Salaj Information
General info
Geographical position
North-western Romania, at the limit between Western and Eastern Carpathians, one of the smallest counties of the country in terms of surface and population.
Neighbours
On the north: Satu-Mare County, on the southwest: Bihor County, on the south-east: Cluj County.
Surface
3,864 sq. km (respectively 1.6% of the country’s territory).
Population
261,000 inhabitants.
Towns
Zalău, county capital, with 70,000 inhabitants, on the north-west end of the Meseşului Mountains, with an attractive natural scenery and beautiful sights, a lot of recreation and relaxation facilities: Someş Pass, Barcăul Gorges, Bizuşa mineral waters or Boghis thermal waters. Other towns: Cehu Silvaniei, Jibou, Şimleu Silvaniei.
Relief
Is varied and formed of four physical geographical areas: the mountain area (on the central south part it includes Meseşul Ridge, with Măgura Priei Peak of 997 m and Plopişului Peak, through the north-eastern mountainside with heights of 600 - 900 m), depression area (in the east part, represented by Almaşul Depression, drained by Almaşul Valley and Guruslăul Depression on the Someş Valley), hilly area (the largest, but not very high, is part of Someş Plateau or Someş Platform, with Sălajana Platform of 150 - 300 m, with slow hills crossed by the large valleys of Barcăul, Crasnei and Sălaj rivers and Silvana Hills), plain area (large meadows of Someş, Barcău, Crasna rivers).
Climate
Is mild continental, the annual average temperature ranges between 7.50C and 90C, and random rainfall, the main direction of the wind is from southwest and south-east.
Watercourses
Are uniformly distributed: Someş river crossing 70 km of the county and its tributaries: Almaşul, Crasna, together with Agrijul, Barcăul, Sălajul, Zalău.
Touristic sights
Gorges and narrow paths pass
The Old Woman’s Gorges (in Poienii Valley) the gorges are situated between Poiana Blenchii and Baba (Old Woman) and accompanied by the road that connects the two towns: Galgău with Târgu Lăpus (Maramureş County). Barcăul Gorges (between Tusa and Sag), impressive and unexpectedly beautiful due to their picturesqueness.
Reservations and natural monuments
„Ogres’ Garden“ (near Galgăul Almaşului), is a geological and geo-morphological reservation with an interesting relief in the form of ruins due to erosion and numerous land slides. Other reservations and natural monuments: Daffodils Clearing in Racâş, Reservation of Motley Tulipsin Cehu Silvanei.
Historical vestiges
Porolissum Fortress in Moigrad, a Dacian fortress next to which a Roman military establishment was built (on Pomat Hill), was an extravagant construction, among the larges constructions in Dacia. Next to it a civil establishment developed, which later was ranked municipal establishment becoming Dacia Porolissensium’s capital. Out of the ancient capital it remained the temples, an amphitheatre (which indicates an intense cultural life), necropolises, baths. Roman Military Establishment in Buciumi was a fortified point of the Roman Dacia’s defense system to protect Porolissum. The stone establishment was built in 114 A.D. and was the headquarters of Cohors II Augusta Brittonum garrison. Medieval Fortress in Almas, one of the oldest and strongest fortresses of Transylvania in the Middle Ages, built between 1249 - 1278, it was used as a refuge and protection establishment and was owned by Transylvanian princes and then by Petru Rareş (1545 - 1546). Nowadays it came to ruin. The Ruins of Feudal Fortress in Cheud documentarily mentioned in 1387, imposing ruins of 8 m height. Fortress Măgura Şimleului (16th century), built by Sigismund Bathory, representative for the Renaissance architecture of Transylvania, now it came to ruin. Fortress Şimleu Silvanei, built in 1532 by the Bathory family, some parts of the walls, two towers and the entrance gate are still standing. Other historical vestiges: Roman Military Establishment in RomânaşI, Roman Military Establishment in Jibou, Wesseleny Castle in Jibou, built between 1779 - 1810 on two floors. It is one of the largest Baroque constructions of Transylvania, Fortified Castle in Cehu Silvanei, built in 1526 by the county ruler Dragfi Janos, „Csaky“ Castle in Almaşul (1815 - 1819), situated in the middle of a park.
Religious buildings
Wooden Church in Fidu de Sus, is an historic monument of great artistic value and one of the most beautiful achievements of the Romanian folklore architecture. It was built in 1727, its steeple is 40 m high, the interior paintings were executed in 1856. Church in Uileacu Şimleului, built in 1260 - 1300 in Romanic style, is the only fortified church of the region and has a great historic value. Other religious buildings: Benedictine Monastery in Şimleu Silvaniei (1300), Church Crasna, built between 1380 - 1400 in Gothic style, the paintings were executed in 1736, Reformed Church in Cehu Silvanei, founded by the Dragu family in 1519, Roman-Catholic Church in Măgura-Şimleu (1532), in Gothic style, Reformed Church in Almaşul (1640) with painted ceiling, Wooden Church in Cricova (18th century).
Monuments and statues
Commemorative Monument in Guraslău was constructed to celebrate the victory of the great Prince Michael the Brave over the army of Sigismund Bathory. This last battle of Michael the Brave took place on August 3rd, 1601. Simon Bărnuţiu Monument in Bocşa, erected in honour of the philosopher, politician and revolutionist (1808 - 1864) born in Bocşa (memorial museum).
Ethnography
Among the numerous ethnographic elements of this interesting region it is worth mentioning: the artistic wood processing (Fildu de Jos, Creaga, Buciumi), the wooden gates sculptured with floral and geometric patterns (Fildu de Mijloc), the wicker and straw works (Cristur-Crişeni, Var, Thau), the pottery (Buciumi), the folkloric costumes beautifully adorned, the house-woven tissues, the embroidery (Agry, Mesesenii de Jos, Moigrad).
