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 was a very popular holiday resort (from 20.000 day turists in 1933, up to 34.000 reception capacity in 1982). From ≈38 villas in 1939 to over 700 on the shores of Snagov lake and over 1400 in all village.

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".

History / Early Medieval history / Feudal estate / Modern settlement

Archeologists confirmed human presence of inhabitants since 400 BC. Snagov village was built around the Snagov lake 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 local various attractions: (guided) tours on Snagov lake (by boat or kayaks), on local old oak forests (remaining from Codrii Vlasiei), or many local attractions and available activities.

Transport

Maxi-Taxi from Bucharest (Piata Presei Libere) No: 444, 446 (approx. 35-40 minutes - depend where you step down on the 11 km long village). A new alternative is UBER. In past existed a train: "Trenuletul de Snagov" (6-12 wagons) and functional network of buses.

Events

Regata Snagov was an international relevant rowing competition between 1962 and 1972.

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.

Few, among many personalities (in detail presented with associated stories - in Colectiile Muzeale Snagov), are: Vlad the Impaler, Neagoe Basarab, Anthim the Iberian, Alep from Damasc, Alexandru Odobescu, Nicolae Iorga, Mihail Sadoveanu, Panait Istrati, Carol II of Romania, Michael I of Romania, Zelea Condreanu, 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).

? Michael Jackson, Pamela Anderson, ?

In ?1997 was organized in Snagov the gathereing and decided to become part of NATO and European Union.

In 2002 the Romanian government decided 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.

In 9.05.2007, the EU representative (from Romania) - ?? - chosed Snagov as the relevant ??

International relations

?

Twin towns/Sister cities

? France, Hungary Gandiaye village from Senegal

See also

?

References

1) Colectiile Muzeale Snagov (To Do) 2) 3)

Notable sites

Snagov monastery

Snagov monastery -interior

• Snagov area is a natural reservation, with two natural protected areas - for fauna and flora : "Snagov Lake" (150 hectares) www.snagov.ro/ANPLS and "Snagov Forest" (10 hectares) www.snagov.ro/ANPPS
• Lake Snagov, a lake with a surface of 5.75 km².
• 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 mediumwave broadcasting station, which uses as antenna a 187 metres 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.