Tourism
Cristuru Secuiesc
Cristuru Secuiesc-Székelykeresztúr
A Hungarian city in Romania?
Pronounced “Crisstourou Secou iesque”, Cristuru secuiesc is a small city located in Transylvania, a central-northern region of Romania, in the judeţ (equivalent to the department in France or county in England) of Harghita. It is located at an altitude of 390-395m in a valley surrounded by several hills: Kopacz tető (rising to 717m), Jezuzkiáltó (537m), Hoszsz úláb (556m) and Galat (720m). In 2016 the city had 10796 inhabitants.
Why do we speak Hungarian in Transylvania?
In Cristuru Secuiesc, we speak mainly Hungarian and not Romanian as in the rest of Romania. This is due to the fact that through time, Hungary and Romania have often fought for Transylvania.
In 1867, the Austrian Empire become the Empire of Austria-Hungary, the nobility and the Hungarian Jacobins find an agreement and suppress the autonomy of Transylvania by attaching it directly to Hungary. This inaugurates a policy of forced Magyarization that creates many tensions between the Romanians of Transylvania and their Hungarian neighbors, and "cools" their relations with the Saxons.
In December 1918, following the victory of the Allies during the First World War, Romania recovers Transylvania. Then 1 year later, after the establishment of communism in Hungary the Hungarian government tries to take over Transylvania, but in vain.
*
Magyarization: Action to assimilate Hungarian culture and language.
In March 1940, Hungary join the Axis by the pact signed in Rome on March 27, 1940, then obtain from Hitler the second arbitration of Vienna (or diktat of Vienna according to the Allies) * signed in August 1940, which gives back the northern Transylvania and the Silesian country (Transylvanian region) to Hungary.
* Arbitrations in Vienna: Two Arbitrations under the Influence of Germany and Italy to Peacefully Satisfy Hungary’s Territorial Claims on Territories Lost in 1918, Losses Encumbered in 1920 by the Treaty of Trianon, which Hungary wished to revise. The first arbitration of Vienna took place in 1938 and the second in 1940. They resulted in the dismantling of Czechoslovakia and a significant territorial decrease of Romania.
In August 1944 Romania join the Allies. At the end of the Second World War, the Treaty of Paris (February 1947) restore Transylvania to Romania.
This is why many Hungarians live in Transylvania even though it belongs to Romania. We can also find some Romanian cities in Hungary.
Want to learn more about Transylvania?
Want to learn more about Transylvania with the point of view of a local person? Go read this article
Cristuru Secuiesc
Over time, the city knows many names. It was notably called Szitakeresztúr because of its sieve manufacturers (szita means sieve in Hungarian).
From 1564 to 1876, she was called "Fiúszék" Between the two World Wars she lost her name and from 1933 to 1940 she was named after a murdered Romanian politician, Dúca.
In 1876, Cristuru Secuiesc or Székelykeresztúr was smaller than a village. It was not until 1956 that it became a city and it was not until 1989 that the city finally got the name it bears today.
The economy of this city is based on activities in the fields of furniture manufacturing, construction, manufacture of special steels, food industry (meat processing and milk processing), trade and services. Agriculture (cultivation of the land) and livestock play an important role.
Interested by shepherd job?
Read the article about Balász, shepherd in Transylvania
More articles are coming, do not hesitate to come back and check the other articles!
If this story sparked your interest towards finding out more about Rural Transylvania and possible ways to experience it, you are welcome to contact us.
· Youth Association from Transylvania at office.ata@gmail.com
· Farmers Association from the Cristuru Secuiesc Area at office.aacs@gmail.com
