Câlnic, Alba

Câlnic ( German Kelling, Hungarian Kelnek ) is a town in Alba county in Transylvania, Romania.

Location

The village Câlnic is located in the Transylvanian forest sub, 3 kilometers from the European route E68 ( between Sebes and Sibiu) and from the river secas (German Zekesch ). Sebes - the nearest large city - is located about 15 km and the county capital Alba Iulia 32 km northwest of Câlnic away.

History

The site was originally inhabited by the Saxons. He was first mentioned in 1269 in connection with naming the Count de Chyl Kelling, which ( approximately 9 × 13 m), let the rectangular built with about 1 foot thick walls and 27 -foot tower, for his accommodation. This so-called from the vernacular Siegfried was sold in 1430 by Johann Gereb de Vingard to the village community of the Transylvanian Saxons, so that they had a chance to defend themselves against the Mongols and Turks raids. In the 15th century this tower was built by two circular walls with battlements and loopholes to the castle.

On 30 -31. May 2009 celebrated the village 740 years Kelling.

Population

1850 lived on the territory of the present town of 1121 inhabitants. 442 were Romanians, 481 German and 198 Roma. 1930, the number of Germans and Romanians had risen to about double. At the same time four Hungary and 82 Roma were registered. 1992 were registered by the German population still 48 people, 901 Romanians, Hungarians 4 and 255 Roma. As of the 2002 census lived in Câlnic 1328 people, including 1313 Romanians, seven German, five Hungary and 409 Roma.

In eingemeindetem village deal since the 1850 Census lived almost exclusively Romanians (855 in 1850, 1 086 in 1900 ). In 2002, the population had fallen to 425.

Attractions

• A special feature of the village is built in the 13th century Castle of the Counts, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. The so-called Siegfried is constructed with the longer sides to the northwest and southeast. The initial ascent to the upper floors of the tower, which was possible through a mounted in the interior of the wall stairs. Today the tower on a mounted in the 20th century by the outside stairs to the first floor is accessible. The basement of the tower is ventilated via an air shaft on the south side. From the 15th century were at the fortress of Kelling by and made ​​by different tags. The partly double ring wall has an oval outline with a maximum diameter of about 50 meters in the northeast -southwest direction. The 7 meter high fortified walls were later increased again by 3.5 meters. The tower on the southeast side has a height of 15 meters and was also called the "Bacon Tower ". In the 24 -meter high entrance tower four bells are housed. Side of this tower are the slightly wider walkways, where are located on the north side of the rooms still the best preserved. In the second half of the 15th century, the 70 meter diameter oval and 3 meter high castle wall was built on the filled-in moat. On the grounds of the fortress is also a castle chapel is in the form of a hall church in late Gothic style, equipped with a Carl -Hesse- organ of 1867. At the choir of the chapel is recorded the year 1733.
• The Evangelical Lutheran Church, built in the 15th century and surrounded by the cemetery, was rebuilt in the 19th century in neo-Gothic style, is a listed building.
• The former evangelical rectory was built in the 16th century and 1779 extended, is a listed building.

Pictures

Courtyard and chapel

Views of the surrounding walls

Look into the castle chapel

The defense tower