| Săcele Szecseleváros |
|
|---|---|
| — Municipality — | |
| Location of Săcele | |
| Location in Brașov County | |
|
Săcele
Szecseleváros |
|
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Romania |
| County | Braşov County |
| Status | Municipality |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Radu Nistor Florea (Democratic Liberal Party) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 320 km2 (123.6 sq mi) |
| Population (2002) | |
| • Total | 30,043 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Website | http://www.municipiulsacele.ro/ |
Săcele (Romanian pronunciation: [səˈt͡ʃele]; German: Siebendörfer, Hungarian: Szecseleváros or Négyfalu) is a city in Braşov County, Romania, in the region of Transylvania, with a population of 29,915 inhabitants in 2002. It is practically adjacent to the city of Braşov, its city centre being situated 15 km away from downtown Braşov.
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The city is now composed of former villages which now form the main sectors: Baciu (Bácsfalu, Batschendorf), Turcheş (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 Tarlung rivers to a trusted friend - Count Stanislav. Later it was under the Saxon management of Kronstadt (Braşov).
The German name was "Siebendörfen" which means "seven villages" and which is close to the Hungarian name "Hétfalu" or "Négyfalu". During the middle ages three other villages belonged to the nowadays four, those three were: Tatrang, Zajzon and Pürkerec. 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 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.
The city has 17 churches of the following denominations: Orthodox, Lutheran, [Reformed], Roman Catholic.
Football team: FC Săcele (playing in the 3rd League).
According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 29,915 of which 71.4% are Romanians, 24% Hungarians, 4.3% Roma and 0.3% Germans. 69% are 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.