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Sinca Noua
The first inhabitants of Sinca Noua moved to the area in 1762 from Sinca Veche (Old Shinca), some 10 km further North. It was about 80 families who were hiding in the deep forests of the Sinca valley to escape from forced Catholicism and military service in Maria Theresia's army. They settled near an old orthodox wooden chapel that was build in 1572 and is still a very important site for the community. Today, Sinca Noua is inhabited by 1,800 people, 4 of which belong to the Hungarian minority, 2 are Saxons, and about 200 belong to the Roma. Their main occupation still is agriculture and livestock breeding, but in the recent past, eco-tourism has also become an issue of interest. People in Sinca Noua are very friendly people who are still deeply rooted in their traditions. Especially in winter, during Christmas Eve and St. John's Day (January 7th), this becomes obvious: the whole village, young and old, participates to the festivities of the two-week long "Turco". Also, weddings are still celebrated the old way by the people in Sinca Noua, for three days and three nights with little breaks - just as in the old days. Sinca Noua gains its picturesque quality with sheep, goats, horses, cows, and water buffaloes jamming their way through the main road every morning and evening to the communal pastures outside the village. In the beautiful surroundings you can also easily find tracks of wolf, bear, lynx, wild boar, or red deer, and with a little luck, you might even see one of them. The town hall has declared Sinca Noua to be the first "ecological village" of Romania and the local council has elaborated a sustainable development strategy for the village over the past years. This strategy includes measures to strengthen the small-scale, traditional agriculture by certifying as organic agriculture and building a local processing food industry (everything from organic bakery to organic butchery), the development of eco-tourism, the creation of protected areas, and the implementation of an environmental education plan for the local population.
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A Vision for Sinca Noua - elaborated by the local council in November 2003
In 20 years, Sinca Noua will be an ecological village with a high social and economic standard. The local economy will be based on organic agriculture, eco-tourism, and small processing industries. The village will be extended at its periphery. The community will contain a large surface of forests, natural pastures, and hay-meadows, of which 10 percent are protected areas. The population is becoming well prepared in its professions, for example, knowing foreign languages, and will have easy access to medical and veterinary services. The traditional folklore with its local particularity and the typical architectonic style of the region will be vivid and transmitted. The use of natural resources in the community will be a model for sustainable development. Soon after the beginning of the programme first results were achieved:
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© W. Braakhekke |
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About Romania Geography Romania covers about 237,000 km2 (app. 91,550 sq miles) and is the twelfth largest country in Europe. Next to Poland, Romania, with its 22 million people, is the most populated EU accession country. Its terrain is varied, a third of which consists of huge plains in the West and the South, the Carpathian Mountains, and the various foothills. The Carpathian Mountains This curved mountain range divides Romania from Northeast to Southwest and lies on a distance of more than 900 km. It ends at the "Iron Gates", where the Danube crosses through the mountains and separates Romania from Serbia. The highest peaks reach over 2,500 m and are mainly located in the Southern "Transylvanian Alps". In the Eastern and Northern Carpathians several high, rocky mountains also break through the forested hills. In the East and Southeast, the Carpathians border on the hills of Moldova and Dobrogea, and in the South and the East they border on their foothills. All these adjacent hills range between 500 and 1,000 m. The Danube Delta The Danube Delta is a unique natural landscape and the biggest European delta. This 5,600 km2 large biosphere reserve consists of numerous creeks, streams, arms and lakes of the Danube River. Over 300 bird species have been documented in this delta, amongst them the most important European populations of pelicans, pygmy cormorants, and, in winter, red-breasted geese. The Danube Delta is also well known for its incredible abundance of fish and is worth a stay of several days. We are happy to help you in finding a reputable tour operator for this area if you would like to visit. Climate Romania has a moderate, continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. In the southern plains around Bucharest, summers often reach 40° C or more, yet in the mountains, temperatures are cooler. Winters can be cold and with lots of snow, whereas the Southern Carpathians are usually less extreme than the Northern Carpathians. Along the border of Ukraine, the climate is much more continental. CNN provides here a weather forecast for Brasov. Mentality Unjustly, Romanians have a bad image in many Western countries. Their mentality is typical for Southern Europeans; they like to sit together, to drink a glass or two of homemade brandy, and to chat for hours. Especially in the rural areas, hospitality is often overwhelming. For a traveller from the West, it is quite surprising to see how people give so much when they have so little. In terms of security, Romania is a safe country with the exception of the big cities, where pickpockets are commonly found at the train stations or the malls.
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We founded the Sinca Noua Foundation for the implementation of the sustainable development strategy.
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