Miercurea-Ciuc: Fortress, Pilgrimage and Ice Skating

Miercurea-Ciuc can be explored through specific themes relating to performance, architecture and museums. The Teatrul Coregrafic Secuiesc Harghita is based in Miercurea-Ciuc and regularly stages performances at its own venue there. The Mikó Fortress is the oldest building in Miercurea-Ciuc and a fortification with Renaissance-style bastions, built in 1611. The cultural and sporting offerings range from performances and permanent exhibitions to sacred buildings and a gallery, as well as a city festival, master classes, bike hire and ice skating.

Since 1970, the Mikó Fortress has housed the Muzeul Secuiesc al Ciucului. The permanent exhibitions at the Muzeul Secuiesc al Ciucului cover the history of the Mikó Fortress, the traditional way of life of the local population, the Franciscan printing press in Șumuleu Ciuc, restored sacred objects and the history of Miercurea-Ciuc.

Șumuleu Ciuc has been an important spiritual centre for Roman Catholic Székely people for several centuries. The Pentecost pilgrimage takes place in Șumuleu Ciuc every year. The present Franciscan church in Șumuleu Ciuc is a Baroque building whose construction began in 1804. The site's religious character and the church's architectural history belong to distinctly different periods.

The Millennium Church is estimated to have been built between 2001 and 2003 and has a roof crowned by a glass dome. In Jigodin, the “Nagy Imre” Gallery displays works depicting the Székely people and reflecting the atmosphere of their lives. The two sacred buildings date from distinctly different construction periods. The sacred buildings and the gallery each have their own focus: church architecture on the one hand, and depictions of the Székely people on the other.

The Zilele Municipiului Miercurea-Ciuc takes place every year on the first weekend of August. The event includes open-air concerts and a market for arts, crafts and handmade products. As part of the festival, the Universitatea de Vară de Muzică Veche offers master classes for amateur and professional musicians. The events programme therefore includes both public concerts and markets as well as musical master classes.

For cycling tours, Fun-Bike rents out mountain bikes, trekking bikes, city bikes and e-bikes. Together with several guesthouses and hotels in the surrounding area, Fun-Bike organises cycling tours for tourists. The open-air ice rink in the centre of Miercurea-Ciuc offers another clearly defined activity: skates can be rented on site.

Harghita-Băi is a mountain settlement as well as a spa and tourist resort of local interest. Harghita-Băi is administratively part of Miercurea-Ciuc and lies at an altitude of 1,350 metres. Its classification as a mountain settlement and a spa and tourist resort of local interest gives Harghita-Băi a clearly defined character.

The Teatrul „Csíki Játékszín”, based in Miercurea-Ciuc, sells tickets online and at the box office of Casa Artelor. Romanian surtitles are provided for most performances.

More destinations: Niklasmarkt, Baile Tusnad, Siculeni, Subcetate, Păuleni-Ciuc, Frumoasa, Sândominic and Cozmeni.

To the main travel overview: Harghita.