Apahida between Archaeology, a Wooden Church and the Someșul Mic

History

In 1889, 1968 and 1978, three princely tombs were discovered in Apahida, attributed to the Gepids. Archaeological investigations from 2016 interpreted the Apahida finds as isolated burials rather than an extensive Gepidic flat cemetery. The princely burials are dated to the second half of the 5th century AD.

Archaeology

Southeast of the village lies the prehistoric settlement of Apahida–Fața Merezii in the valley of the Tarcea stream. Northeast of the village is the Roman rural settlement of Apahida–Dealul Pădurița on Pădurița Hill near the Chibaia Plateau.

The Roman rural settlement of Apahida–Tarcea Mică comprised a main building and an annex, identified through archaeological investigations at the beginning of the 20th century. The main building measured 21.80 × 22.60 metres and had two rooms with hypocaust systems. Ceramic fragments, architectural elements and several coins from the first half of the 3rd century AD were found in the settlement.

The Roman coin hoard from Apahida, found in Valea Mărăloiu, comprised 1,068 coins, including two bronze coins and Roman silver denarii. It contained coins from the reign of Nero to the reign of Balbius and was buried around 240 AD. The archaeological complexes of Apahida lie on the right bank of the Someșul Mic. Another archaeological site is located at kilometre 3.0–3.1 of the Apahida–Dej railway line, north-northeast of the village near a former gravel quarry.

Culture

The wooden church of the “Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel” in Apahida is listed as a historic monument. It was built in 1806 by the carpenter Ioan Ghiran from Nadăș. In 1808, the wooden church was painted by Ioan Pop from Ungurași.

In the nearby Sf. Nicolae Sânnicoară village museum in the municipality of Apahida, a collection of 200 traditional exhibits presents rural crafts and everyday life. These include traditional costumes, looms, ceramics, a wool-spinning machine and a peasant bed.

Landscape

Apahida lies on the floodplain and the right-bank terrace of the Someșul Mic, as well as on the northeastern-facing slope of the 387-metre-high Maeru Hill. The Apahida area contains a rock-salt massif and saline springs whose brine has been used by local people since ancient times.

Strong traditions in fruit and vegetable growing are also part of Apahida. The place is known for the “ridichi de Apahida”, the radishes of Apahida.

Leisure

In the surrounding area, in the municipality of Apahida, the Câmpenești fishing complex comprises six lakes. It offers recreational sport fishing according to the catch-and-release principle and local angling regulations.

Other places in the same overarching destination area are Lungești, Lunca Vişagului, Someșu Cald, Moldovenești, Jucu de Mijloc, Beliş, Floreşti and Ciurila.

For the overarching travel overview: Cluj-Napoca.