Rimetea Village in Romania is unique in its architectural preservation from the 19th century, with its white houses and green window frames reflecting Hungarian and Austrian influences. It has survived ups and downs, growing due to iron ore mining but nearly being destroyed by fire. Though facing decline when the ore depleted, it was rebuilt. Situated amidst limestone massifs and traversed by the Rimetea River, its scenic beauty and architectural heritage led it to receive the Europa Nostra conservation award in 1999, the first rural settlement to do so, and a UNESCO proposal for World Heritage status.

1. Rimetea Village
unique in Romania and in the world
Student: Stanciu Cosmin Andrei
Group: 8213

2. • Rimetea is a place where
everything has been preserved
exactly the way it was when it was
built, in the 19th century. The
specific white houses with green
windows frames are the result of a
blend of Hungarian and Austrian
elements, as the two nationalities
were mixed here in the 18th
century. The good condition in
which these houses have been
preserved, their unique
architecture, particular
to Transylvania and the wonderful
scenery that surrounds them make
the village a very beautiful place.

3. • Over the course of its long existence – that started in Roman
times (106-274) – Rimetea has had many ups and downs. It grew
from ordinary medieval village to burgeoning city between the
centuries 17 and 18, only to sustain a slow but certain decline
between the 19th and 20th centuries. Both the rise and the fall were
a result of the area’s rich iron ore deposits. They ensured a steady
growth and prosperity for the village, but were unfortunately
depleted. Rimetea even came close to extinction 150 years ago,
when it was almost swallowed by fire. Most of the houses were
destroyed, but were rebuilt by the local miners.

4. • Besides having this unique and charming architecture, the
village is also located in a wonderful geographical area. It is
surrounded from side to side by 500-600 meter calcareous massifs
and traversed from north to south by the River Rimetea. In the east,
the massif Piatra Secuiului (1128 m) presides over the village,
causing the sun to rise twice between the months of May and
September. The sun is said to rise two times because, the mountain
being so high, the village is still covered by shadow even after the
sun has risen. Only after climbing above Piatra Secuiului is it
considered to have actually risen, when it finally covers the village in
light.

5. • Rimetea received the Europa Nostra award in the year 1999
for its conservation of the cultural and architectonic heritage.
This was the first time that a rural settlement received this
award. The Europa Nostra prize celebrates and rewards the
best achievements related to heritage conservation,
management and research. Also in 1999, an architect
from UNESCO visited Rimetea and being impressed with it, he
proposed it for inclusion in the World Heritage.

6. Sources:
• “Rimetea, Alba”, Wikipedia, Available at:
https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rimetea,_Alba, Accessed: 09.16.2015.
• Alexandra, “Piatra Secuiului, Rimetea – locul unde nu m-a deranjat
ca se vorbeste maghiara”, Viajoa, February 28th 2012, Available at:
http://www.viajoa.ro/destinatii/europa/romania/piatra-secuiului-
rimetea-locul-unde-nu-m-deranjat-ca-se-vorbeste-m/, Accessed:
09.16.2015.
• Enache, Maria, “CELE MAI FRUMOASE SATE DIN ROMANIA:
RIMETEA, UN LOC UNIC IN LUME, CU CASE ALBE, FERESTRE VERZI SI
O ISTORIE IMPRESIONANTA”, Mondonews, March 16th 2014,
Available at: http://www.mondonews.ro/cele-mai-frumoase-sate-
din-romania-rimetea-un-loc-unic-in-lume-cu-case-albe-si-ferestre-
verzi-galerie-foto/, Accessed: 09.16.2015.