Sâncraiu (Hungarian: Kalotaszentkirály) is located on the banks of the Călata River, just 5 kilometers from Huedin. The commune consists of five villages: Sâncraiu, Alunișu, Domoșu, Brăișoru, and Horlacea.
Situated in the heart of the Călata region (Kalotaszeg), it is a welcoming place where architectural heritage, traditional costumes, the closeness of nature, and living traditions create a unique atmosphere. Visitors do not simply discover sights here, but experience authentic moments: quiet streets, open gates, local flavors, and stories passed down from generation to generation.
Since 2005, the village has held the title of “European Village,” awarded for strong community spirit and involvement of its residents in local issues. The area has a well-developed agrotourism network, offering accommodation that blends traditional elements with modern comfort, along with a rich local cuisine. The guesthouses also provide an excellent base for exploring local attractions and the surrounding area.
The calvinist (reformed) church with a coffered ceiling
Built in the 13th century, it was originally catholic, and turned Calvinist (reformed) in the XVI-th century, after the reformation. A distinctive feature of the church is its painted wooden panels, known as coffers, decorated in the traditional style of the Kalotaszeg region. There are 220 such decorative panels inside the church, covering the ceiling and the area in front of the pews.
The tower, constructed in 1762, houses three bells. The church organ was built in 1876 by István Kolonics. The pulpit crown was donated by Count Bánffy Miklós, who at the time owned the Bánffy Castle in Bontida.
The Orthodox church, built in 1930, complements the religious heritage of the village. According to records preserved in the parish, there was already a wooden church, located in the Orthodox cemetery, as early as 1829.
The reformed churches in Alunișu, Domoșu, and Horlacea are also fine examples of the Kalotaszeg region’s characteristic architecture and decorative art. The church in Alunișu (Magyarókereke) dates back to 1273, with richly decorated wooden interior.
The Domoșu (Kalotadámos) calvinist church is on of the most beautiful coffered cealing churches in Kalotaszeg/ Țara Călatei. The church of (Horlacea) Jákótelke
is of Gothic-origin, that rebuilt several times over the centuries.
The Baptist house of prayer was built in 1911, with the Baptist mission beginning in 1888, leading to the formation of the local Baptist congregation.
Beyond these places of worship, the village’s past also lives on in its cemeteries—Reformed, Orthodox, and Jewish—each preserving the memory of generations who once called this place home.
Monuments and sites related to the famous Hungarian poet Ady Endre
The memory of Ady Endre is carried on in Sâncraiu through a monument in the kindergarten yard and a statue in the school courtyard. Widely regarded as one of the most important Hungarian poets of the 20th century, Ady was a pioneer of modernism and symbolism in Hungarian literature.
In 1914, he visited the village with his future wife, Berta Boncza. Sitting beneath a linden tree in the Kiszely family’s garden, he was inspired by the sight of villagers leaving the church in vibrant traditional costumes, forming a solemn yet colorful procession, which inspired him to write the poem “By the Kalota River.” In his verses, Ady captured the beauty of young women in traditional dress, their joyful movement in a cascade of colors. In their eyes, he rediscovered both his lost youth and the beauty of an entire world—along with a quiet sense of hope. The linden tree still stands in the center of the village today, and its story has become a local legend.
The statue of the poet in the school courtyard was created in 1952 by the sculptor Várady Sándor.
Local Ethnographic Exposition / Traditional House of the Kalotaszeg Region
Located at no. 356, opposite the pharmacy, this traditional house was built in 1920. It features an ornamented façade and an enclosed porch. After a year of community-led restoration, it was opened to visitors in 2016, by which time more than 400 objects had been collected.
The main room presents a typical mid-20th-century local interior, with a decorated bed, a painted wardrobe, decorative plates, and portraits of famous transylvanian leader, Rákóczi Ferenc. Other spaces include an early 20th-century kitchen and an exhibition on weaving, spinning, hemp processing, and traditional tools.
In the cellar, the exhibition “Our Community’s Past in Images” offers a glimpse into the village’s history.
Statues and Heritage Sites
St. Stephen’s Statue and Park
Next to the traditional house lies St. Stephen’s Park, centered around a bust of Stephen I, the first king of Hungary, the same figure after whom the village itself is named. The statue was inaugurated in August 2003.
Bust of Zsigmond Gyarmathy
Located in the courtyard of the cultural center, the bust of Gyarmathy Zsigmond was inaugurated in the summer of 2015. It was created by the sculptors Harmath István and Lakatos Pál.
Born in Sâncraiu in 1832, Gyarmathy played an important role in the region’s public and cultural life. After taking part in the 1848–49 revolution, he later became a local leader, educator, and supporter of traditional crafts and community development.
The bust commemorates a life dedicated to serving the community.
Statue of Gyarmathy Zsigáné in the School Courtyard
Located in the school courtyard, the statue was unveiled in 2024. It was created by the sculptor Harmath István and donated by Preininger Rozália.
Born in 1843, Hory Etelka was a leading cultural figure of the Kalotaszeg region. She made local embroidery famous all over the European courts and aristocracy, creating prestige, but also a living wage for local women. She promoted traditional embroidery and local culture, published widely, edited the journal Kalotaszeg, and turned her home into a meeting place for artists and intellectuals.
Cultural and Modern Facilities
Cultural Center
The new cultural center of Kalotaszentkirály was inaugurated on August 10, 2025. Blending traditional Kalotaszeg architectural elements with modern community needs, the two-story building covers 1,133 square meters and includes a performance hall, library, reading room, and fitness and practice spaces.
With an investment of over €4 million, the building was designed to harmonize with the village landscape while carrying forward local architectural traditions into the future.
Semi-Olympic Swimming Pool
The swimming pool in Sâncraiu was opened in December 2020. The €750,000 project was funded by the local council, with additional support from county and government sources.
The 25 × 10 meter semi-Olympic pool is used by local schoolchildren during school hours and is also open to the public. It features changing rooms for men, women, and people with reduced mobility, as well as showers and a water filtration system that meets EU standards.
Over 12 km of cycling path
The path is a good example of inter-regional cooperation. Following years of effort by local authorities to repurpose a former railway embankment, the first portion of the path was inagugurated in October 2021, near our village, Sâncraiu.
The route was later extended: a 3 km section towards Huedin was completed in 2022, and further 5 km towards Călățele in 2025. Today, the connected network offers more than 12 km of cycling paths for visitors.
