Kalotaszeg
Encyclopedia
Kalotaszeg is a region in Romania
, belonging to the area of Transylvania
which was formerly part of the Hungarian Kingdom. It is one of the few areas in Western Romania with a significant Hungarian population
, and it is a stronghold of old Transylvanian Hungarian folk traditions.
in the western part of Cluj County
and in the southern part of Sălaj County
. It's historical center is the small town of Huedin
. The region has an ethnically mixed population: Hungarians
, Romanian
s and Roma. Its Jewish
population suffered heavily during the Second World War.
to the Crişul Repede (Sebes-Körös) River
. The region as it is known today lies mainly west of Cluj-Napoca
, although there are also some villages to the north and east as well which follow Kalotaszeg customs.
was part of Hungary. The plot revolves around the region and the city of Kolozsvár
, but some of the scenes were shot in the region as well.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, belonging to the area of Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
which was formerly part of the Hungarian Kingdom. It is one of the few areas in Western Romania with a significant Hungarian population
Hungarians in Romania
The Hungarian minority of Romania is the largest ethnic minority in Romania, consisting of 1,431,807 people and making up 6.6% of the total population, according to the 2002 census....
, and it is a stronghold of old Transylvanian Hungarian folk traditions.
Geography
Kalotaszeg is a rural region situated just west of Cluj-NapocaCluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
in the western part of Cluj County
Cluj County
Cluj ; is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Cluj-Napoca.-Demographics:In 2007, it had a population of 692,316 and a population density of 104/km².*Romanians – 80%*Hungarians – 17.5%*Roma – 2.5%-Geography:...
and in the southern part of Sălaj County
Salaj County
Sălaj is a county of Romania, in the historical regions of Crișana and Transylvania, with the capital city at Zalău.-Geography:Sălaj county has a total area of ....
. It's historical center is the small town of Huedin
Huedin
Huedin is a town in Cluj County, Romania.Huedin is located at the northern edge of the Apuseni Mountains. It is surrounded by the villages of Nearşova, Domoşu, Horlacea and others. The town administers one village, Bicălatu...
. The region has an ethnically mixed population: Hungarians
Hungarians in Romania
The Hungarian minority of Romania is the largest ethnic minority in Romania, consisting of 1,431,807 people and making up 6.6% of the total population, according to the 2002 census....
, Romanian
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
s and Roma. Its Jewish
History of the Jews in Romania
The history of Jews in Romania concerns the Jews of Romania and of Romanian origins, from their first mention on what is nowadays Romanian territory....
population suffered heavily during the Second World War.
Name
The region takes its name from the Kalota (Călata) people. The name formerly referred to a much larger territory; according to Lajos Kelemen's study on the history and historical monuments of the Kalotaszeg (Țara Călatei) region, during the Hungarian Middle Ages the area reached from the Barcău (Berettyó) RiverBarcau River (Cris)
The Barcău River or Bereteu River is a river which has its origin in Sălaj County, Romania. It has a length of 134 kilometers and a watershed area of 2,025 km²...
to the Crişul Repede (Sebes-Körös) River
Crisul Repede
Crişul Repede is a river in Bihor county, Crişana, Romania and in southeastern Hungary . Together with the rivers Crişul Alb and Crişul Negru , it makes up the Three Criş rivers . These are considered the main rivers in the Crişana region of Romania...
. The region as it is known today lies mainly west of Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
, although there are also some villages to the north and east as well which follow Kalotaszeg customs.
Kalotaszeg in popular culture
The region was featured in the film Kalotaszegi Madonna ("Madonna from Kalotaszeg", 1943), made when Northern TransylvaniaNorthern Transylvania
Northern Transylvania is a region of Transylvania, situated within the territory of Romania. The population is largely composed of both ethnic Romanians and Hungarians, and the region has been part of Romania since 1918 . During World War II, as a consequence of the territorial agreement known as...
was part of Hungary. The plot revolves around the region and the city of Kolozsvár
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
, but some of the scenes were shot in the region as well.