Discover Luna de Sus: Churches and Archaeology

Luna de Sus combines church architecture with archaeological sites from widely separated periods. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in the village, the specific architectural and geographical details help you understand the destination’s cultural character. The chronological reference points range from the Palaeolithic to church buildings of the 20th century; different questions are the focus at each site: architectural style, building history or archaeological dating.

Churches and Building History

The Reformed Calvinist Church in Luna de Sus was built in the Gothic style. Its coffered ceiling was made in 1752 by the Saxon craftsman Umling the Elder; the tower was built in 1828 in the Baroque style. This makes it possible to distinguish three different details: the style of the church, the making of the ceiling and the later construction of the tower. This combination is useful for understanding the building’s history, because the dates refer to specific parts of the structure and not to a single construction year for the entire church.

The Orthodox Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel offers a different perspective on building history. Construction began in 1927 during the tenure of the priest Ioan Radu; the church was built of brick and consecrated in 1928 by Bishop Nicolae Ivan. The cruciform layout was designed by the architect Kuncz Ernest. Here, the layout and the sequence of construction are distinct points of reference. In comparison with the Reformed church, this offers a look at another, significantly later building history.

Archaeological Sites and Periods

The Dealul Ţarineş archaeological site lies west of Luna de Sus and about 350 metres east of the A3 Transilvania motorway. It is associated with the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Hallstatt period and Migration Period. These five periods give the site a broad chronological framework. In terms of its theme, Dealul Ţarineş therefore differs from sites associated with a more narrowly defined period or a specific function.

Another archaeological point of reference is Râpa Dracului near Luna de Sus. The site is a fortified settlement from the Bronze Age and the Hallstatt period. Compared with Dealul Ţarineş, the focus here is on the connection between settlement and fortification, as well as two specific periods. The two sites thus offer different perspectives on the area’s early history.

The Roman Tower of Luna de Sus – Dealul Mic 5 is dated to the 2nd to 3rd century. It lies southwest of Luna de Sus in Pădurea Orașului forest. Its Roman date adds a more narrowly defined period to the broader sequence of periods mentioned for Dealul Ţarineş.

Getting There and Routes

CTP metropolitan bus line M23 connects Calea Florești with Luna de Sus. Check the timetable before travelling. A route from Luna de Sus via Someșu Rece to Luna de Sus starts at the roundabout at the entrance to the village. It goes through Stolna and Someșu Rece, then passes Lake Gilău and reaches Gilău. As the route may change, it is advisable to check the route details before setting out. The bus connection and the described route provide different points of reference: one connects Calea Florești with the village, while the other passes several named stops and goes by Lake Gilău.

Discover more destinations: Izvoru Crişului, Petreștii De Jos, Tureni, Lunca Vişagului, Mihai Viteazu, Dej, Ciurila, Apahida.

For the broader travel overview: Cluj-Napoca.