Săcele Explained

Type:municipality
County:Brașov
Official Name:Săcele
Other Name:Négyfalu
Leader Name:Virgil Popa[1]
Leader Party:PSD
Term:2020 - 2024
Coordinates:45.62°N 25.7097°W
Elevation:717
Elevation Min:650
Area Total:320
Population Total:auto
Postal Code:505600
Area Code:(+40) 02 68

Săcele (in Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan pronounced as /səˈt͡ʃele/; German: Siebendörfer; Hungarian: Négyfalu, between 1950 and 2001 Szecseleváros) is a city in Brașov County, Romania, in the Burzenland area of southeastern Transylvania, with a population of 30,920 inhabitants in 2021. It is adjacent to the city of Brașov, its city centre being situated 15km (09miles) away from downtown Brașov.[2]

History

The city since 1950 is composed of former villages which now form the main sectors: Baciu (Bácsfalu, Batschendorf), Turcheș (Türkös, Türkeschdorf), Cernatu (Csernátfalu, Zerndorf), and Satulung (Hosszúfalu, Langendorf). After the second half of the 11th century the villages were mentioned as "septem villae valacheles" (seven Vlach villages).

The first official mention of Săcele was an act issued on May 16, 1366, by the Hungarian King Ludovic I de Anjou in which he offers the area between the Timiș and Olt rivers to a trusted friend—Count Stanislav. Later it was under the Saxon management of Kronstadt (Brașov). Between the 13th and 14th centuries, an important Hungarian population settled in the region, marking the further development of the area.

During the Middle Ages three other villages belonged to the locality: Tărlungeni, Zizin, and Cărpiniș.

The Romanian name "Săcele" was first mentioned in a letter between the Wallachian Prince Vlad Călugărul (1482–1495) and the magistrate of Brașov. The Romanian etymology of "Săcele" is from "sătucele" meaning "small villages".

The German name was "Siebendörfen" which means "seven villages" and which is close to the Hungarian name "Hétfalu" or "Négyfalu". See also Seven 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 "Sîntilie" (Saint Elijah) festival, national costumes, etc.

After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, the city diversified its economy. In Săcele there are nowadays several small furniture factories, lumber-mills, as well as meat-packaging facilities.

Climate

Săcele has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb in the Köppen climate classification).

Buildings and monuments

The city has 17 churches of the following denominations: Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed, Roman Catholic.

The Orthodox Baciu Church, Turcheș Church, Cernatu Church and, in Satulung, the Dormition and Archangels churches are historic monuments.

There is a copy of the Capitoline Wolf in Săcele.[3]

Education

Săcele houses two highs schools: the George Moroianu Theoretical High School[4] and the István Zajzoni Rab Theoretical High School.[5]

Sport

The local football team is FC Precizia Săcele, currently playing in Liga IV. Its home ground is Stadionul Electro-Precizia.

Population

According to the 2021 census, Săcele has a population of 30,920.[6] At the 2011 census, the city had a population of 30,798 of which 75.1% were Romanians, 23% Hungarians, 1.2% Roma, and 0.2% Germans. At the 2002 census, 69% were 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.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Romania.

Săcele is twinned with:

Natives

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Results of the 2020 local elections . Central Electoral Bureau . 9 June 2021 . dmy-all.
  2. Web site: Despre Săcele. municipiulsacele.ro. Săcele mayoralty. ro. November 11, 2020.
  3. Web site: Lupoaica din Săcele: Obiective turistice Brașov. ro. destepti.ro. August 11, 2016. August 30, 2021.
  4. Web site: Liceul Teoretic "George Moroianu". ro. www.georgemoroianu.ro. November 29, 2021.
  5. Web site: Zajzoni Rab István Középiskola. hu. www.liceulzajzoni.ro. November 29, 2021.
  6. Web site: Populația rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021. INSSE. ro. 31 May 2023.
  7. Web site: National Commission for Decentralised cooperation. 2013-12-26. Délégation pour l’Action Extérieure des Collectivités Territoriales (Ministère des Affaires étrangères). French. dead. https://archive.today/20131127063207/http://www.cncd.fr/frontoffice/bdd-region.asp?action=getRegion&id=4#tabs3. 2013-11-27.