Meseșenii de Sus: Springs, Culture and Trails

In the area of Meseșenii de Sus, around Osoiul Măcăului, human traces dating from the transition period between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age have been discovered. In the higher-lying areas of the locality, Roman defensive ruins are still visible.

The finds around Osoiul Măcăului and the still-visible Roman defensive ruins belong to different historical layers of the locality. While the human traces date from the transition period between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age, the ruins point to the Roman presence in the higher-lying parts. Both features are located within the area of Meseșenii de Sus, but refer to different areas and periods.

Culture

An ethnographic exhibition has been set up in a classroom at the school in Meseșenii de Sus. The exhibits include furniture, textiles and vessels; the exhibition also includes tools used by ordinary people. “Meseșana” is a girls’ folk ensemble from Meseșenii de Sus. The ensemble is led by Herle Dana.

The exhibition thus combines household and clothing items with vessels and working tools. Its location in a classroom at the school keeps the collection directly rooted in the locality. The ensemble complements this object-based presentation with a form of folklore performed by girls; its leadership by Herle Dana is documented by name.

Further locality pages are available for Sânpetru Almașului, Cuzăplac, Boghiş, Gârceiu, Bodia, Sărmășag, Vălişoara and Rus.

Landscape

South of Meseșenii de Sus, at the foot of the Meseș Mountains, there is a wooded hilly landscape. Two mineral springs were historically exploited in this area.

The two springs are considered sulfurous, sulfated, bicarbonate-containing, calcium-containing and hypotonic.

There was a simple accommodation and treatment facility in the area of the springs. It comprised 33 beds in 12 rooms and 10 bathing cubicles. The spa facility operated seasonally from May to October until the early 1990s.

The former facility was therefore not open year-round: the stated period from May to October describes its seasonal operation until the early 1990s. The number of rooms, beds and bathing cubicles also conveys the modest size of the accommodation and treatment facility at the time.

The former Băile Meseșenii de Jos are abandoned and in an advanced state of disrepair. The mineral water spring is currently unused. The site is privately owned and lies away from the main transport routes.

Trails

Tourist walking trails follow the Roman road southwest over the Cărbunaru summit. Cărbunaru reaches an elevation of 618 metres. The tourist walking trails continue to the Osoiul Ciontului summit, which lies at 835 metres. From the Osoiul Ciontului summit, the tourist walking trails descend to the Băile of Meseșenii de Sus.

The route is described as a clear sequence of named points: first the Roman road, then Cărbunaru, followed by Osoiul Ciontului, and then the descent to the Băile. The two summits mark different elevations along the same southwestward route.

For the broader travel overview: Salaj.