Cluj-Napoca | |
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Cluj-Napoca panorama Cluj-Napoca city hall | |
Nickname(s): | |
Coordinates: 46°46′N 23°35′E / 46.767°N 23.583°E | |
Country | Romania |
County | Cluj County |
Status | County seat |
Attested | 1213 (first official record as Clus) |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–2024) | Emil Boc[3] (PNL) |
• Deputy Mayor | Dan Tarcea (PNL) |
• Deputy Mayor | Emese Oláh (UDMR) |
• City Manager | Gheorghe Șurubaru (PNL) |
Area | |
• City | 179.5 km2 (69.3 sq mi) |
• Metro | 1,537.5 km2 (593.6 sq mi) |
Elevation | 340 m (1,120 ft) |
Population | |
• City | 286,598 |
• Density | 1,597/km2 (4,140/sq mi) |
• Metro (2011) | 411,379[4] |
Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Postal Code | 400xyz[i] |
Area code | +40 x64[ii] |
Car Plates | CJ[iii] |
Website | primariaclujnapoca |
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Cluj-Napoca (/ˈkluːʒnæˌpoʊkə/ KLOOZH-na-POH-kə; Romanian: [ˈkluʒ naˈpoka] ), or simply Cluj (Hungarian: Kolozsvár [ˈkoloʒvaːr] , German: Klausenburg), is a city in northwestern Romania. It is the second-most populous city in the country[5] and the seat of Cluj County. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest (445 km; 277 mi), Budapest (461 km; 286 mi) and Belgrade (483 km; 300 mi). Located in the Someșul Mic river valley, the city is considered the unofficial capital of the historical province of Transylvania. For some decades prior to the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, it was the official capital of the Grand Principality of Transylvania.
As of 2021[update], 286,598 inhabitants live in the city.[5] The Cluj-Napoca metropolitan area had a population of 411,379 people,[4][6] while the population of the peri-urban area is approximately 420,000.[4][7] According to a 2007 estimate, the city hosts a visible population of students and other non-residents, an average of over 20,000 people each year during 2004–2007.[8] The city spreads out from St. Michael's Church in Unirii Square, built in the 14th century and named after the Archangel Michael, Cluj's patron saint.[9] The municipality covers an area of 179.52 square kilometres (69.31 sq mi).
Cluj experienced a decade of decline during the 1990s, its international reputation suffering from the policies of its mayor at the time, Gheorghe Funar.[10] In the early 21st century, the city is one of the most important academic, cultural, industrial and business centres in Romania. Among other institutions, it hosts the country's largest university, Babeș-Bolyai University, with its botanical garden; nationally renowned cultural institutions such as the National Theatre and Opera; as well as the largest Romanian-owned commercial bank.[11][12] Cluj-Napoca held the titles of European Youth Capital in 2015,[13] and European City of Sport in 2018.[14] In 2021, the city joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and was named a UNESCO City of Film.[15]