Macea (Hungarian: Mácsa; German: Matscha) is a commune in Arad County, Romania, composed of two villages, Macea and Sânmartin (Szentmárton, Aradsanktmartin).

Macea
The Macea Castle
Location in Arad County
Location in Arad County
Macea is located in Romania
Macea
Macea
Location in Romania
Coordinates: 46°23′N 21°20′E / 46.38°N 21.33°E / 46.38; 21.33
CountryRomania
CountyArad
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2024) Ciprian-Gheorghe Otlăcan (PNL)
Area
72.64 km2 (28.05 sq mi)
Elevation
97 m (318 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-01)[1]
5,722
 • Density79/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zoneEET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)
Postal code
317210
Area code(+40) 02 57
Vehicle reg.AR
Websitemacea.ro

The commune is located in the western part of the county, on the border with Hungary, at a distance of 6 km (3.7 mi) from Curtici and 23 km (14 mi) from the county seat, Arad.

Population

edit

According to the 2011 census, the population of the commune counts 5,762 inhabitants, out of which 84.24% are Romanians, 5.97% Roma, 2.43% Hungarians, 1.44% Germans, and 5.64% are of other or undeclared nationalities.

History

edit

Although the traces of inhabitance on this place are very old, traces from the Neolithic and from the Bronze Age having been found on its territory, Macea was first mentioned in documents only in 1380, while Sânmartin in 1477.

Economy

edit

The commune's present-day economy can be characterized by a powerful dynamic force with significant developments in all the sectors present in the commune. Livestock-breeding based on cattle-growing and pig-raising is the main economic branch, due to which food industry is well-developed in the commune.

Tourism

edit

Tourist sites include the natural reservation called "Arboretul de la Macea", which covers and area of 20.5 ha (51 acres). The Macea Castle (also called Csernovics Castle) is an architectural monument belonging to the national patrimony, built in the 19th century, the exhibition room with caricatures, well as the beach and the botanical garden.

Macea village gives home to a festival of caricature and humour every year.

Summer school

edit

Since 2003, the Macea Castle is the home of "Informatica la Castel" annual event (formerly "Linux and Virtual Learning Environments", LVLE), a Free Software summer school organised by the Vasile Goldiș Western University of Arad and ARLUG, the Arad Linux Users Group.[2][3]

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (XLS). National Institute of Statistics.
  2. ^ "Informatica la Castel". Informatica la Castel. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  3. ^ ""Informatica la Castel" Free Software Summer School, 2011 edition, Romania".