Hidişelu de Sus: Nature, Culture and Activities

Hidişelu de Sus lies in the central southern part of Bihor County, in the Tăşad Hills area. The municipality is crossed by national road DN 76 between Oradea and Beiuş. Its geographical setting combines the hilly landscape with a transport route between two towns in the county.

Landscape and Nature

The local hills feature broad, rounded interfluves; the relief energy ranges from 100 to almost 300 metres. The Betfia Natura 2000 site (ROSCI0008) extends across the municipalities of Hidişelu de Sus, Oşorhei and Sânmartin. The site is considered important for bats, amphibians and reptiles. In the forest of Hidişelu de Jos below Şimleului Hill, around 1,000 specimens of the protected thermophilous shrub ghimpe grow. A total of seven stork nests were recorded in the Hidişelu de Sus area along the main road and in the associated villages. Thus, landform, protected area, and specific animal and plant occurrences stand alongside one another as distinct natural features.

The nature-related information is distributed across several clearly named areas: the protected area extends over three municipalities, while the forest of Hidişelu de Jos and Şimleului Hill locate a single plant population. The stork nests, in turn, were recorded along the main road and in the associated villages. The landscape therefore comprises a protected-area expanse, a forest location and a settlement area side by side.

Culture

The archaeological site “Şumugiu – Biserica turcilor” lies on the ridge of the approximately 220-metre-high Dealul Cionului. The archaeological site “Situl arheologic de la Mierlău – La Cetăţuie” lies north-northwest of Mierlău on a wooded spur of land approximately 260 metres high. A cultural-patriotic programme featuring patriotic songs, Christmas carols and folk dances took place at the cultural centre in Hidişelu de Sus. The “Datina Hidișelului” ensemble performed Bihor folk dances as part of a cultural programme. An Orthodox liturgy and a commemorative event were held in Hidişelu de Sus on Heroes’ Day. The commemorative event for Heroes’ Day proceeded from the Orthodox Church of “Sfânta Treime” to the Heroes’ Monument. The documented culture therefore encompasses both archaeological sites and musical, dance and religious events.

The cultural themes are also situated on different levels. The two archaeological sites are located at terrain features near Dealul Cionului and Mierlău; the event information, by contrast, refers to the cultural centre, the Orthodox Church of “Sfânta Treime” and the Heroes’ Monument. Archaeological sites and cultural events can therefore be distinguished from one another.

Activities

The municipality’s rural tourism offerings include traditional local products marketed in cooperation with guesthouses. Winter sports can be practised in Hidişelu de Jos on the ski slope established there. The “Mentor” equestrian centre offers riding lessons. The offering is aimed at people over the age of three through to adults who are interested in horse riding and the surrounding nature. Local products, winter sports and riding lessons thus form three clearly separate areas of the documented offering.

Other Places

Padiş, Sat Nojorid, Vadu Crişului, Sălişte, Finiş, Oşorhei, Almașu Mic, Chișcău

For the higher-level travel overview: Bihor.