Country Romania Status Municipality Time zone EET (UTC+2) Population 30,043 (2002) | County Brașov County Lowest elevation 650 m (2,130 ft) Area 320 km² Local time Tuesday 5:13 PM | |
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Weather 10°C, Wind SE at 24 km/h, 76% Humidity | ||
Săcele ([səˈt͡ʃele]; German: Siebendörfer; Hungarian: Négyfalu, formerly Szecseleváros) is a city in Brașov County, Romania, in the region of Transylvania, with a population of 29,915 inhabitants in 2002. It is practically adjacent to the city of Brașov, its city centre being situated 15 km away from downtown Brașov.
Contents
Map of S%C4%83cele, Romania
History
The city since 1950 is composed of former villages which now form the main sectors: Baciu (Bácsfalu, Batschendorf), Turcheș (Türkös, Türkeschdorf), Cernatu (Csernátfalu, Zerndorf) and Satulung (Hosszúfalu, Langendorf).
After the second half of the 11th century the villages are mentioned as "septem villae valacheles" (seven Vlach villages).
The first official mention is an act issued on May 16, 1366, by the Hungarian King Ludovic I de Anjou in which he offers the area between the Timiş and Olt rivers to a trusted friend—Count Stanislav. Later it was under the Saxon management of Kronstadt (Brașov).
During the Middle Ages three other villages belonged to the nowadays four, those three were: Tărlungeni, Zizin and Cărpiniș.
The Romanian name "Săcele" is first mentioned in a letter between the Wallachian Prince Vlad Călugărul (1482–1495) and the magistrate of Braşov.The Romanian etymology of "Săcele" is from "sătucele" meaning "small villages".
The German name was "Siebendörfen" which means "seven villages" and which is close to the Hungarian name "Hétfalu" or "Négyfalu".
The inhabitants were the "mocani"—local shepherds. They are mentioned in a few official documents and appear to have owned thousands of sheep, the villages being among the wealthiest in the area. They carried the local traditions across many Romanian lands due to the transhumance method of shepherding.
Their customs exist to these days: the "Sintilie" (Saint Elijah) festival, national costumes, etc.
Between the 13th and 14th centuries, an important Hungarian population has established in the region and marked the further development of the area.
After the fall of Communism in Romania in 1990, the city has diversified its economy. In Săcele there are nowadays several small furniture factories, lumber-mills, as well as meat-packaging facilities.
Buildings
The city has 17 churches of the following denominations: Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed, Roman Catholic.
Sport
Football team: FC Săcele (playing in the 3rd League).
Population
According to the 2011 census, the town has a population of 26,907 of which 75.1% are Romanians, 23% Hungarians, 1.2% Roma and 0.2% Germans. At the 2002 census, 69% were Romanian Orthodox, 15.2% Evangelical Lutheran, 4.9% Roman Catholic, 3.4% each Reformed and Pentecostal, 1.1% belong to "another religion" and 0.5% Unitarian.
Twin towns – Sister cities
Săcele is twinned with: