site.btaRomanian Village of Rimetea, Where Sun Rises Twice

The Romanian village of Rimetea has been attested in historical documents since 1257. In the past, it was an important crafts centre. It was inhabited by Saxons and Szekelys (part of the Hungarian ethnic group). Currently, it is the proud winner of the Destination of 2025 award and the Europa Nostra award of the European Commission. In 1999, it was also nominated for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 2000, the Romanian National Register for Historical Monuments designated it as a protected architectural area.

The village is located almost halfway between two counties, Cluj and Alba Iulia, at the foot of the Apuseni Mountains. It is surrounded by high mountains. The most well known  of them is the limestone massif of Piatra Secuiului, which is divided into two parts by a ravine. This division of the massif is also the reason why Rimetea is also called the village where the sun rises twice. The unique phenomenon can be observed in July. Due to the location of the village at the foot of the mountain, the sun rises, then hides behind its crest and rises again.

It is not only this phenomenon that attracts tourists, but also the aesthetic of Rimetea itself. It is no coincidence that Deutsche Welle called it one of the most beautiful villages in the entire country, with carefully restored old white houses with green dormer windows and colorful plates with their numbers. Some of the houses have been converted into souvenir shops, where visitors can also find tea with herbs typical of the region, as well as delicious homemade sweets.

The oldest house dates back to 1668. Memories of a bygone era are also preserved in the Ethnographic Museum in the village, which houses a huge collection of folk costumes from the region and other objects once used by local residents. There is also a nearby mill, dating back to 1752 and considered one of the oldest in the area.

The visit to Rimetea was carried out as part of a media trip under the Attractive Romania project