urban cluj

Jul 31, 2009

Noaptea cade peste Mănăştur

Night falls over Manastur.

For interpretations of the “night” August theme in City Daily Photo Blog community click here to view thumbnails for all participants from around the world.

Jul 30, 2009

Biserica Schimbarea la Faţă

The Greek Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration, recently built on Eroilor Boulevard.

Jul 29, 2009

O plimbare pe malul Someşului

Promenade on the banks of the Somes river.

Jul 28, 2009

Noi spaţii comerciale în Zorilor

New firms and constructions in Zorilor neighborhood.

Jul 27, 2009

Plase şi reflectoare la un teren de sport

Light poles at a sport court seen from behind the net.

Jul 26, 2009

Jul 25, 2009

Biserica de lemn din Grigorescu

Wooden church in Grigorescu neighborhood.

Jul 24, 2009

Dezvoltare spre Floreşti

Suburban development on the west side of the city. Bator and Lunitie Hills are seen beyond Floresti Village.

Jul 23, 2009

Figuri la o spălătorie auto

Graffiti at the entrance of a car wash in Marasti neighborhood.

Jul 22, 2009

Faţade pe Iuliu Maniu

Architectural details on Iuliu Maniu street.

Jul 21, 2009

Cafeneaua BT în întuneric

BT Café seen in the dark. BT stands for Banca Transilvania (Transylvania Bank).

Jul 20, 2009

Jul 19, 2009

Jul 18, 2009

Seara pe Calea Floreşti

Exiting the city on Floresti Boulevard, at dusk.

Jul 17, 2009

Cumpărăm şi flori

Elderly people buying flowers from the fresh market at Leul Multiplex, in Mihai Viteazu square.

Cluj is the third big city in Romania considering its population, with a general number of residents & commuters in its metro area of about 400,000.

It is largely known as the capital-city of the historical province of Transylvania - land of medieval citadels, wild crags, caves and forests, and the famous figure of Dracula.

Historically speaking Cluj was settled as a colony by the Romans (Colonia Aurelia Napoca) by the 2nd century CE, from where came the name of Napoca, and thereafter developed as fortress and city by the Hungarians, Saxons and Austrians - which conferred it the cultural, architectural, and urban influences of the multicultural Central Europe. Romanians, who constantly were the dominant rural population around the city, became the city rulers in 1918, when Transylvania became part of Romania, and developed it, especially within the Communist regime, after the 1947, by constructing large industries and working-class neighborhoods.

Along its history, Cluj acknowledged periods of progress and illuminism - sustained by a notable university and the medical and legal centers developed here already since the 16th century - together with warfare, nationalistic and religious troubles and stagnation - due to medieval invasions, far-right politics encouraging hostilities between Magyars and Romanians, and religious tensions between Greek-Catholics and Greek-Orthodoxs.

Today it is considered among the major hotbeds of development regarding the human capital in the region - due to its large number of university students, vibrant culture, safe social and economic environment, and perspectives for further development.