The Szekler Calvary. Ugron Chapel

The Szekler Border Guard Memorial Center presents the history of the Szekler military organization and border defense in the Eastern Carpathians, starting from the Árpád-era up until the Second World War. The Szekler Border Guard Memorial Center, created by the Frumoasa Association, is a niche and unique tourist destination in Szeklerland, and, through presenting all the damages and the suffering war causes, also contributes to the strengthening of the modern European pacifism. Besides the richness of reconstructed scenes with mannequins, an array of modern technical equipment also helps the visitors learn about a thousand years of history. Tickets: • Adult: 30 lei • Students: 15 lei (one must present a valid ID) Free admission for museum workers, journalists, teachers leading a group, tourist guides. The exhibition is not recommended for children under 10 years. Guidance is provided in three languages (hungarian, romanian and english) through an audioguide system. The length of museum visit: 90-120’ Photography, audio recording and video recording is strictly prohibited! Opening hours: Wednesday 10-16 Thursday 10-16 Friday 10-16 Saturday 10-16 *last entry: 15:30

Discover Transylvania in one day! Mini Transylvania Park is the only multicultural, thematic mock-up park in Romania, where visitors can see a scaled-down copy of Transylvania's most important historical buildings. The park is located in Szejkefürdő/Băile Szejke, near Székelyudvarhely/Odorheiu Secuiesc. In the area of about 8000 square meters we recommend to our visitors: • our open-air exhibition, which presents scale models of more than 80 of the most significant castles, fortified churches, mansions and other monumental buildings in Transylvania; • most of them are part of the national heritage and UNESCO World Heritage; • a mini-Szekler train tour;  • buffalo carriage rides; • the Mineral Water Museum; • exhibition of the Szekler gates; • the Orbán Balázs Visitor Center; • playground. Tickets: • Ticket for adults: 40 lei • Ticket for children (free for children under 3 years): 25 lei • Ticket for retirees: 25 lei • Adult group ticket (minimum 10 people): 35 lei • Group ticket children / pensioners (minimum 10 people): 20 lei * Ticket price for the Mini Transylvania Park includes admission to the Orbán Balázs Visitor Center. Tickets for the Mini Secler Steam:  • Adult ticket: 10 lei • Children's ticket: 5 lei The idea of the Transylvanian mini-park came from Szekler Legendarium's team. The scale models exposed in our park present the most important buildings of the region's nationalities, in their golden age. The scale models were made by Németh Hajnal Auróra and Vajda Domokos born in Cristuru Secuiesc, with the contribution of historical graphic artist Gyöngyössy János.

Learn the secrets of Miercurea Ciuc's beloved brew at this factory tour, 12km south of Miercurea Ciuc, through tastings and traditional Hungarian beer snacks. After a few sips, you too will be singing the praises of the Harghita Mountains' spring water and quality hops. Offer: 1 h | 45 Ron / person  • tour, explanation of the technology used • Csík Chips tasting (100 g) • unlimited beer consumption 2 h | 85 Ron / person  • tour, explanation of the technology used • local cuisine tasting • unlimited beer consumption 2 h | 99 Ron / person  • tour, explanation of the technology used  • oven-baked trotters in handmade bread with horseradish and garlic sauce • unlimited beer consumption Booking: +40755 030 895, latogatokozpont@csikisor.hu IMPORTANT! Registration is considered a definite booking after confirmation by phone or e-mail.   We want your visit to be a lasting memory, so you have the opportunity to purchase souvenirs related to Csíki Beer and Csíki Chips in our gift shop. We offer also: • Visiting and tasting tour at "Csíki Csipsz"

In the early nineties, the number of Pentecostal pilgrims increased significantly in Csíksomlyó/Șumuleu Ciuc. The church and the surrounding area could no longer accommodate hundred thousands of pilgrims. According to the ancient tradition, the Pentecost celebration included a procession on the hill of Kissomlyó, which is why the new altar was settled on the saddle between the Nagysomlyó and Kissomlyó mountains. The so-called "triple hill" altar was designed by Imre Makovecz in 1996, following the request of Father Albert Bartók, the Franciscan householder. According to Makovecz, the Father clearly and precisely described the conception: a triple hill with a double cross to make an altar. He was assisted now and in later modifications by Ernő Bogos, an architect in Miercurea Ciuc, who took a significant role in the planning and construction work. The “Hármashalom” (“Triple hill”), which served as a model for the altar, is a heraldic element that appeared in the coat of arms of Hungary in the 13th century, and while it originally symbolized the three hills of the Golgota, later became the symbol of the former Hungary’s three highest mountains, Mátra, Tátra and Fátra. The altar was inaugurated on 24 November 1996, at the Feast of Christ the King. Today it hosts the annual Pentecostal celebration, the Day of the Thousand Szekler Girls and many other events. On 1st of June 2019, Pope Francis I celebrated Holy Mass at the “Hármashalom” Altar and has given the Golden Rose in honour of the Virgin Mary.

The Golden Rose (Rosa d'Oro) is a special gift from the popes, which is nowadays given to Mary's shrines. This honour was presented by Pope Francis in Șumuleu Ciuc/Csíksomlyó on June 1, 2019, in honour of the Virgin Mary. It is currently the only papal rose in the Carpathian Basin. Originally the popes gave the golden roses to persons of great merit serving the Church. The custom was first mentioned in 1049, in the context that the Pope had donated the rose to an eminent official. Later the kings received the honour, then different bodies, and in the 13-14th century it was given to churches. The first woman to take over was Joanna I of Naples in 1368. From the 17th century onward, the Pope predominantly bestowed the honour on women of royal families for their virtues, and for their church service. Since the mid-20th century, the Pope has honoured with the Golden Rose the Queen of Heaven, the Virgin Mary, at the most important shrines of Mary. Pope Paul VI awarded a church in Bethlehem in 1963, the Fatima in 1965 and the Guadalupe Shrine in 1966. Among others, John Paul II awarded the Golden Roses to the Shrine of Mary in Czestochowa, Loreto and Lourdes. Pope Benedict XVI honoured most of the Mary's shrines when he visited them (including Aparecida and Mariazell, the Immaculate Conception Church in Washington, the Nostra Signora di Bonaria in Cagliari, the Rosary of Pompeii, and the Basilica of the Rosary). Pope Francis also donated Golden Roses to the Mary's shrines in Fatima, Turin, Guadalupe and Czestochowa. The Golden Rose is a symbol of joy and love, a symbol of Christ, according to old ceremonies, and thus its giving is not only a simple acknowledgment but also a mission: the honoured ones must bring Christ into the world. The rose given by Pope Francis to the Virgin Mary of Șumuleu Ciuc/Csíksomlyó is made of silver with 24 karat gold plated stems. It is about 84 cm tall and weighs 1,200 grams. The Golden Rose was placed next to the statue of Virgin Mary, which having a height of 2.27 meters is the largest votive wooden statue in the world.

Crippled Church (Csonkatorony in Hungarian), ruins of the tower of the old village church is located on the western edge of the village Tomeşti (Csíkszenttamás), Harghita County, Romania, near the other two special attractions: Bottomless Lake and Saint Anna Bath. Photo: Munzlinger Attila

The Savior's Passion Chapel is on the Eastern slope of the hill. The most valuable object of the chapel is the statue of Jesus, sculpted in 1810. According to tradition, the sinful man locked himself in this chapel, prayed, fasted and whipped his body, in his desire to cleanse and suffer for his sins.

The chapel, located on the edge of the square in front of the church, was built in 1767. It is the place where the pilgrims were traditionally welcomed and where the Whitsunday procession began. The commemorative column of the Battle of Tolvajos Pass, which took place on 17 May 1567, built from the royal judge's donation, Count Henter Antal, is located next to the chapel. The column was originally raised on the battlefield, but Simon Jukundián moved it to the current location around 1870.

The Caracău Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the Miercurea Ciuc - Ghimeș section, which was put into operation on 18 October 1897. The viaduct was completely destroyed in 1944 as a result of World War II battles. From December 1944 until 12 February 1945, the Romanian engineers built a provisional, completely wooden (3,600 cubic meters) wooden viaduct. This was a unique performance in the history of railway constructions. In parallel, a new viaduct was built, and it was put into operation on 14 September 1946. The new construction of the viaduct was the largest railway bridge made of reinforced concrete in Romania. The total length of the viaduct is 264 m, the vault has an opening of 100 m and the arrow is 37 m. The width of the vault is 6.50 m at the top and 10 m at the base. The vault section has 2.5 m at the top and 4.8 m at the base. Photo: Bartalis Zsombor