The treasures the area offers motivate our option for tourism.

         Geography: The largest pant of the Zarand Land is geographically comprised into the Hãlmagiu Depression located on the Southwestern part of the Western Mountains (Apuseni), on the river Crisul Alb. The region is crossed by the European Road Oradea - Deva and by the railroad Arad- Brad. The region can be accessed through four ways: Cluj- Brad -Hãlmagiu; Bucharest - Sibiu - Deva - Hãlmagiu; Oradea - Hãlmagiu and Timisoara - Arad - Hãlmagiu.
         Relief conformation: The Hãlmagiu Depression emerged during the superior tertian after the crystal bottom of the earth had crushed. Mountains closely surround it. In the Northeast there are the Bihor Mountains with the well-known Hen (Gaina) Mountain, place of the annual Maiden Fair; in depths, on the horizon is the crested of the Metallic Mountains with the extinguished volcanoes Bulzul Mare and Bulzul Mic; in the East there are the Zarand Mountains with the reservation (protected animals and plants) situated on the Little River (Râul Mic) and Gorgana and in the West there are the Codru Moma Mountains having a natural soda maker like spring, place for an important holly celebration.
         Therefore a relative small area comprises a large diversity of reliet forms (high planes, hills, valleys and small or medium level mountains) and also a great difference between the level of the earth-beginning with Pick Curcubãta of 1849 m and ending with Plescuta Village of 250 m). A percentage of 52% of the whole Depression comprises woods oriented towards South.

         Climate: the area climate is continental, with oceanic influences.
         The annual average temperature is of +8 degree centigrade.
         The average temperature in January is of -5 degree centigrade.
         A medium of 31 days per year is about 3l degree centigrade and higher.
         The yearly average rainfalls differs between 700 and 1200 l/cubic meters.
         The hydrographic network is of 180 square kilometers.
         There is a negative ionization.
         Although the climate is generally mild (due also to the fact that there are no strong winds) the differences in highs determine climate diversity; thus, the northern and eastern slopes of the Hen (Gãina) Mountain are covered with snow from November till April.

         Short history: At the end of the first millenium AD, Hãlmagiu was part of the pre-state organization leaded by Menu, son of Morut. In the XIII-Th century the Zarand Land covered an area comprised from the heart of the Western (Apuseni) Mountains to the Tisa River, on the Crisu Alb Valley. During the early Middle Ages documents mention the voevodas Bibart (1359) and Moga (1451) leading 150 villages from their capital, Hãlmagiu.
         After the Revolution of 1848 a Zarand County was established, with the main centers Hãlmagiu (comprising Gurahont), Baia de Cris and Brad. The administration, school and police were romanian. In 1867, after the proclamation of the Austro-Hungarian dualism and the annexation of Transilvania the Zarand County was nullified and parted between the Arad and Hunedoara regions. This situation is the same in present.

   Traditions, habits and cultural monuments:

         During the whole year holly and cultural celebrations are held from which the most important are:
         - The Maidens Fair on the Hen (Gãina) Mountain;
         - The Holly Mary celebrations at the natural soda maker spring;
         - The celebration of the patronymic saint of the Crisan Monastery;
         - The popular fair at Tãcãsele.

         Beginning with spring and until autumn, every village has its own celebration with dances and popular traditions.
         An important celebration of the fecundity cult was the Kiss Fair, held in Hãlmagiu, on the date of Saint Barber and Saint Trader. The people used to eat blossomed wheat and the maidens who were to be wedded during the interval between these two celebrations used to come dressed in edding gowns and could be kissed by those who paid for that.
         The Christmas songs are very special because people use to walk to all the houses singing and bearing with them a Turca (the hunting of the ox) and the horse.
         The most important cultural monuments are the churches dating from the XIV- XVIII centuries still standing at Hãlmagiu, Criscior and Luncoiu.
         Worthies of a special mention are the Moti (inhabitants from this area) Pantheon at Tebea, the Gold Museum at Brad and the monument standing in the place of the cruel death of the seven priests hanged after the Revolution of 1848 and also the statue of Avram Iancu, both at Hãlmagiu. Those who love popular art objects may find a different range of wool and sculptured wood objects. The earth pots are made by the traditional makers in Hãlmãgel and Târnãvita. The naive painters in the area, leaded by Petru Mihut are well known in the country and abroad.

         The nature offers freely forest fruits. Food consisting of milk and milk products, meat and meat products, fruits, vegetables, fish, game are very cheap. This area is famous for its tzuica (a very strong, perfumed and natural whiskey made of bitter cherries, plums, pears and apples).
         The prepared food is specific to the region and the sweets and cakes are of a fine, original taste.
         The landscapes, the morphology of the relief, the variety of the forests, the richness of the natural products, the waters, the mild climate, the pure and ozone air do certainly recommend the agri-tourism and the mountain of a lower and medium altitude tourism.
         The welcoming and kind nature, hospitality and helping character are specific for the inhabitants of the Hãlmagiu Depression.

The Association for the Development of the Zarand Land

         Legal Person, Hãlmagiu Village, Arad, Romania
         General Representation
         Bucharest, District 1, No.15, Dinicu Golescu Av, Ap.25
         Tel: 004.01.6374802

(translation in english by Roxana Maris- Duma)