Targu Secuiesc Fast Facts
Name: Târgu Secuiesc - Kézdivásárhely
(pronunciation: Tɨr ɡoo . Seh - coo - yesk)
Location: Transylvania Region (central Romania)
Nearest airports: Brasov and Sibiu
Area: 21.4 sq. miles (55.4 sq. kilometers)
Elevation: 1,840 ft. (568 meters)
Population: 16,500
First documented: 1407 AD (Tbriawasara)
and in 1562 AD: Kézdivásárhely
If you’re looking for a lesser-known yet fascinating travel destination,
Târgu Secuiesc (Kézdivásárhely in Hungarian or Szekler Neumarkt in German)
is definitely the right place.
This charming town, of about 16,000 residents,
located along Turia River, in eastern Transylvania,
is full of history and tradition
and easily accesible
from the city of Brasov and towns of Sfantu Gheorghe and Miercurea Ciuc.
The Szeklers constitute over 90% of the population of Târgu Secuiesc, a fact reflected in the town’s name.
Located on the site of an ancient Roman settlement (Praetoria Augusta),
Târgu Secuiesc is one of the oldest towns in Szeklerland (the Land of the Szeklers),
known for its unique architecture and long and rich history of craftmen guilds.
The settlement developed around a market place,
at the junction of roads coming in from five directions.
It was originally named Torjavására after the nearby village of Torja.
A written document from the the mid-1500s, mentions the current name of the town.
During the Middle Ages, Targu Secuiesc was a major centre of craftsmen and guilds.
It later became a major center for defense and military manufacturing
(including cannon production). Town's main square is named after
artillery officer Gábor Áron (1814–1849).
He led the resistance in the area against the Austrian imperial troops
and became known for producing cannons and gunpowder for the revolutionary forces in Transylvania.
Gábor Áron was admired for his courage and loyalty to the cause of the 1848 Revolution.
Targu Secuiesc is often called the towny of guilds, shoemakers, and courtyards,
or the "Paris" of the Szeklerland region.
The town has an unique layout:
the central square is the point from which 72 narrow-streets or
dead-end courtyard alleys ("curți interioare" or "udvarterek" in Hungarian)
radiate out like sunbeams.
The craftsmen’s houses faced the main square,
while other structures were built along the narrow,
elongated courtyards behind them.
A stroll through the narrow streets of the old town will transport you back to a bygone era
and give you the chance to enjoy the city’s authentic atmosphere.
Other attractions in the area include the Baroque Roman Catholic Church, the Minorite Monastery, revolutionary Gábor Áron Memorial House and, the 15th-century Roman Catholic Church in the village of Lunga.
When you’re in Târgu Secuiesc, you should definitely try the local cuisine. Local restaurants, such as Székely Vendéglő are known for their hearty Székely specialties including the "Székely cabbage rolls", the traditional stew "gulyás", white bean soup with smoked ham shanks, served in bread or sweet cheese and sour cream.
Traditional gingerbread in Târgu Secuiesc was made from rye flour and flavored with honey and anise. By the end of the 1970s, however, this traditional recipe had been replaced by a new one.
In the early 20th century, Hahn Jakab, a craftsman of Swabian origin, moved from Timișoara to Târgu Secuiesc. He introduced a new recipe for gingerbread made from wheat flour, decorated with colored sugar icing, “oglindă,” foil, images, and short verses from poems.
Today’s gingerbread makers do not keep their recipe secret and make it public without fear of competition: anise, cloves, cinnamon, honey, flour, and baking soda. The "secret" of its unique flavor lies in baking the gingerbread in moulds in a wood-fired clay oven at the right temperature. After exactly seven minutes, the gingerbread must be removed from the oven.
The next day, the gingerbread is decorated by hand.
Targu Secuiesc Sights and Landmarks
Major Targu Secuiesc landmarks include:
The town centre - Piata Gábor Áron - a trapezoid-shaped square
is the natural starting point to explore Targu Secuiesc.
The square is surrounded by historic buildings that give visitors and locals a sense of the architecture of the past centuries.
The shops, cafes and restaurants in Gábor Áron Square are a popular meeting place for locals and tourists alike.
The town-hall housed in the former Savings Bank built in 1907.
Former Székely Military School of border guards, a neoclassical structure completed in 1823.
The Reformed Church, completed in 1782, is a richly decorated place of worship featuring a combination of Caroque and Neoclassical styles, with Rococo decorative elements. The church is flanked by two 120 ft.-high towers.
One thing you absolutely must see is the old post office, a charming building that offers a glimpse into the region’s postal and communications history.
Turóczi Mózes House, located on the site of the former cannon foundry, is one of the oldest buildings in town and former town hall.
Other notable Targu Secuiesc landmarks include: the Dolls Museum Olga, Minorites Monastery, Holy Trinity Church, Nagy Mózes National College, Vigadó Cultural Centre, and the Public Library "Wesselényi Miklós".
Targu Secuiesc Old Town walking tour map....
The History of the Courtyards and Access Alleys Leading to the Main Square in Târgu Secuiesc
The first craftsmen and merchants in Târgu Secuiesc purchased plots of land on all four sides of the old market square.
The plots were narrow and extended from the central market to the first street running parallel to the main square.
Facing the main square stood the craftsman’s house, followed by outbuildings,
while at the rear of the plot were vegetable gardens and areas for keeping animals.
Over time, workshops and storage spaces were built along the rear sections of the narrow plots.
Because the plots were quite narrow, they could not easily be subdivided.
As craftsmen’s families grew, houses for new family members were built on the same plots.
Over time, rows of houses appeared on both sides of the plots, built very close to one another.
The very narrow space remaining between the houses became a shared courtyard,
while also serving as an access alley leading to the town’s main square.
In 1834, a fire devastated the central area of Târgu Secuiesc.
The authorities attempted to reorganize the town, but the residents resisted the initiative of the town council.
The houses facing the main square are two-story structures,
while those at the rear are single-story residences, arranged in a somewhat irregular manner.
There are usually 10–12 houses on each plot, all sharing a single courtyard.
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Targu Secuiesc Museums
The Guilds History Museum
(Muzeul Breslelor Incze László --
Incze László Céhtörténeti Múzeum)
Address: Strada Curtea 10, # 1
Hours:
9 a.m. -- 4 p.m. (Tue. - Fri.)
9 a.m. -- 2 p.m. (Sat. - Sun.)
(longer hours during summer)
Telephone: (+4) 0267 361.748
Located in the beautiful main square (Piața Gábor Áron)
Targu Secuiesc guilds museum showcases town's history of crafting and manufacturing.
In the rooms dedicated to traditional artisans
(potters, bootmakers, shoemakers, tanners, furriers, blacksmiths, locksmiths, hatters, tailors, and carpenters),
visitors can see the tools, products, and workshop setups as well as
guild and artisan association documents, flags, chests, and plaques.
The rooms dedicated to the visual arts host temporary art works by local and internastional artists.
The arts section is also home to a true ethnographic treasure:
nearly two hundred dolls,
most of which are dressed in traditional Szekely or Hungarian folk costumes.
Targu Secuiesc Guilds History Museum
video tour.
House of the Hobby of Collecting - "House of Collections"
(Casa Colecțiilor
-- Gyűjtemények Haza)
Address: Curtea 21, Târgu Secuiesc
Hours: visits by appointment only
Telephone: (+4) 0744 202.702 (please keep in mind the time zone)
A fascinationg private museum, owned by Mr. Ernő Beke and his family,
Casa Colectiilor displays more than 50,000 exhibits
from thimbles to padlocks, from pocket watches to badges,
thousands of pens, perfume bottles, and beer bottles,
old irons, gas lamps, teaspoons, a tanner’s iron, a cork press.
The museum is also home to over 10,000 Kinder figurines,
one of the largest such collection in Europe.
Targu Secuiesc Pharmacy Museum
(Muzeul Farmaceutic "Şarpele de Aur"
-- "Aranykígyó" Patika Múzeum)
Address: Casa Finta, Curtea 12 # 1
Hours:
10 a.m. -- 4 p.m. (Mon. - Fri.)
Telephone: (+4) 0372 249.087
Created at the initiative of local Physician Olivér Boga
Targu Secuiesc Pharmaceutical Museum displays equipment and items from the two old pharmacies in town
and Dr. Olivér Boga’s personal collection of pharmaceutical and medical items.
Muzeul Farmaceutic in Târgu Secuiesc is one of
the only four such museums in Transylvania and
owes its existence to the civic association “Let’s Take Action for the Kézdi District.”
The museum, located on the second floor of the historic 1835 Casa Finta residence,
offers a superb view, from the balcony, of Gábor Áron Park
and the historic center of town of Târgu Secuiesc.
Professional Guilds of Targu Secuiesc
Since the early 1600s, the artisans, merchants, and professionals in Târgu Secuiesc
organized themselves to regulate work standards, protect members' interests.
The town's Museum of Guild History houses tools, utensils, documents and artifacts
used or made by the local artisans and members of the guilds.
Almost all the museum's exhibits were donated by local residents.
Most of the items are related to the work of potters, shoemakers and cobblers,
tanners, furriers, blacksmiths and locksmiths, butchers, hatters, tailors, and gingerbread makers.
The economy of medieval Târgu Secuiesc was dominated by crafts related to leatherworking.
As a result, the oldest guild in Târgu Secuiesc was the tanners’ guild.
It was founded in 1572, and tanners were active in the city until the early 20th century.
In 1638, the bootmakers’ guild split off from the tanners’ guild and,
in 1857, the shoemakers separated from the bootmakers and formed their own guild.
The furriers’ guild (Breasla Cojocarilor) was founded in 1649.
Fur and leather coat making was practiced, in town, on a large scale in the 1970s.
Pottery-making was one of the oldest crafts in Târgu Secuiesc.
The Potters’ Guild (Breasla Olarilor) was also founded in 1649 and it remained active until 1966.
A few tools and documents related to the Butchers’ Guild, founded in 1809, are also displayed in the museum.
The Tailors’ Guild was founded in 1841, and three years later, the Hatmakers’ Guild was established.
The last representative of the hatmakers of Târgu Secuiesc, Mr. József Kovács,
donated his hat-making workshop and his collection of hats to the museum, where they are now on display.
The United Guild of Blacksmiths, Locksmiths, Gunsmiths, Armorers, Carpenters, Boilermakers, and Tinkers was established in 1844.
A complete blacksmith’s workshop is featured in the museum.
The town’s last blacksmith’s shop closed in 1989, following the dissolution of the agricultural production cooperative.
Although the gingerbread produced in Târgu Secuiesc is known and appreciated both nationally
and internationally, gingerbread production was not part of the craftsmen’s guild system;
instead, this craft was practiced as a home-based occupation.
Old equipment used by the local volunteer firefighters—including fire carts, a vintage fire engine,
and other firefighting equipment—can be viewed in the courtyard of the Museum of Guild History.
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Performing Arts
Udvartére Drama Theatre / Targu Secuiesc Cultural Centre
Centrul Cultural Vigadó / Teatrul Udvartére
Address: Piața Gábor Áron 21
Telephone: (+4) 0730 600.279
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Tourist attractions not far from Targu Secuiesc
Tusnad spa town
Where: 20 miles south of Targu Secuiesc
Mineral waters and "mofeta" found in town of Tusnad
are used by medical spas to alleviate symptoms, manage conditions and treat:
cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the central nervous system
(asthenic neurosis, depression), diseases of the digestive tract, endocrine diseases,
urinary tract diseases, blood disorders, musculoskeletal conditions, stage 1 and 2 diabetis.
The main effect of Mofeta gas is vasodilation (arterial, venous and lymphatic) and reduction of blood pressure, which is beneficial for the heart and peripheral circulation and microcirculation.
Day Trips from Targu Secuiesc
Town of Odorheiu Secuiesc
Where: 70 miles northwest of Targu Secuiesc
Odorheiule Secuiesc is a quaint town with a large square flanked by beautiful architecture.
Highlights include the Roman-Catholic Church, the Reformed Church, the Town Hall, the Franciscan Church,
Tamasi Aron College, the Haáz Rezső Museum (ethnography, local history, art, and natural science).
Csíki Söröző & Étterem
Address: Strada Cimitirului 1
Hanul ICA Csarda
Address: Strada Fabricilor 1
City of Brașov - Brasov Old Town
Where: 37 miles southwest of Targu Secuiesc
How to get there: car, bus or train
Brașov info
Town of Tusnad (medical spas) -- Lacul Sfanta Ana (Lake St. Anne) -- Tinovul Mohos moss reserve
Where: 26 miles north of Targu Secuiesc
Lake Mohos, once four times larger that lake St. Anne,
became a moss reserve of small pools of water,
unique flora such as carnivorous plants (drosera rotundifolia) and more than 20 species of moss.
How to get there: car
More info
Town of Sfantu Gheorghe
Where: 22 miles southwest of Targu Secuiesc
How to get there: car, bus
Sfantu Gheorghe info
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TARGU SECUIESC TRIP PLANING INFO
Transportation
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Air Travel to Targu SecuiescNearest International airports to Targu Secuiesc are:
Brasov (GHV) - 40 miles southwest
Bacau (BCM) - 75 miles northeast
Targu Mures (TGM) - 100 miles west
Bucharest (OTP) - 145 miles south
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Targu Secuiesc inter-city Bus
Autogara RO D Transport Targu Secuiesc
Address: Strada Garii 89
Telephone: (+4) 0734 100.386
Direct, service to Budapest (Népliget bus terminal),
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Travel to Targu Secuiesc by train
Targu Secuiesc Train Station
Gara Targu Secuiesc
Address: Strada Gării 79.
Tel: (+4) 0267 361.021
Train service to Targu Secuiesc is rather infequent; there are just a few direct trains from Brasov only and schedules can change with not much advance notice. Reaching Targu Secuiesc by, train, from major cities in Romania takes much more time than inter-city bus or car.
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Reaching Targu Secuiesc by carThe fastest route from Bucharestto Targu Secuiesc is via DN1 (Bucharest -- Brasov)
/ DN11 (Brasov -- Bacau):
Bucuresti -- Sinaia -- Brasov -- Targu Secuiesc
| Road Distance from/to Targu Secuiesc: | |
|---|---|
| City | Distance |
| Bucharest | 150 miles |
| Brasov | 38 miles |
| Cluj-Napoca | 190 miles |
| Iasi | 155 miles |
| Miercurea Ciuc | 39 miles |
| Sfantu Gheorghe | 24 miles |
| Sibiu | 125 miles |
| Sighisoara | 98 miles |
| Suceava | 170 miles |
| Targu Mures | 130 miles |
| Timisoara | 290 miles |
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Targu Secuiesc Public Transportation
Targu Secuiesc is compact and pedestrian friendly. All major attractions are within walking distance, one from another.
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| Targu Secuiesc Taxi Companies | |
|---|---|
| Name | Phone # |
| West Taxi | (+4) 0764 55.22.55 |
| Turul Taxi | (+4) 0752 33.88.25 |
| Bomba Taxi | (+4) 0749 911.311 |
| Rapid Taxi | (+4) 0749 911.311 |
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Targu Secuiesc Car Rental CompaniesTargu Secuiesc car rental rates.
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Targu Secuiesc Hotels
Accommodations in Targu Secuiesc include:
| Hotel Name | Class | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Atrium | three-star / midscale | 0.4 miles east of Targu Secuiesc town centre |
| Pixel Accommodations | three-star / midscale | 0.6 miles east of Targu Secuiesc town centre |
| Casa Sisi | B & B | Targu Secuiesc town centre |
| Caprioara | four-star / midscale | Tusnad - 14 miles south of Targu Secuiesc |
| Clermont | four-star / midscale | Tusnad - 14 miles south of Targu Secuiesc |
| Peakture | four-star / upscale | Baile Balvanyos - 15 miles northwest of Targu Secuiesc |
| O3Zone Spa Hotel | four-star / upscale | Tusnad - 25 miles northwest of Targu Secuiesc |
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Tourist Info
Targu Secuiesc Tourist Information Centre
Centrul de Informare Turistica - Targu Secuiesc
Address: Curtea 19, # 1
Telephone: (+4) 0372 249.087
E-mail
VisitHarghita.com
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Targu Secuiesc Events
List of Romania Events and Festivals.
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Targu Secuiesc Local Authorities
Targu Secuiesc TownHall
Primăria Municipiului Targu Secuiesc
Address: Piața Gábor Áron 24,
Telephone: (+4) 0267 361.974
Targu Secuiesc Consumer Protection Agency
Comisariatul Judeţean pentru Protecţia Consumatorilor Harghita
Telephone: (+4) 021 95.51 x 66
E-mail
Targu Secuiesc Main Post Office
Posta Targu Secuiesc
Address: Strada Sacsvay János 3
Tel: (+4) 0791 055.809
Post office signs display the word POSTA.
Telephoning Targu Secuiesc from Abroad:
International Access Code + 4 (country code) + 0267 or 0367 (area code) + six-digit telephone number (land lines)
07 eight-digit telephone number (mobile)
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Targu Secuiesc Health Care and Emergency
General Emergency Telephone number: 112
Ambulance (Ambulanta), Police (Politia), Fire Department (Pompieri)
Targu Secuiesc Hospitals
Targu Secuiesc General Hospital
Spitalul Municipal Targu Secuiesc
Address: Str. Fabricii 2/A
Telephone: (+4) 267 361.469
Pharmacies (Farmacie) open late in Targu Secuiesc
Farmacia Dr. Max
Address: Piața Gábor Áron 4
Telephone: (+4) 0752 168 734
Closes 8 p.m.
Farmacia Dr. Max
Address: Strada Cernatului 20 (Kaufland Shopping Centre)
Telephone: (+4) 0745 028.875
Closes 8 p.m.
Farmacia Ambrosia 2
Address: Strada Dózsa György 41
Telephone: (+4) 0372 407.057
Closes 9 p.m.
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Targu Secuiesc Maps
Romania Physical Map (Romania - Harta Fizica)
Romania Main Roads and Tourist Attractions Map ( Romania - Harta Atractii Turistice)
Romania Road Map (Romania - Harta Drumurilor si Soselelor)
Romania Railways Map (Romania - Harta Cailor Ferate)
