as they’re strolling along is the Union Square, whose asset is Saint
\nMichael’s Catholic Church. It is an important Gothic building whose main tower
\nhas an impressive 80-meter height. Center-stage in the same square is the
\nHungarian king Mattias Corvinus, who was born in Cluj, in a house which lies at
\nless than 500 meters away from the statue. The Art Museum can also be found in
\nthe Union Square, it is an important palace, built in Baroque style, which is
\nhome to art collections which are highly relevant as regards fine arts trends
\nin Transylvania, but also at national level. The visit should continue with
\nTransylvania’s Ethnographic Museum, with lots of traditional outfit exhibits on
\ndisplay. The museum’s outdoor section is known as the Ethnographic Park. Here
\nyou can find an appreciable number of wooden houses, but also churches.<\/p>\n
\n
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For their greater part, the buildings on Cluj Napoca have
\nbeen refurbished via a program that was initiated a couple of years back. They
\nare private property. A great many modernizing works have been performed once
\nEuropean funds were accessed. For instance, this year, Romania’s first smart
\nstreet was inaugurated. It has a sensor-based irrigation system, a modern
\npedestrian lane, it also has means or prioritizing the non motorized means of
\ntransport. Locals and tourists have four areas where they can charge their
\nelectric cars, bicycles or their kick scooters, also available for them are
\nfree Wi-Fi and USB sockets if they want to charge their mobile devices. The
\npublic lighting system is also smart. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Karin Elisabeth Hann:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The tourist who comes to us is sure
\nto find a complete offer of outdoor, adventure or niche tourism. Also, at international
\nlevel the tendency exists, that of yet again getting closer to traditional
\nvalues. There is the Blue Butterfly realm, a micro-region brand which brings
\ntogether 12 communes from the Little Somes River Valley. The brand promotes the
\ntraditional and anthropic heritage, but also the locals of the area. Certain
\nlocal festival are held there, such as the one dedicated to the plum marmalade,
\nprepared after a traditional technique on woodfire, with no sugar added. A
\nLavender Festival is also held, but also picnics held in traditional
\nhouseholds, aristocratic or traditional dinners, dance camps any many other
\nsuch events. Then I should also like to mention the Calata Country, a
\npredominantly Hungarian area, including Cluj County’s western part and part of
\nSalaj County. It is renowned for the decorative patterns that can be found in
\nthe local outfit but also in their traditional households. And, last but not
\nthe least, I should recommend the fortresses erected in Calata Country: the
\nfortress in Bologa, the Fortress in Aghiresu, the Liteni Fortress, the Fetei
\nFortress or the Fortress in Gilau. There also also several local Saxon museums,
\none-of-a-kind assets in this part of the country. I could also mention the
\nBuffalo Museum in the commune of Baciu, the Archaic Museum in the village of
\nVlaha, the water mill in Bologa.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Other tourist routes include the ecumenical Cluj;
\nvisitors can pick the fortified or the wooden churches route. And, if you’re
\nmore into winter sports, you can find dedicated ski slopes in the Apuseni
\nMountains. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Karin Elisabeth Hann with Cluj Napoca Municipality’s
\nTourism Information and Promotion Center invites you to access visitcluj.ro, a
\nsite with versions in widely-spoken or regional languages. If you hit the tourism
\ninformation center, you have free-of-charge access to the Internet and the
\ndatabase with accommodation units and event organizers. You will also get maps,
\nleaflets or brochures in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian,
\nHebrew, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Turkish and Korean. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Raisa Losonti with the Cluj County’s Tourism
\nInformation and Promotion Center once again, this time introducing two more
\nspecial destinations:<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Turda salt mine is a genuine
\nmuseum of Transylvania’s salt mining industry, at once being a modern treatment
\nfacility for respiratory diseases. Lots of ways for visitors to spend their leisure time are available on the premises, including children: a bowling lane, a Ferris wheel.
\nYou can also descend to a subterraneous lake in the Terezia Mine, where you can
\nhave a short boat trip. Close by, you can find the Turda Gorges, a natural
\nattraction offering a rocky show along a distance of 2 kilometers, with a
\nvertical height of around 200 meters. Those who are more into adrenaline rush
\ncan do their rock climbing, since a Via Ferrata route was set up there. The
\nTureni Gorges, another much-appreciated destination, can also be found close
\nby, being parallel with Turda Gorges. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Karin Elisabeth Hann with Cluj Napoca Municipality’s
\nTourism Information and Promotion Center invites you to access visitcluj.ro, a
\nsite with versions in widely-spoken or regional languages. If you hit the
\ntourism information center, you have free-of-charge access to the Internet and
\nthe database providing info on accommodation units and event organizers. You will also get
\nmaps, leaflets or brochures in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish,
\nHungarian, Hebrew, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Turkish and Korean. <\/p>\n
(Translation by Eugen Nasta)<\/p>\n
\n
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