HUNEDOARA COUNTY, MONOGRAPH ABSTRACT

Hunedoara County, one of the most picturesque counties of Romania.

The harmonious diversity of the landforms is presented in detail, from the plain and the hills to the massifs of the Southern Carpathians’ range and the gentle ridges of the Apuseni Mountains. The slow flowing of the Mureş River crosses the county from the East to the West and the Strei, Cerna, Crişul Alb, Jiu and other rivers weave a dense hydrographic network. The climatic characteristics and the extraordinary richness of the fauna and the flora of the county perfectly complete the chapter dedicated to the natural environment. This chapter places a special focus on the protected areas, which represent an invaluable natural treasure not only of the county, but also of the country, furthermore receiving international appreciation and acknowledgement. Thus, the Retezat National Park, the Grădiştea Muncelului-Cioclovina Natural Park, the Haţeg Country Dinosaurs’ Geopark, the Arboretum of Simeria and a number of more than 30 natural reserves are described in detail, with an emphasis on their most significant and picturesque parts.

In this natural environment of unique beauty, man found favorable living conditions, on the territory of Hunedoara County being discovered the first traces of civilization at Cioclovina, Nandru, Ohaba Ponor. In this manner, the monograph continues with pages dedicated to the history of Hunedoara County, bringing new, unpublished information related to great moments in history. In this space, fundamental chapters of the Romanian history took place: here was the center of the Dacian kingdom ruled by Burebista and Decebal, here was the capital of the Roman Dacia – Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa – and here, a powerful DacoRoman civilization developed; Transylvanian voivodes and princes linked their name to Hunedoara County, to mention only Iancu of Hunedoara and Gabriel Bethlen, both born in Hunedoara County; the revolt of Horea, Cloşca and Crişan, the revolution of 1848, with the emblematic figure of Avram Iancu, the national movement for emancipation under the standard of Supplex Libellus Valachorum represent ‘decisive moments’ not only in the history of Hunedoara County, but also in the history of the entire nation.

Hunedoara County is the guardian of rich and varied ethno-folkloric traditions. The extraordinary legacy of secular and religious customs for all seasons, of traditional garments and crafts, of folk costumes, makes Hunedoara County unique from this point of view. Anyone willing to know this county will discover invaluable, well-preserved, unaltered folk treasures, from the Pădureni County to the Mureş Monografie 537 Valley, from Momârlani County to the gentle ridges of the Apuseni Mountains that guard the Crişul Alb Valley. The beauties of nature, the natural monuments and those belonging to the history and heritage of Hunedoara County, are gathered in a special chapter dedicated to tourism.

This county possesses an extremely rich touristic potential, so that there is almost no place where tourists cannot find sights worthy of interest. The walking trails from the Retezat and the Parâng, the settlements from the Apuseni Mountains, the Dacian monuments, the Roman ruins, the old wooden and stone churches, the castles and fortresses, the picturesque valleys of the rivers that cross the county – all these make the county preserve its attractiveness no matter the season one chooses to visit it. Hunedoara County presents itself to those who want to know it as a county of unique natural beauty, with an existence marked by crucial moments for our national history, with a rich spiritual life and impressive ethno-folkloric treasures. All these are reflected in this monograph of our county, a paper that aimed and hopefully succeeded in offering a genuine visiting card of this county from the heart of Romania.

* from Hunedoara County, monograph abstract  – County Library „Ovid Densusianu”                  

Hunedoara  is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with its capital city at Deva. The county is part of the Danube-Kris-Mures-Tisza Euroregion .

This county has a total area of 7,063 km².

Mainly, the relief is made up of mountains, divided by the Mureș River valley which crosses the county from East to West. To the North side there are the Apuseni Mountains and to the South side there are mountains from the Southern Carpathians group, Parâng Mountains group and Retezat-Godeanu Mountains group: Orastie and Surianu Mountains (South-East), Retezat Mountains (South), Poiana Ruscai Mountains (South-West).

Except from the Mureș River with its tributaries Strei, Râul Mare and Cerna which forms wide valleys, in the North side Crișul Alb River also forms a valley in the Apuseni Mountains – Zarand region. In the South side along the Jiu River with its two branches Jiul de Vest and Jiul de Est, there is a large depression, and an accessible route towards Southern Romania – Oltenia..

Neighbours

Alba County in the East and North.
Arad County, Timiș County and Caraș-Severin County in the West.
Gorj County in the South.