Huedin

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Huedin
Location of Huedin
County Cluj County
Status Town (oraş)
Mayor Nicolae Chiş, National Liberal Party, since 2004
Area 61 km²
Population (2002) 9,955
Density 163 inh/km²
Geographical coordinates 46°52′12″N, 23°1′48″E

Huedin (Hungarian: Bánffyhunyad) is a town in Cluj County, Romania.

Huedin is located in the Apuseni Mountains. It is surrounded by the villages of Nearşova, Domoşu de Criş, Horlacea, and others. The village of Bicălatu (Magyarbikal in Hungarian) is also under Huedin's administration. Lately, Huedin has started to be known for its ecotourism initiatives.

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[edit] Population

The 2002 (census data) of the town's population counted 9,439 people, of which 58.45% were ethnic Romanians, 32.49% ethnic Hungarians and 8.97% ethnic Roma.

Huedin
Huedin
Road from Huedin to Bicalatu
Road from Huedin to Bicalatu

[edit] History

The Historical Flag of Huedin during the Kingdom of Hungary
The Historical Flag of Huedin during the Kingdom of Hungary

The town of Huedin was founded in the Middle Ages. From 1330 up until 1848, the landlords of the town were the Bánffy family (see the town's Hungarian name of Bánffyhunyad). The town was part of the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1526, Huedin became part of the Principality of Transylvania and, until 1867, of the Grand Duchy of Transylvania.

The town boasts a strong historical Hungarian heritage. In 1910, the town's population was 5194, of whom 90.5% spoke Hungarian. At that time, 57.5% were Calvinist, 20.7% Jewish, and 10% Roman Catholic. From 1918 to 1940, the town was part of Romania. From 1940-44, it was again part of Hungary, due to the Second Vienna Award. The town is home to a beautiful 13th century Gothic Reformed Church.

[edit] Accessibility

The town is accessible by CFR trains from Cluj-Napoca and other cities, such as Oradea, Timişoara, Satu Mare, Braşov, Predeal, Ploieşti, Bucharest, and Budapest. Huedin also lies at the crossroads between Budapest, Oradea, and Cluj-Napoca.

[edit] External links