Moldovenești
| Moldoveneşti Orfalău, Varfalău | |
|---|---|
| Commune | |
 Várfalva község | |
| Coordinates: 46°29′55″N 23°40′13″E / 46.49861°N 23.67028°ECoordinates: 46°29′55″N 23°40′13″E / 46.49861°N 23.67028°E | |
| Country | Romania |
| County | Cluj County |
| Component villages | Bădeni, Moldoveneşti, Pietroasa, Plăieşti, Podeni, Stejeriş |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Paul Kanyaro (since 2004) (UDMR) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 139 km2 (54 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 3,246 |
| • Density | 23/km2 (60/sq mi) |
| Website | Moldoveneşti on the Cluj County Council website (Romanian) |
Moldoveneşti (formerly Orfalău and Varfalău; Hungarian: Várfalva; German: Burgdorf) is a commune in Cluj County, Romania, 12 km southwest of Turda, in the valley of the Arieş.
History
The oldest record about the ancient castle at the village is from 1075, calling the place Castrum Turda (the old Turda Castle). During the Tatar invasions of Hungary in the 13th Century, most of the area around the castle was ravaged. Later, the land was given to free Székelys who moved here from the Saschiz region and the territory became part of Aranyos Seat.
Etymology
The commune was renamed Moldoveneşti in the interwar period, in honour of Ioan Micu Moldovan. The previous name, Varfalău, is derived from Várfalva, which means "village of the castle" in Hungarian.
Component villages
The commune is composed of six villages:
| In Romanian | In Hungarian | Ethnic majority |
|---|---|---|
| Bădeni | Bágyon | Hungarians |
| Moldoveneşti | Várfalva | Hungarians |
| Pietroasa | Csegez | Romanians |
| Podeni | Székelyhidas | Romanians |
| Plăieşti | Kövend | Hungarians |
| Stejeriş | Kercsed | Hungarians |
Vălenii de Arieş (formerly Rachişul de Arieş or for short Rachiş; Aranyosrákos; Krebsbach) was a separate village until 1966, when it was absorbed into Moldoveneşti village.
Population
At the 2011 census, 56.6% of inhabitants were Hungarians, 39.6% Romanians and 3.8% Roma.
Famous natives
- Ioan Micu Moldovan - historian and theologian, member of the Romanian Academy
References
- Atlasul localităţilor judeţului Cluj (Cluj County Localities Atlas), Suncart Publishing House, Cluj-Napoca, ISBN 973-86430-0-7
