Gherla: Armenian Churches, Museum and Via Habsburg

Gherla’s urban planning peculiarity has been included in the European cultural routes known as “Via Habsburg”.

Culture

The “Solomon” Church is the oldest Armenian Catholic place of worship in Transylvania. Within Gherla, it was also the first church built of stone. It features a late Gothic entrance portal originating from the Reformed Church in Unguraș in Cluj County. The ecclesiastical buildings thus reveal different historical and denominational influences on the townscape.

The Armenian Catholic Cathedral of “Sfânta Treime” was built between 1748 and 1800. It houses the oil painting “Coborârea de pe Cruce”. Gherla’s synagogue was built in 1903 with elaborate architecture for the city’s growing Jewish population. In the Franciscan monastery, the Chapel of Saint Mary of Loreto was consecrated in 1760. In Gherla, Filep Elisabeta furnished a room in the sicănesc style. The churches, synagogue, monastery and this room each represent distinct aspects of Gherla’s architectural, religious and cultural history.

History

The Gherla History Museum displays military diplomas from the Roman camp at Gherla dating from the 2nd century; one of them is from the year 123. The museum also exhibits cultural assets to the public. Its collection thus combines archaeological evidence with other cultural assets that add to the historical perspective on the city.

The Gherla History Museum is housed in the Baroque Karaciany House. It was built in the early 18th century and is one of the city’s listed historic buildings. The rehabilitated Casa Lászlóffy houses the municipal museum named Centrul Muzeal de Istorie. The historic museum sites therefore include both a Baroque monument and a rehabilitated building serving a municipal museum function.

The Gherla History Museum has presented temporary exhibitions on weapons and military equipment, science and technology, the glass icons of the Nicula school, art and tradition on the Someșul Mic, the Cucuteni culture, and Armenian art and culture. Its library contains specialist publications on prehistory as well as ancient, medieval, modern and contemporary history. The exhibition themes thus range from military objects and technology through regional art forms to cultural and historical periods from prehistory to the present day.

Nature

Parcul Mare contains native and exotic tree species. Its collection includes two Ginkgo biloba trees. Bicycle excursions around Armenopolis are described. The park therefore features different tree species side by side, while the listed bicycle excursions identify the place name Armenopolis as a reference point for activities in the area around Gherla.

Transport

CFR Călători Gherla is located at Strada Gării No. 6. The Autogara Gherla at Strada Romană No. 2 provides passenger transport by coaches, buses or minibuses. Two different transport hubs within Gherla are therefore named for rail and bus services.

Other places in the shared destination area are Moldovenești, Săvădisla, Suatu, Petreștii De Jos, Muntele Băişorii, Someșu Rece, Negreni and Sic.

To the overarching travel overview: Cluj-Napoca.