The best cycling routes in Bistrița-Năsăud

Ovidenia is the old name of the holiday in the Orthodox calendar on November 21, which corresponds to the Entry of the Mother of God into the Church. The main Orthodox church of Bistrița is dedicated to this day. The building was originally the church of the Minorite Monastery of "St. Andrei", also called the Crown Church, which dates back to the 13th century. It is a hall church with cross vaults and pointed arches, representative of the early Transylvanian Gothic of Cistercian origin. The church was bought by the United Romanian Parish (Greek Catholic) in 1895. In 1948, with the proscription of the United Romanian Church by the communist regime, the entire complex (church and monastery) was handed over to the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Under the protection of the Hungarian Queen Elisabeth, the inhabitants of Bistriţa became the most important merchants in the region in the 15th century. They handled trade between Transylvania and Moldavia. The city was declared a "royal free city", a status that gave it economic, legal and political autonomy. The proud town houses, many of which are still well preserved, bear witness to this heyday.

Bistrița is located in a wide depression, surrounded by rolling hills that dominate the landscape. The settlement was founded when the region in the north-eastern corner of Transylvania, which at the beginning of the Middle Ages lay between the royal possessions, was settled by settlers from Hungary, but above all by groups of Flemish, Walloons, Saxons and Bavarians, who were later grouped together under the name "Transylvanian Saxons". Through the Golden Bull of the Saxons of 1224, they were endowed with a number of rights and freedoms that brought them high social status and economic privileges. The first mention of the place dates back to 1241, when in the codes of the Echternach monastery, between the settlements destroyed by the Mongols, "oppidum Nosna" is mentioned, the name given by the settlers to the settlement founded on the banks of the Bistrita river.

A beautiful, cozy old town

Historic church from the 16th century

Pál Teleki, Count of Szék, born November 1, 1879 and died April 3, 1941, was a Hungarian statesman. He was Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Hungary, from July 19, 1920 to April 14, 1921 then from February 16, 1939 to April 3, 1941. He was at the origin of the renovation of this 18th century military castle. On the sides were the warehouses, stables and prison. At the back, the main building and opposite the main gate. The mansion was surrounded by a vast forest and park. Unfortunately, most of the forest was cut down, but several ancient trees still remain. You find a spare oak over 600 years old. The building falling into disrepair was recently renovated and a crèche was installed at the rear of the main building.

This natural curiosity was discovered by John Chintauan several decades ago. He originally wanted to call it Soldiers' Ravine, because the stones, he said, looked lined up like soldiers ready to go into battle. But after further research, he realized that the stones looked more like Russian dolls. The nature reserve known as “ravin aux dolls” has only two hectares and is made up of a vertical wall with compact sands, on which we can observe marly clays, marls, and concretionary sandstones. These layers form all kinds of patterns, which look like dolls, mushrooms, and even animal heads.

Bistrița is one of the seven Saxon fortresses in Transylvania. This city has an interesting history which can still be read through the architectural style of the many buildings and religious complexes. The evangelical church is the emblem of Bistrița. It is located in the center of the city. It is an architectural monument representative of the transition from Gothic to Renaissance style in Transylvania. The church tower is perched 75 meters high. It is one of the tallest towers in Romania. You can go to the top of the church by taking an elevator. Admiring the panorama of a city helps you better understand its layout and also helps you get your bearings.