Sfantu Gheorghe

Sfântu Gheorghe (Hungarian: Sepsiszentgyörgy) is the most significant city of the historical Three Chairs region (Hungarian: Háromszék), today being the seat of Covasna County. Furthermore it is Transylvania’s largest city with a Hungarian majority.
People lived in the areas surrounding Sfântu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy) since the Stone Age. There are traces of several migratory people that can be found in the countryside. The first written mention of the settlement dates back to 1332; the city was named after Saint George, the first patron saint of the town’s church. In addition, Sfântu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy) earned the “city title” in 1461, in the year of 1492 the city received from Báthory István, Prince of Transylvania, the “privileged city” status. Nevertheless, Saint George could keep its privileges with great difficulty; the neighboring Saxon city of Kronstadt (today Braşov/Brassó) had incessantly endeavored to deny our town the right to hold fairs.

Sfântu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy) has been destroyed several times throughout its history. During the Mongol invasion of 1658 and the 1661 Turkish invasion most of the buildings were destroyed and, as a consequence, only a fraction of the population survived. According to the records extant from the late Middle Ages the market town’s population has witnessed great difficulties: seventeen-month drought, famine and plague epidemic decimated the population.

In addition, the Revolution of 1848 has been one of the most important periods in the history of Sfântu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy). Today’s County Library is the building where Gábor Áron’s famous assertion, “There will be cannon”, has been uttered. Gábor Áron was a legendary figure of the 1848 Revolution who contributed a great deal to the temporary success of the defensive battle with his cannons fabricated in the foundries from the Three Chairs region (English translation of Háromszék). Our town was visited by General Bem Józef himself; nevertheless the 1848 Revolution was soon defeated by the Austrian and Russian troops.

Furthermore, Sfântu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy) was the first city from Seklerland with a weaving mill, and it was also the first settlement from Háromszék with electric power service. Moreover the first permanent Rococo style stage was inaugurated in Sfântu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy), being the third stage in Transylvania, after Cluj Napoca (Kolozsvár) and Dej (Dés). We have thus established the first Sekler theater.

Tourists and visitors can choose between 1 to 3 star hotels and 1 to 2 daisy guest houses. The city’s recreational center gives several possibilities for entertainment and leisure with its indoor swimming pool, sauna and aerobics room. There are also horse-riding possibilities in the nearby villages. Moreover, there are excellent restaurants in Sfântu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy) where visitors can get acquainted mostly with the unique flavors of the traditional Transylvanian cuisine.