Page 29 - Județul Sălaj - prezentare

EN
Sălaj County Council
www.cjsj.ro
In 275, during Emperor Aurelianus, the Province of Dacia was abandoned
by the Roman Empire by the withdrawal of the army and the administra-
tion. After the Aurelian withdrawal, the Roman Province of Dacia is suc-
cessively invaded by various Germanic migrant peoples.

In the second half of the 6 century - the beginning of the 7 century, Sălaj County, following the admin-
th
th
the migration of the early Slavs takes place in the northwest of Romania, istrative-territorial organization of
followed by other new groups of Slavs. The 9 Century is marked by the Hungary. From the urbanistic point
th
penetration of the Hungarians from the Asian steppes into Europe. From of view, Zalău develops in three
the written historical sources about the first incursions of the Hungarians major phases. In the first phase -
in the north-western space of Romania during the 10 century, an im- 1890-1900, important public build-
th
portant document is represented by Gesta Hungarorum or Chronicle of ings were built (the Barrack, the
Anonymus, which mentions the dukes led by Menumorut and Gelu with Courthouse, Transylvania Building,
direct connections to the geographical space where Sălaj County is spread the Prefecture Building, Wesselényi
today. According to the Chronicle of Anonymus, Menumorut’s duchy High School and the County Hospi-
stretched between Mureş, Tisa, Someş and Poarta Meseșană and Gelu’s tal). The economic, social, urban,
duchy (named “Terra Ultrasilvana” in the chronicle) stretched from the cultural development of the town
Poarta Meseșană to the east, inside the Carpathian arch . continues in the interwar period.
4

The Culture and Art Centre of Sălaj County

The third major phase - during the
Zalău County Museum of History and Art
communist regime - was a period
In medieval age, the Pass “Poarta Meseșană” continues to represent the of development in which much was
passage from the center of Europe to the heart of Transylvania through built, but important buildings were
the well-known “Salt road”. Evidence of the medieval age is mainly found also demolished in the historical
as fortresses, which were originally built of earth and wood. Beginning center of the city. During this peri-
with the second half of the 13 century, new citadels appeared, some od the industrial platform of Zalău
th
made of stone, others built of wood and earth. Thus, the fortresses of was developed.
Valcău and Almaşu were built, the ruins being still visible today, in an ex- The second center of economic,
ceptional natural area. social and cultural development of
the county is the town of Şimleu
The town of Zalău is documented Silvaniei. In the current town cen-
in 1220 under the name of villa
Almaş Fortress, Almașu Ziloc, but the beginnings of the set- ter, close to the Crasna River, the
imposing walls of the Báthory For-
tlement date back to the 1000s, as tress rise. The fortress that existed
reported in the work of Anonymus, in 1532 was the residence of the
Gesta Hungarorum, written in the noble family Báthory. In 1601, af-
13 century. In 1473, after giving ter the Battle of Guruslău, Mihai
th
Zalău the status of fair by the King Viteazul (en. Michael the Brave)
of Hungary Matei Corvin, the son triumphantly entered the fortress
of Iancu de Hunedoara, it becames of Báthory, which he occupies .
5
economically autonomous. In 1876
Zalău becames the residence of

2
4 Muzeul Județean de Istorie și Artă Zalău - Noi despre noi, Elemente reprezentative ale patrimoniului cultural sălăjean
5 www.simleusilvaniei.ro