What Mures is known for

Targu Mures, often referred to as the "City of Roses," showcases to its visitors the blend of Romanian and Hungarian cultures. Beyond its heritage, this Transylvanian city features many attractions and sights, making it a considerable tourist destination. At the heart of Targu Mures lies Piata Trandafirilor (Roses Square), a central hub with cafes, restaurants, and an array of historical landmarks. Dominating the square is the Culture Palace, an early 20th-century city hall with a stained-glass hall and various local museums. Other notable landmarks include the Apollo Palace and the Old Prefecture. Religious history can be observed at the St. Michael Wooden Orthodox Church, the oldest of its kind in Targu Mures, blending Romanian rural architecture with Baroque influences. Book enthusiasts can visit Teleki Library, founded in the late 18th century, showcasing a collection of first editions, manuscripts documenting Transylvanian history, and mathematical and scientific works. Furthermore, one of the predominant sights in the city is the Targu Mures Fortress, with its medieval military architecture. People can walk through its bastions and walls, which have been restored to their original shape.[6]

Visitors to Mures County seeking outdoor water recreation can travel to Bear Lake in Sovata, the world's largest heliothermic lake. The lake lies within a 79-hectare nature reserve near the Salt Rocks. Formed in 1875 after a torrential downpour redirected hay into a sinkhole, the lake deepened over time as water leached subsurface salt. Initially known as Lake Illyés, it was renamed Bear Lake in 1910, reportedly due to its bear skin-like shape. Tourists tend to visit the lake for its therapeutic saltwater, which allegedly helps with ailments such as rheumatism and infertility. Furthermore, the adjacent area of Bear Lake offers educational trails, walks, and diverse health services.[7]

Sighisoara, known as the "Pearl of Transylvania," is a historical landmark located along the Târnava Mare River in Mures County. This medieval town, first mentioned in 1280 as Castrum Sex, showcases a history rooted in its Saxon heritage. The Saxons brought to Transylvania in the 12th century, established a stone fortress on School Hill, laying the foundation for Sighisoara's development between the 13th and 15th centuries. Today, the medieval citadel of Sighisoara is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The area features remnants of its defensive system, including nine towers, two bastions, and part of the enclosure wall. Additionally, there's the Clock Tower, standing 64 meters tall and housing the History Museum, which features wooden figurines and Greco-Roman and German pantheon deities. The Scholars' Staircase, Dominican Monastery Church, Vlad Dracul House, Venetian House, and Deer House are other architectural highlights of the town.[8]

Geography

Mures County's geography is fairly diverse, with inter-Carpathian lowlands transitioning from the volcanic peaks of the Calimani and Gurghiu Mountains to the Transylvanian Plain, divided by the Mures River and its tributaries. The local area can be divided into three units: the Transylvania Hilly Plain to the north of the Mures River, the Târnave Plateau to the south of the Mures River, and the Transylvanian Sub-Carpathians in the eastern part of the county. Mures' hydrographical network is part of the Mures River basin, with several rivers and fishery ponds, such as Zau de Câmpie Lake, Saulia Lake, Taureni Lake, and Faragau Lake. The Sovata lakes, including Ursu Lake, are of particular interest for their thermal properties. The local vegetation is diverse, with forests covering a considerable portion of its area, especially in the mountainous and hilly zones. Fir trees and beech are characteristic of the mountain region.[1]

One of the protected areas within Mures County's borders is the Mures Gorge Nature Park, offering the natural beauty of the Eastern Carpathians. Stretching 33 kilometers, this park has a volcanic landscape, with the Deda-Topliţa Gorge separating the Călimani and Gurghiu Mountains. In 2007, a nature park was established to preserve the local landscapes, including the Deda-Topliţa Gorge Nature Reserve. The Mureș River meanders through the park, creating scenery with rocky landscapes, forested slopes, and green pastures. This environment is a haven not only for avifauna, with numerous bird species seeking refuge, but also a sanctuary for plant life, including coniferous and meadow forests, and a habitat for large carnivores. Moreover, attractions and activities, including traditional villages, thermal baths, ski slopes, hiking trails, bird-watching spots, and gastronomic festivals, are also available to visitors.[4]

In terms of local weather conditions, the warmest month in Targu Mures tends to be August, with an average daily temperature of 28°C. January is most commonly the coldest month, as temperatures average approximately 3°C. January is also considered the driest month in Baia Mare because it generally receives 40 millimeters of rainfall on average. The most precipitation falls during June, averaging about 100 millimeters.[5]

History

In terms of the history of the Mures capital city, Targu Mures, the records show that the town was officially mentioned in 1332 under the name Novum Forum Syculorum, signifying the "New Szekler Borough." Over time, it experienced considerable growth, and by the 15th and 16th centuries, it had evolved into an urban and trade hub in the upper Mures basin. Targu Mures had diplomatic ties with Moldovan rulers, as Petru Rares offered protection to the city, and it also had connections with Wallachia, where Michael the Brave constructed a church.[1] 

However, several other settlements within the Mures County territory bear a history longer than that of the county's capital. For instance, Reghin emerged as an ancient Dacian settlement and is known today for crafting wooden musical instruments and small boats. Furthermore, the town tends to be visited for its 14th–15th-century church. In Brâncoveneşti village, established on the grounds of a Roman castrum, people can find a 14th-century castle that underwent modifications in the 16th century, while Suseni village is a site of ongoing archaeological exploration.[2]

Concerning the history of the Mures County as a whole, before World War I, this region was part of Austria-Hungary, specifically the Maros-Torda County of the Kingdom of Hungary. Following the war, it became part of Romania through the Treaty of Trianon in 1920. In 1938, King Carol II modified Romania's administrative divisions, creating 10 "ținuturi" or "lands" ruled directly by appointed Royal Residents, with Mures County becoming part of Ținutul Mureș. In 1940, it was temporarily returned to Hungary under the Second Vienna Award but was reclaimed by Romania in 1944 with Soviet assistance. After World War II, the Paris Peace Treaties reaffirmed Romanian control over the entire county. The communist government disbanded Mures in 1950 but reinstated it in 1968 with the re-establishment of county administrative systems in Romania.[3]