Baia Sprie

Baia Sprie ( German Mittelstadt, Hungarian FelsoBanya ) is a town in Maramureş County in Romania.

Location

Baia Sprie is located at the headwaters of Sasar - a left tributary of the Lapus - in the foothills of the Gutai Mountains. The county town Baia Mare is located about 8 km to the west.

History

Baia Sprie 1329 was first mentioned in medio monte under the Hungarian King Charles I with the Latin name Civitas, then in 1360 under the German name Mithelperg. In the surroundings of the town is documented since 1411 mining; which was primarily exercised by German miners. There were funded mainly gold and silver. From 1411 to 1446 the place was owned by the Serbian despot Stefan Lazarevic and Brankovic Đurađ, but remained under Hungarian rule. After the Battle of Mohács in 1526 the city became part of the Principality of Transylvania, which was tributary to the Ottoman Empire. End of the 17th century Baia Sprie came to Austria - Hungary. During these centuries, the city was several times drawn by incursions of hostile armies, and natural events affected; 1562 Turks attacked the place in 1589 he burned almost completely. 1710 fell a victim to the plague 580 inhabitants. 1771 followed by a new Turkish invasion. 1780 many houses were destroyed by a flood; Two years later, a plague of locusts destroyed many fields.

After the First World War, Baia Sprie got to Romania, as a result of the Second Vienna Award then from 1940 to 1944 back to Hungary. The mining industry, who coined long time decisively the city, is only of secondary importance. The main industries of the city are now agriculture, forestry, and tourism.

Population

Originally at least economically dominant German population was quite rapidly assimilated by the Hungarians. In the year 1780 3.165 inhabitants were counted in Baia Sprie. 1880 lived on the territory of today's 6,881 people, including 2,618 Romanians, 3,865 Hungarians and 54 German. 2002 in Baia Sprie 16,609 inhabitants registered, of which 11,335 in the city proper, and 5,274 in the three local villages. Of the 16,609 people identified themselves as 12,469 Romanians, 3,441 as Hungary, 576 as Roma, 65 and 45 as German as Ukrainians.

Traffic

The leading of Baia Mare Baia Sprie railway line built in 1904, presented in 1988 to operate. Through the city along the national road (drum National) DN 18 extends from Baia Mare to Sighetu Marmaţiei that leads northeast of Baia Sprie over the saddle Pasul Gutai ( 987 m).