Siret

For the river Siret, see Siret River. For the archaeologist, see Luis Siret.
Siret
Town

The statue of Margareta Muşat, downtown Siret

Coat of arms
Siret

Location of Siret

Coordinates: 47°57′11″N 26°4′21″E / 47.95306°N 26.07250°ECoordinates: 47°57′11″N 26°4′21″E / 47.95306°N 26.07250°E
Country  Romania
County Suceava County
Status Town
Government
 • Mayor Adrian Popoiu (Social-Liberal Union)
Area
 • Total 43.40 km2 (16.76 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)[1]
 • Total Decrease7,721
 • Density 178/km2 (460/sq mi)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Website Official site

Siret (Romanian pronunciation: [siˈret]; German: Sereth; Polish: Seret; Hungarian: Szeretvásár) is a town in Suceava County, north-eastern Romania. It is situated in the historical region of Bukovina. Siret is the eleventh largest urban settlement in the county, with a population of 7,721 inhabitants, according to the 2011 census. It is one of the oldest towns in Romania and it was the capital of the former principality of Moldavia, in the late 14th century. The town administers two villages: Mănăstioara and Pădureni.

Geography

The town of Siret is located at the north-eastern limit of Suceava County, 2 kilometres (1 mile) from the border with Ukraine, being one of the main border passing points in the north of the country, having both a road border post and a rail connection.

The rail is on a standard gauge on the Romanian side and continues as a Russian-style broad gauge into Ukraine. Siret (actually the nearby border passing point called Vicşani - Vadul Siret) is one of the few places in Romania which provides a gauge change equipment, allowing transportation without transfer.

Siret is situated at the half distance between Chernivtsi and Suceava, on the right banks of Siret River. The European route E85 crosses the city.

History

Holy Trinity Church (1352), one of the oldest in Romania

During 1211-1225, on a hill near Siret was built a fortress by the Teutonic Knights. In 1241 the town and the Teutonic castle were destroyed by the Tatars. The first document of Siret dates back to 1339, according to some historical sources. The town was the capital of the former principality of Moldavia, in the late 14th century.

The Russian Army conquered the town in 1770, and as a consequence, an epidemic of cholera broke out. Together with the rest of Bukovina, Siret was under the rule of the Habsburg Monarchy (later Austria-Hungary) from 1775 to 1918.

At the beginning of the Twentieth century there was a prominent Jewish community, but most have now emigrated to Israel. Other denominations in the town are Romanian Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic and Protestant.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1910 7,948—    
1930 9,905+24.6%
1948 8,058−18.6%
1956 5,664−29.7%
1966 8,018+41.6%
1977 8,264+3.1%
1992 10,071+21.9%
2002 9,329−7.4%
2011 7,721−17.2%
Source: Census data

Siret reached its peak population in 1992, when more than 10,000 people were living within the town limits.

According to the 2011 census data, 7,721 inhabitants lived in Siret, a decrease from the figure recorded at the 2002 census, when the town had a population of 9,329 inhabitants. In 2011, of the total population, 95.85% were ethnic Romanians, 2.55% Ukrainians, 0.72% Poles, 0.42% Germans and 0.28% Russians and Lipovans.

Siret is the eleventh most populated urban locality in Suceava County.

Natives

International relations

Siret is a member of the Douzelage, a unique town twinning association of 24 towns across the European Union. This active town twinning began in 1991 and there are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals.[2][3] Discussions regarding membership are also in hand with three further towns (Agros in Cyprus, Škofja Loka in Slovenia, and Tryavna in Bulgaria).

Twin towns - sister cities

Siret is twinned with:

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "Suceava County at the 2011 census" (in Romanian). INSSE. February 2, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Douzelage.org: Home". www.douzelage.org. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Douzelage.org: Member Towns". www.douzelage.org. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Partnerstwo Samorządów Siłą Europy". Europa Miast (in Polish). Retrieved 2013-08-13.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Siret.