Cluj-Napoca, the fourth most populous city in Romania, is situated on the river-bank of Small Somes 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. Considered the unofficial capital of this historical province, this urban centre has had the privilege of being raised and developed on one of the main axes of comunication, which has tied from old times Western Europe to the Est and South of Europe.

After being inhabited from antiquity by the local „daci”, it was conquered by the Romans in 101-106 AD. The first mention of the name Napoca dates to 108 AD and the first official record of „Clus” to 1213. Throughout the history it has been the capital of the Roman province Dacia Porolissensis as well as the capital of the Grand Principality of Transylvania in the Austrian Empire. After World War I, Cluj along with the rest of Transylvania, became part of the Kingdom of Romania, and later on the Republic of Romania. Starting with 1974, the county capital was officially named “Cluj Napoca”.

Due to the rich historical documentation and to its intern harmony, Cluj-Napoca is one of the main cities in Romania. It has a diverse and growing cultural scene, with cultural life exhibited in a number of fields, including the visual arts, performing arts and nightlife: two drama theaters, two opera houses, two puppet theatre, the Filarmonic, several 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 one in Europe, a true botanical treasure, with a wide variety of plants, some of which are very rare.

The Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF) has been organised anually since 2001 and the Gay Film Nights festival  since 2004. Fête de la Musique,is a music festival that takes place every year in June, organised under the aegis of the French Cultural Centre and in September, the Transilvania Philarmonic hosts a Classical Music Festival. Septemberfest, modelled after the German Oktoberfest is also a yearly occurence.

The oldest residence in Cluj-Napoca is the house of Matthias Corvinus, the birthplace of Matthias I, King of Hungary and Croatia, and later on King of Bohemia and Duke of Austria. Other notable landmarks are St. Michael's Church (the oldest and most representative Gothic-style building in the country, dating back to the 14th century), the Baroque Bánffy Palace, the eclectic and baroque–rococo Palace of Justice, the National Theatre and the Iuliu Maniu „Mirror street” as well as the Art Nouveau/Secession Szeky Palace. The Bontida Bánffy Castle—once known as "the Versailles of Transylvania" is situated closesly by.

For those more nature oriented, the Turda Gorges, Baisoara winter resort and Feleac Hill ski resort are only a short drive away. In the city, the Central Park (founded during the 19th century and including an artificial lake with an island, as well as the largest casino in the city) as well as the Hasdeu Park (within the eponymous student housing district), the high-elevation Cetatuia Park and nearby Hoia forest (which hosts the ethnographical park, with exhibits dating back to 1678) provide ample green spaces.

                                                      Medicalis 2012 - Street View