Ugron Castle

Three main streets, along with several other side streets, which surround the historic core of Odorheiu Secuiesc, form the center of the city. The Reformed Church, built the middle of it, once split the city in the Lower Square and The Upper Square (today Városháza Square and Márton Áron Square). There are historical buildings and monuments in the center of the city, their architectural style being defined by Baroque, Classicism and the 19th century architecture. Public buildings, churches, shops, all evoke a historic atmosphere, despite the fact that the center has gained its appearance today only in the twentieth century. Text and photo source: http://www.odorhei-turism.ro/

In 2011, the largest statue of Jesus in Eastern Europe was built on Gordon hill in Harghita, between Odorheiu-Secuiesc and Praid. Called “the Heart of Jesus”, the statue is about 22 meters high, and is made of iron and stainless steel. The statue costed 200,000 EUR and was paid by donations gathered by the Lupeni village hall. Inside the statue, there are metallic spiral staircases up to the head, from where you could admire the wonderful view around. Photo: Mihálydeák Antal, Fülöp Attila

The village won the ”Europa Nostra” award. In the Southwestern part of Harghita county, 25 km away from Odorheiu Secuiesc and 18 km away from Cristuru Secuiesc, lies Inlăceni, a village unchanged for hundreds of years, beautiful as in the stories of childhood. The age of the houses is measured in centuries, most of them rural architecture monuments raised in a time when the planks were joined together with wooden slats. They look very similar with each other. Built of stone and wood, they are painted white or azure, covered with tiny tiles made in the village, and the flower garden in front of the house is indelible. The entry in the house is made through a mezzanine, by climbing a wooden ladder or a few steps made of stone. The ground floor and the basement are reserved for the kitchen, the storage rooms and the cellar. But the peculiarity of Inlăceni’s unique status in Romania is the multitude of streets and alleys that cross the village and whose number exceeds that of houses. Slightly concentric, they spread to the four entrances in the village, crossing the property of the people. They are twisted like the mythical edifice built by Dedal, hence the name "labyrinth village", which was assigned to the locality. Cover photo: Mihálydeák Antal  Text and video sources: https://www.descopera.ro; https://www.youtube.com/  Magyar Művészeti Academy of MMA

Closed for restoration. Urmánczy Castle in Toplița/Maroshévíz was built between 1903-1906 on the banks of the Mureş/Maros River. The owner at that time was Urmánczy Jeromos, of Armenian origin, and the architect of the building was Giacomuzzi Virgilio (Vigilio) from Tyrol. The castle is made in the Art Nouveau style, combined with the popular features related to the name of Kós Károly, a special style in the context of the Transylvanian castle architecture. The dominant feature of the castle is the water tower on the right side of the main facade, with the main entrance on the ground floor. Inside the castle, the two-storey tall main hall offers access to the rest of the rooms: to the men's rooms overlooking the garden, to the dining room and to the owners' apartment. Upstairs were the children's rooms and guest rooms, while in the basement there were the servants' rooms, the kitchen, the storerooms and the cellar. Over time, the castle building served as the headquarters of the local hospital, of an ethnographic museum, and of the local dance ensemble. After 2009, the building was returned to the legal heirs. Currently, it has no function, but is open to visitors every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm.

Natur Air Park - NAP Park is a holiday village, located in Zetea-Subcetaea, the immediate vicinity of the Zetea dam - water reservoir. In the gentle lap of wonderful nature, far from the noise of the city. Only the bird chirp and the sound of the stream break the silence. The houses of Nap Park are located 22 kilometers from Odorheiu Secuiesc, at the Southwestern foot of the Harghita mountains, in the valley of Târnava Mare. Thanks to its central location in Szeklerland, it offers an excellent starting point for many tours and sightseeing.  Our wooden houses in the park provide relaxation for those who want to relax. The natural, almost intact environment offers true relaxation for adults and children as well. Not only the body, but the soul is also replenished.

The windmill in Călugăreni/Homoródremete is a monument of local importance. The building from the 19th century is unique in Harghita county. Another curiosity is that at that time a water mill was built next to it. The monument changed its owner in 2001, and the new owner transformed the building in a romantic style. The two-levels building has a round shape and is covered with shingles. The first floor has stone walls, which are divided by simple windows with square closure. At the top of the walls there is only a semicircular window. The windmill, considered a local curiosity, does not work since the 19th Century - it is just a special attraction of the region.

Comăneşti village, which belongs to the Mărtiniș commune, is probably the most peculiar settlement in the region. Comăneşti and Aldea villages were situated along the road linking the Vlăhiţa-Nouă forge with Braşov city. This was a commercial route with heavy traffic until the beginning of the 20th century. After 1918, the map was redesigned, the main road bypassed these villages, the forging operation was gradually stopped and these villages became isolated. These facts contributed to the preservation of the intact buildings of the region, keeping the specific characteristics of the Homorod Valley architecture, of a special beauty, the aspects of a traditional folk architecture, where form and function were organically linked together. Despite the fact that it is a unique village, it now has a bleak, deserted aspect. It has a valuable patrimony, but its stately homes are deserted due to its isolation.

Golgota from Şumuleu, known as "Jesus Pass", is the most famous Cross Station in Transylvania. You can reach the Salvator chapel by following the path through the fir forest, on the Western slopes of the Şumuleu Mic hill. The Stations of the Cross Way, which could be found on the steep slope, represent the passions of Jesus. Many people follow the Way during the Whitsuntide Pilgrimage, praying. The stations declare the faith and the sacrifice of a person or a group. The first written mention of Golgotha from Şumuleu dates back to 1834. After 1868, stone crosses were erected in place of the old wooden ones, but only a few remain today. The new crosses were raised in the early twentieth century and are the work of the sculptor Kovács Béla from Jigodin.

At the Southern edge of Lueta there is the Salt House, which stands out as a monument that supplies not only the Lueta village but also the surrounding ones. In the region there are such houses in Mereşti, Mărtiniș, Corund and Praid, but the villagers believe that here is the best quality salt. The history of the house spans over a hundred years. It was built in 1866 above the fountain (the inscription above the entrance is witness). In 1996, the building received a new roof. The settlement once had a salt mine, but it only worked for a short time. The village was built on a large salt field that is linked to the salt field of Praid. Somewhere below the village, the salt deposit meets a water source resulting the Salt Fountain, the salty solution here being highly concentrated. The locals take great care of the well, from where they get the salt they need.