Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca is situated on the river-bank of Small Somes (Samus, according to the antique name), in the crossing area between Apuseni Mountains and the Somesean Plateau, occupying approximately the middle position in reference to the North, South, West and Est of Transilvania, This urban centre has had the privilege of raising and developing on one of the main axes of comunication which tied from old times Western Europe to the Est and South of Europe.
Its historical centre was inhabited in antiquity by the ‘daci’, naming it NAPOCA. After the romans took over Dacia (105-106 A.C.) Napoca became the capital of the county (119 A.C).
The latin name Clus was mentioned for the first time in 1173. Starting with 1974, the county capital was officially named “Cluj Napoca”.
Cluj has had a major contribution to the union of Transilvania and Romania in 1918, event that afirmed and reenforced national unity and supremacy. The union of Transilvania and Romania led to a strong development of Cluj in all fields.
Due to the rich historical documentation and to its intern harmony, Cluj-Napoca is one of the main centres of Romania, an European city, with a large willingness to colaboration and partnership with cities from all the continents. As a culturally marked centre, Cluj Napoca has as main elements the two drama theaters, two opera houses, two puppet theatre, four culture houses, the Filarmonic, the chain of museums: of art, of farmacy, history of Transilvania, of the village, mineralogy and zoo. A special place is taken by the Botanical Garden, the second most important in Europe, actual botanical treasure, with a wide variety of plants, some of which very rare.
Cluj’s cultural display has to be completed by the presence of the three large librarys: The “Lucian Blaga” Central Universitary Library with valuable unique books, The Academies Library and The “Octavian Goga” County Library, as well as the “Emil Isac” Memorial House etc.
Tourist Information
Situated at the crossing of roads of national and international importance, county capital Cluj Napoca continuosly built a tourist attraction centre, due to monuments belonging to the historical past, as well as to the rich cultural-scientifical activity favorised by inestimated values placed in museums and libraries of national importance, by the existence of the drama and liric theaters of wide international audience and last but not least by the existence of the Botanic Garden – place of european notoriety, in which lies a valuable botanic museum. Tourist hosting is ensured by a chain of 14 hotels (2121 places), a motel
(17 places) and 2 camping spaces (1330 places). To get to know better the surroundings and to cross easier different places, touristical itineraries for mountain and road have been arranged.
