Vatra Dornei | |
|---|---|
 Traditional Romanian wooden church in Dorna-Arini (2012) | |
 Coat of arms | |
 Location in Suceava County | |
  Vatra Dornei Location in Romania | |
| Coordinates:47°20′46″N25°21′34″E / 47.34611°N 25.35944°E /47.34611; 25.35944 | |
| Country | Romania |
| County | Suceava |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2020–2024) | Ilie Boncheș[1] (PNL) |
Area | 144.34 km2 (55.73 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 802 m (2,631 ft) |
| Population (2021-12-01)[2] | 12,578 |
| • Density | 87/km2 (230/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EET/EEST (UTC+2/+3) |
| Postal code | 725700 |
| Area code | (+40) 0230 |
| Vehicle reg. | SV |
| Website | www |
Vatra Dornei (Romanian pronunciation:[ˌvatraˈdornej];German:Dorna Watra;Hungarian:Dornavátra;Yiddish:דאָרנע,romanized: Dorne) is acity inSuceava County, north-easternRomania. It is situated in the historical region ofBukovina. Vatra Dornei is the fifth largest urban settlement in the county, with a population of 12,578 inhabitants, according to the2021 census.
It was declared a city in 2000, being the newest and smallest in the county. The city administers three villages: Argestru, Roșu, and Todireni. Vatra Dornei is a well known spa and ski resort in theCarpathian Mountains and also is home to the historicVatra Dornei Casino.
The town's current local council has the following political composition, according to the results of the2020 Romanian local elections:[3]
| Party | Seats | Current Council | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Liberal Party (PNL) | 7 | ||||||||
| Social Democratic Party (PSD) | 5 | ||||||||
| People's Movement Party (PMP) | 3 | ||||||||
| Save Romania Union (USR) | 2 | ||||||||
Vatra Dornei is located in north-east Romania, in the south-western part ofSuceava County, 110 km (68 mi) away fromSuceava, the capital of the county. The city ofCâmpulung Moldovenesc is 40 km (25 mi) away, the city ofBistrița 85 km (53 mi) away, the town ofGura Humorului 74 km (46 mi) away and the town ofBroșteni 52 km (32 mi) away.
Vatra Dornei is at the confluence of the riversBistrița andDorna, in the Dorna Depression. Because of its mountain surroundings, the city is a spa and ski resort, one of the oldest resorts in Romania. Vatra Dornei is connected to the Romanian national railway system and has two railway stations, Vatra Dornei and Vatra Dornei Băi, both historical monuments. TheEuropean route E58, that links the region ofMoldavia withTransylvania, crosses the city.
The earliest written mention of the settlement is from 1592. Together with the rest ofBukovina, Vatra Dornei was under the rule of theHabsburg monarchy (laterAustria-Hungary) from 1775 to 1918. This was a period of development for the town, which became a well known resort in the early 19th century. Between 1925 and 1950, Vatra Dornei was part of the former Câmpulung County. From 1950 to present it's part of Suceava County.
ThehistoricVatra Dornei Casino is located in the city center.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 9,826 | — |
| 1948 | 7,078 | −28.0% |
| 1956 | 10,822 | +52.9% |
| 1966 | 13,815 | +27.7% |
| 1977 | 15,873 | +14.9% |
| 1992 | 18,488 | +16.5% |
| 2002 | 16,321 | −11.7% |
| 2011 | 14,429 | −11.6% |
| 2021 | 12,578 | −12.8% |
| Source: Romanian census data and/or official estimates | ||
Until the early 1950s, Vatra Dornei had an ethnically mixed population ofRomanians,Germans (more specificallyBukovina Germans),Ukrainians, andJews. The large synagogue and a picturesque Jewish cemetery bear witness to the Jewish presence and historical legacy in the area.
Vatra Dornei reached its peak population in 1992, when about 18,500 people were living within the town limits. Then the city population declined gradually. According to the 2011 census, Vatra Dornei had a total population of 13,659 inhabitants. Of this population, 98.65% are ethnicallyRomanians, 0.64%Roma, 0.23%Germans(Bukovina Germans), 0.22%Hungarians, and 0.10%Ukrainians.
Vatra Dornei is the fifth most populated urban settlement inSuceava County, after the county capital,Suceava, and the cities ofRădăuți,Fălticeni, andCâmpulung Moldovenesc.[4] Vatra Dornei is also the smallest and newest city in Suceava County.
Vatra Dornei is a well known ski resort in theCarpathian Mountains. There are ski slopes nearby the city, attracting tourists in winter season. Vatra Dornei is surrounded by large forest areas, proper places for practicing alpine tourism. There are mineral water springs in the city limits and its surroundings, that helped the settlement to develop as a spa. In the late 19th century and early 20th centuryBukovina had only two spa towns: Vatra Dornei andSolca.
Vatra Dornei has several hotels, two museums (The Ethnographic Museum and The Museum of Natural Sciences) and a few old buildings that are considered historical and architectural monuments:the casino, the main spa building, the two railway stations, the town hall,Sentinela Spring, the post office building, and a few old churches.
Vatra Dornei is also part of theVia Transilvanicalong-distance trail.[5]
_Kirche_mit_Treffer_1917_(BildID_15457382).jpg)
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