Snagov

Snagov
Commune
Location within the county
Snagov
Coordinates: 44°42′32″N 26°10′17″E
Country	Romania
County	Ilfov County
Population  (2002)	6,041
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)

Snagov (population: 6,041) is a commune, located 40 km north of Bucharest in Ilfov County, Romania.
According to the 2002 census, 99.2% of the population is ethnic Romanian. The commune is composed of five villages: Ciofliceni, Ghermănești, Snagov, Tâncăbești and Vlădiceasca.
Snagov is a tourist and spa resort - but the necessary infrastructure has regressed after 1989 (Especially due to the real estate interest and the status of the location - important for the new elite in Romania)

Name

The Snagov name is of probably Bulgarian origin, from the word sneg (meaning "snow"). It might also derived from the Bulgarian snaga, meaning "human body".

Geography

Snagov is located in Romanian plain, on the shore of lake Snagov (biggest natural lake from Romania: 600 sq ha, 16 km long) which is still partially surrounded by old oak forest (remains of Codrii Vlăsia).

History / Early Medieval history / Feudal estate / Modern settlement

Archaeologists confirmed human presence of inhabitants since 400 BC. Snagov village was built around the lake Snagov and Snagov monastery, founded in the late 14th century on an islet in Lake Snagov, about 2 km north of Snagov village. The first written record of it is found in a document from the court of Mircea cel Bătrân and dated 1408. Snagov monastery was excavated in 1933 by archaeologist Dinu V. Rosetti.

Tourism

At the local Tourist Information Center, you can find details about natural and cultural various attractions: two natural protected areas (lake and Snagov forest), a set of cultural attractions. Plus (guided) tours on Snagov lake (by boat or kayaks), on local old oak forests (remaining from Codrii Vlăsiei), or many local available activities.
Snagov was a very popular holiday resort (from 20.000 day tourists in 1933, up to 34.000 reception capacity in 1982). From ≈38 villas in 1939 to over 700 on the shores of lake Snagov and over 1400 in all village.
More details about local attractions can be found in TripAdvisor.

Natural attractions mainly relly on the huge lake Snagov (600 sq ha, 16 km long) and sourounded forest ( the remains of Codrii Vlăsia). Because biodiversity is still huge, exist two natural protected areas "Lacul Snagov - ANPLS" (100ha) and "Pădurea Snagov - ANPPS" (10ha).

Cultural attractions are mainly formed by: Snagov monastery, Snagov Palace, few monuments, [[Colecțiile Muzeale Snagovîî, a set of four local traditions (fishing, braiding of vegetable fibers, pottery, traditional fabrics).

Snagov was, is and must become the most attractive destination for weekend for Bucharest and Ploiesti (2.4 and 0.4 millions citizens). And for international tourists (being at only 18 km from Otopeni).

HoReCa infrastructure include 5 star hotels (such as Snagov Club), 4 stars (Casa Vlasia) as well as villas and 2 pensions.

Transport

Maxi-Taxi from Bucharest (Piata Presei Libere) No: 444, 446 (approx. 35-50 minutes and 2-3 euro/trip: depend where you step down on the 11 km long village).
A new alternative is UBER or (small: 4-12) organized groups.
In past (1954-1996) existed a train: "Trenulețul de Snagov" (6-12 wagons) and functional network of buses.

Events

25.06.1933 - The National Celebration of Water day (Carol II of Romania, Michael I of Romania, Nicolae Iorga, Iuliu Maniu, Dimitrie Gusti and many other top officials - plus Liga Navală Română, Cercetașii României and representatives of local community. This is the reason for celebrating the day of the lake Snagov on 25.06 (when Romanians also celebrate "Sânzienele / Drăgaica").
23.08.1945: Ion Antonescu left Snagov Palace in order to go to Bucharest at the request of Michael I of Romania, when and where he was arrested, Manfred von Killinger (also staying at a nearby villa on the shore of lake Snagov), soon commited suicide (because he failed to maintain Romania on the side of Germany - as requested by Hitler).
1962 to 1972: Regata Snagov: an international relevant rowing competition between 1962 and 1972
2002: Romanian government decides to build in Snagov a Disneyland-style theme park, "Dracula Park", but in 2006 the government canceled the project. The connection with "Dracula" is due to a spurious 19th-century tradition which makes Snagov monastery the site of the tomb of Vlad III Dracula.
4-5.04.2003: Snagov holds (at Palatul Snagov) the informal meeting of the first ministers of the seven states invited to join OTAN.
2016: Protection on natural area (heritage) was reinforced by "The management plan and the ANPLS regulation" published in the Official Gazette no. 380bis of 18.05.2016.

Notable people

Beginning with Vlad Basarab Tepes Dracula Vlad the Impaler, Snagov became the main attraction for local rulers to come, stay, own a property and make many relevant decisions on this place. So, many important personalities came in Snagov and some of them have interesting happenings associated.

Romanian president Nicolae Ceaușescu and his entourage used Snagov as a vacation retreat. Over 50 heads of state, prime ministers, top politicians from more than 40 states, walked on lake Snagov with the "Snagov 1" luxury boat (today called "Leader").

In Colecțiile Muzeale Snagov are presented ≈ 120 relevant personalities (good an bad - you are invited to reconsider) and few short associated stories.
Among them, are: Vlad the Impaler, Neagoe Basarab, Anthim the Iberian, Alep from Damasc, Alexandru Odobescu, Nicolae Iorga, Grigore Antipa, Mihail Sadoveanu, Panait Istrati, Carol II of Romania, Michael I of Romania, Zelea Codreanu, Virgil Madgearu, Ion Antonescu, Joseph Beck, Manfred von Killinger, Lucretiu Patrascanu, Imre Nagy, Gheorghiu Dej, Nicolae Ceausescu, a.s.o. Plus over 50 (after 1989).
Another relevant category are the Romanian performance athlets which trained at Snagov for about 5o years: Ivan Patzaichin, Elisabeta Lipă, Toma Simionov, Vasile Dîba Leon Rotman, Nicolae Navasart, Aurel Vernescu, A.Nicoara, H. Ivanov, N. Terente, Andrei Igorov, S. Covaliov, Simion Ismailciuc, Nicușor Eșanu, Sanda Toma, Larion Serghei ..
May be interesting to know that in Snagov Palace slept known personalities such as: Michael Jackson, Pamela Anderson a.s.o.

In Snagov came at film studios Castel Film Romania were produced over 250 films, many well know film industry personalities such as: ???

Many colorful stories related to known personalities such as: Patricia Kaas a.s.o.

Of course, exist a mysterious (and even grey - dark) side of Snagov, with executions (mainly on the dungeons and prisons on the island of Snagov) and detentions.

Twin towns/Sister cities

Initiated but not yet implemented - with: Port of Le Havre from France and Sarkad from Hungary, Gandiaye village from Senegal

External links

1) Înfrăţire pe axa Sarkad – Snagov

Notable sites

www.FundatiaSnagov.ro - Fundatia Snagov (NGO) Presents most of natural and cultural heritage - from Snagov area.

Snagov monastery

Snagov monastery -interior

• Snagov monastery, located on an islet on Snagov lake.
• Snagov forest, the last remnant of the Codrii Vlăsiei a large forest that once surrounded the town of Bucharest.
• Siliștea Snagovului, a church built in 1664.
• The Imre Nagy monument. The prime minister of Hungary was kept for a few months in Snagov before being sent to trial and executed in Budapest.
• Stadionul Snagov, a football stadium seating 2,000.
• Near Tâncăbești, there is since 1949 a medium wave broadcasting station, which uses as antenna a 187 meters tall guyed mast radiator. Tâncăbeşti transmitter, which works on 855 kHz used before the 1990s a transmission power of 1500 kW. Today it may be 300 kW.

1) Colecțiile Muzeale Snagov: 1a) Brochure Presentation 1b) IZI.Travel audio-guide presentation
3) Colecția "Vlad Basarab Tepes - Istorie si Legenda" - parte a Colectiilor Muzeale Snagov