Bârsana (Hungarian: Barcánfalva or Barczanfalu, Yiddish: בירסאניף, romanizedBirsanif) is a commune in Maramureș County, Maramureș, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Bârsana and Nănești (Nánfalva, Yiddish: נאנעשט, romanizedNanest). It also included the village of Oncești until 2004, when it was split off to form a separate commune.

Bârsana
Bârsana Monastery [ro]
Location in Maramureș County
Location in Maramureș County
Bârsana is located in Romania
Bârsana
Bârsana
Location in Romania
Coordinates: 47°48′54″N 24°03′35″E / 47.81500°N 24.05972°E / 47.81500; 24.05972
CountryRomania
CountyMaramureș
SubdivisionsBârsana, Nănești
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2024) Teodor Ștefanca[1] (CMM)
Area
68.73 km2 (26.54 sq mi)
Elevation
310 m (1,020 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-01)[2]
4,122
 • Density60/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zoneEET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)
Postal code
437035 - Bârsana
437036 - Nănești
Area code(+40) 02 62
Vehicle reg.MM
Websiteprimaria-birsana.ro

Geography

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The commune is located in the northern part of Maramureș County, 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Sighetu Marmației and 58 km (36 mi) northeast of the county seat, Baia Mare. It is situated at an altitude of 310 m (1,020 ft) and lies on the banks of the Iza River and its left tributaries, the rivers Valea Morii and Văleni.

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1880 4,070—    
1900 5,090+25.1%
1910 5,602+10.1%
1930 5,854+4.5%
1956 6,490+10.9%
1977 6,773+4.4%
1992 6,968+2.9%
2002 6,352−8.8%
2011 4,474−29.6%
2021 4,122−7.9%
Source: Census data

At the 2002 census, Bârsana had 6,352 inhabitants, all but ten of whom were ethnic Romanians; moreover, 86.7% were Romanian Orthodox, 7.8% Greek-Catholic, and 3.1% Pentecostal. At the 2011 census, the population had decreased to 4,474, of whom 96.7% were Romanians. At the 2021 census, the commune had a population of 4,122, of whom 90% were Romanians.[3]

Churches

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Bârsana's Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple is one of eight Wooden churches of Maramureș listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, another wooden monastery was built in Bârsana. The French physicist Yvette Cauchois is buried at Bârsana Monastery [ro].[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Results of the 2020 local elections". Central Electoral Bureau. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (XLS). National Institute of Statistics.
  3. ^ "Populația rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (in Romanian). INSSE. 31 May 2023.
  4. ^ Ionescu, Sînziana (July 27, 2016). "Destinul fabulos al lui Yvette Cauchois, savanta franceză care a iubit doi fizicieni români, s-a botezat ortodox la 86 ani și a dorit să moară în România" [The fabulous fate of Yvette Cauchois, the French scientist who loved two Romanian physicists, was baptized Orthodox at the age of 86 and wanted to die in Romania]. Adevărul (in Romanian). Retrieved January 30, 2024.