Valea Zălanului (Hungarian: Zalánpatak, German: Zalaner Glashütte) is a village of Malnaș commune in Covasna County, Transylvania, Romania. It is located in the northern part of the county, in the Baraolt Mountains.

Valea Zălanului
Hungarian: Zalánpatak,
German: Zalaner Glashütte
"Valea Zălanului" in the Josephinian Land Survey of Transylvania, 1769-1773
"Valea Zălanului" in the Josephinian Land Survey of Transylvania, 1769-1773
Valea Zălanului is located in Romania
Valea Zălanului
Valea Zălanului
Location of the village on the map of Romania
Coordinates: 46°0′40″N 25°45′19″E / 46.01111°N 25.75528°E / 46.01111; 25.75528
CountryRomania
CountyCovasna
CommuneMalnaș
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
110
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code
527119

It's an isolated hamlet of 110 inhabitants, with a strong traditional imprint of the villages of Székely Land.

When he was still only Prince of Wales, Charles III bought in this village three buildings more than a century old, which he renovated and transformed into temporary residences. In May 2011 and on May 30, 2014, he visited the village.[1][2] In April 2012, during the Easter holidays, on his first visit to Romania, Prince Harry, accompanied by some friends, stayed at Valea Zălanului, where he served meals specific to the area, thus having the opportunity to taste traditional Romanian culinary dishes - Transylvanian vegetable soup and pălincă. On Easter Day, Prince Harry rode an enduro motorcycle through the hills in the area.[3][4]

Also, in June 2023, a few days after his coronation, on his first trip abroad as sovereign, King Charles III came to rest for a few days at his residence in Valea Zălanului.[5][6]

Although a very small village, Valea Zălanului became famous after King Charles III chose it as one of his favorite resting places, delighted by the peace and naturalness of the place and the warmth of the inhabitants.

I have come to love Romania — your culture and art, your heritage and history, your sweeping landscapes and priceless biodiversity...
Romania has retained, in its ancient forests, pristine countryside, and through some remarkable examples of sustainable farming, an incomparable richness of nature.

— King Charles III, Bucharest, June 3, 2023[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Băsescu: "Mulţumesc pentru filmul despre Carpaţi"". România Liberă (in Romanian). 2012-06-16. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  2. ^ "Prinţul Charles, încântat de pâinea secuiască". Ziua de Cluj (in Romanian). 2014-06-01. Archived from the original on 2014-06-01. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  3. ^ "Harta proprietăților Prințului Charles în România". Gândul (in Romanian). 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  4. ^ "Imagini nemaivăzute cu Prințul Harry în România. A ajuns cu un zbor direct Londra-Târgu Mureş. Unde s-a cazat mezinul Regelui Charles al III-lea". Gândul (in Romanian). 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  5. ^ Muir, Ellie (2023-05-31). "A fireplace, CD player and a 'little wooden bed': Inside King Charles's Romanian hideaway that you can rent". The Independent. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  6. ^ a b "'A deep connection': Charles travels to Romania on first foreign trip since coronation". The Sunday Times. 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-06-04.