Gyula

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Gyula map

phone district code:

population:

32239 person

area:

25580 km²

Gyula (Romanian: Giula) is a town in Békés county (Romanian: Judeţul Bichiş) in south-eastern Hungary. It lies close to the border with Romania, on the river Fehér-Körös (Romanian: Crişul Alb). 1.5% of the city's population is ethnically Romanian.

History

The first recorded reference to Gyula was in a document dated 1313 which mentions a monastery called Gyulamonostor (Julamonustra in Latin). By 1332 the settlement around the monastery was being called Gyula / Jula. There are two versions for the origin of the name. One is that following the occupation of the Pannonian Plain by the Magyar tribes, the tribe of the gyula settled in the area. More likely is the version that a lord called Gyula or Jula founded the monastery and its settlement.

Romanian Community

An important Romanian community lives in Gyula. In everyday life, they refer to themselves as julani. For the name of the town, they use in writing Giula, even though the name is pronounced as Jula.

Organizations

The Center for the National Self-governance of Romanians living in Hungary (AŢRU), Gyula, Eminescu Street, no. 1
Organizations and Foundations

Romanian-Hungarian Cultural Union (UCRU), e-mail: http://csotye@usa.net
Romanian Researchers and Creators Community from Hungary
Pro Musica Foundation

The seat of Romanian Orthodox Bishop from Hungary is in St. Nicholas Square.

Tourist Attractions

In the middle of the town stands the old fortress (13th century), now a commercial centre and a tourist attraction. Nearby, there are thermal spas known for their therapeutic effects.<br>In the "Great Romanian town" one may admire "Nicolae Bălcescu" High School designed by Szabó Jen. The architecture resembles that of Romanian wooden churches from Transylvania. Not very far is the Center for the National Self-governance of Romanians living in Hungary and the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral, erected in 1867. Another Romanian church is situated in the "Little Romanian town".<br>While walking through the town, one can admire the busts of Moise Nicoară, Liviu Rebreanu or Nicolae Bălcescu, people who contributed to what is now modern Romania.