Dej Historic Centre

The historic centre of Dej is the protected urban ensemble at the heart of the city of Dej, in the north of Cluj County, about 60 km north-east of Cluj-Napoca, close to the confluence of the Someșul Mare and Someșul Mic rivers. Its core is Bobâlna Square, home to the Reformed Church, the town's best-known monument. Dej is first recorded in 1214, under the name Dees. The medieval town grew thanks to the salt of Ocna Dejului, today a district of the city, for which the inhabitants received privileges from the kings of Hungary and the voivodes of Transylvania. The castle of Dej, mentioned in the first half of the 13th century on Rozelor Hill, can no longer be seen: its site is an archaeological site. The Reformed Church on Bobâlna Square is a Gothic building raised in the 15th and 16th centuries, with a tower over 70 m high built in 1643. Inside are the coffered ceiling of 1726 and the stone pulpit carved in 1752 by Sipos Dávid. Between 2017 and 2021 the church was restored and prepared for visitors. The centre also has the Franciscan Church of Saint Anthony of Padua (18th century), the synagogue on Ștefan cel Mare Square and the Dej Municipal Museum on 1 Mai Street. Dej lies on the DN1C road and has a railway station. The urban ensemble "Centrul istoric Dej" is a historic monument, LMI code CJ-II-a-A-07597. The Reformed Church has code CJ-II-m-A-07598, the Franciscan church CJ-II-m-A-07600.01, and the castle site on Rozelor Hill CJ-I-m-A-07031.01.