It was originally Szatmar-Nemeti in Hungary -- but is now Satu Mare in Romania.
Satu Mare is a city located in Satu Mare County in Northwest Romania on the Somes river. It's some 13 km from the border with Hungary and 27 km from the border with Ukraine. What's particularly interesting about Satu Mare is that it was originally a city in Hungary, but because of the border changes after World War I, it's now located in Romania.
I know this city quite well as you see, my maternal grandparents are from Satu Mare! A few years ago, I had the trip of a lifetime in that we visited this city to do research on my grandparents ... and spent quite some time visiting 4 different cemetaries. You'll find pictures from our trip that I've included below.
P.S. I've been researching old Satu Mare and Szatmar-Nemeti pictorial postcards for several years. Be sure to check out the newly added postcard pictures!
Pictures of Satu Mare Today ...
To set the mood for this lens !
These are the pictures that I took of Satu Mare, Romania, in May 2004, with my Nikon N75 35mm camera. I've scanned these with my Epson Stylus Photo RX500. The next time I get my travel photos developed, I'm definitely requesting an accompanying CD so that I have all my photos in electronic format. I recommend this for everyone shooting film.
Please take some time to take a look at these as a picture is worth a "thousand words!"
Satu Mare Today

Today, Satu Mare is a city in northeast Romania; although, it was previously Szatmar, a city in southeast Hungary. The borders for Hungary and other countries changed at the end of World War I.
Turmoil in Hungary, Romania and other Eastern European countries throughout a thousand years of war encompassing the Austro-Hungarian Empire is a great subject for another lens!
Satu Mare Video
Origin of Satu Mare City

Archeological discoveries made in Oas-Land, Ardud, Medies, and Homorod show evidence of both the stone- and bronze age settlements in Satu Mare.
Additional archeological evidence show proof of the Getic-Dacian communities occupying the regions after the Roman Conquest.
Picture and information are courtesy of: Satu Mare City.
A Map of Satu Mare -- The City and CountyT

Historical Timeline of Satu Mare
- 10th century - as part of the Voievodeship led by Menumorut, one of the defense fortresses was located in Satu Mare (Castrum Zotmar), as mentioned in Anonymus's Chronicle.
- 1006 - Teutonic colonists, under queen Gisela, settled around the city core, Villa Zotmar.
- 1543 - the Bathory family assumes possession of the stronghold, making changes to the Somes riverbed to protect the southern wing of the fortress
- 1562 - the fortress is attacked the Ottoman armies led by Pasha Abraham from Buda and Pasha Maleoci from Timisoara. The Habsburgs then attack the fortress, with Transylvanian armies burning it down.
- Late 16th century - Austrian general Lazar Schwendi commands the reconstruction according to the plans of Italian architect Ottavio Baldigara, in the manner of the Italian fortifications shaped as pentagons with five watchtowers.
- 1711 - the negotiated peace of Szatmár ended the rebellion.
- 1712-1715 - Mintiu and Satu Mare, formerly two distinct cities separated by the Somes during the Middle Ages, gradually unite administratively.
- 1721 - the city of Satu Mare was granted the royal-free-city statute on January 2nd, by an act, issued by Carol the VIth, consecrating the union.
- 18th century - beginning of the intense urbanization process, as seen today in the old city hall, the inn, the military barracks, the Greek-catholic and reformed churches.
- 1805 - street paving commences.
- 1823 - the Urban Development Planning Committee of the city is set up.
- 1844 - the first park is built.
- 1871 - the railway to Carei is built, the one to Sighet in 1872, the one to Baia Mare in 1894 and others (to Ardud, Bixad ) after 1900.
- 1918 - the end of World War I; with the 1918 Union, Satu Mare experiences significant economic, as well as social, developments.
Satu Mare Videos
Effects of World War II
- In Europe, the outbreak of World War II, coupled with the rise of fascism, brought about dramatic changes of the socio-political and economic climate of the city.
- The summer of 1940 was one of the most tragic pages in the history of the Romanian people.
- The northwest territory of Transsilvania is torn away from the country by the Vienna Dictate.
- Following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Stalin annexes the North of Bucovina, Basarabia and Herta county.
- Bulgaria gets the province of Cadrilater.
- Freed by the Romanian Army in the autumn of 1944, Transsilvania was re-conquered following the war.
- After the Yalta Conference in 1945, communism came into power in Romania, as in all other Central European countries abandoned to the soviet sphere of influence.
Szatmarnemeti Video
Kis Erdélyi Magyar Párttörténet 1
1990 és 91 ben vagyunk, Szőcs Géza december 1-én a román nemzeti ünnepen beszédet tart, Bukarestben az RMDSZ székházban a FIDESZ-t fogadják , Tőkés püspök kitüntetést kap Hollandiában csak a lánc kicsi volt, Bányai péter szemüvege leesik a FIDESZ bukaresti sajtótájékoztatóján, a román nacionalisták fenyegetően integenek.Domokos Gézát antennák zavarják.
Runtime: 3:13
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Democracy in Satu Mare
The downfall of Communism

An anticommunist uprising against the old regime, led to the downfall of the dictatorship in December 1989.
Restoration of the pluralist political system was consecrated by the 1991 Constitution, leading to the adoption of democratic institutions.
Read more about the history, by Gruco Ong.
Satu Mare at a glance
Satu Mare (pronunciation in Romanian: ; literally "Great Village" in Romanian; ; ; ) is a city with a population of 113,688 and the capital of Satu Mare County, Romania.
Satu Mare is the origin of the Satmarer Hasidic Jews, who lived there until World War II and now reside in New York City, Jerusalem, London, and other places.Chris McKenna, "Satmar Grand Rebbe Moses Teitelbaum dies", Record Online, 25 April 2006
The city spreads out from the Administrative Palace at 25 October Square, one of the tallest buildings in Romania. The boundaries of the municipality contain an area of . Today, the city is an important academic, cultural, industrial and business centres in northwestern Romania.
Satu Mare County

Satu Mare county [in red] lies in the Northwest of Romania, on the lower course of the Somes river, bordering the Ukraine in the North, Hungary in the West and the counties of Bihor, Sãlaj and Maramures in the South and East.
From the plains in the western part of the county, crossed by the rivers Somes, Tur and Crasna, the relief gradually climbs towards the Oas and Gutâi mountains in the East, the Pietroasa peak reaching 1,200 m.
Facts on Satu Mare, the County
- Capital city: Satu Mare
- Area: 4,418 km2 (1.85% of national territory and ranks 36th among the other counties)
- Total population: 336,096
- Working population: 216,677
- Population mix: 46.54% urban, 53.46% rural
- Employment mix: Industry: 21.33%, Services: 11.58%, Agriculture: 35.82%, Others: 31.27%
- Unemployment rate: 4.5%
Satu Mare Currency
What was truly amazing was the currency of Satu Mare, the lei. It was extremely undervalued in comparison to the dollar. We got a "lot of bang" for the buck there! Today, I believe the lei's value has increased in comparison to the dollar.
- 1 dolari americani = 2.8787 lei
- 1 lei = 0.35 dolari americani
Info on Satu Mare
Resources for this lens
- Satu Mare City Hall
- You'll be amazed at what you can learn from this website about the city of Satu Mare!
- Satu Mare City History
- At the end of World War I and as a consequence of the conditions created by the achievement of the 1918 Union, Satu Mare enjoys a significant development in all domains of the economic, social and cultural life.
- Satu Mare County Online
- This is a related site in that Satu Mare is also the name of a county.
- Satu Mare Currency Converter
- Convert dollars to the leis, the currency of Satu Mare, Romania.
Satu Mare, Romania Shops 1915

Szatmar Nemeti, Hungary now Satu Mare, Romania Shops 1915
Papp Endre Fele Berpalota, Iparos Otthon, Sor Csarnok
Hotel Dacia in Satu Mare, Romania

Situated in the old center of the city, the Dacia Hotel. It was built in 1902 upon the old City Hall location and the Royal Court. The Dacia Hotel complex is an architectonic jewel realized in Secession style, awarded in 1903 at a architectural exposition in Vienna.
I took this picture which won second place in a photo contest for a Fuji Film company!
E-mail: office@hoteldacia.ro
Phone: 0040.261.715.773
Villa Bódi in Satu Mare, Romania

Situated in the historical center of the city, the building recently renewed shelters recently this villa endowed with air-conditioning, sauna, mini bar, souvenir shop. Classic and elegant, the villa is entirely furnished with XIX century style antic furniture.
We stayed at this hotel and give it a HIGH recommend!
E-mail: villa_bodi@datec.ro
Phone: 0040.261.710.862
Hotels in Satu Mare
- Hotel Dacia, Satu Mare
- Piata Libertatii nr. 8, Satu Mare, Romania
Satu Mare was formerly Szatmar, Hungary, until after WWI, when it became part of Romania. - Villa Bódi, Satu Mare
- Liberty Square nr. 5, Satu Mare, Romania 440014
Tiled Building in Satu Mare, Romania

We found this artistically-interesting, tiled building a block or two from the center of the city of Satu Mare. It was near a marketplace and hub of activity. I'm currently researching more information about this building.
I took this picture which won third place in a photo contest for a Fuji Film company!
Satu Mare Cemetaries
In Satu Mare, we found 3 cemetaries that were each crowded with monuments that were literally one on top of the other. The first 2 cemetaries were visited were on the same side of the Somes River as our hotel. It was in one of the cemetaries that we found the most Nagy monuments.
As we crossed the Somes River on our way out of the city, we stopped at the third cemetary. I noticed that this cemetary was not as crowded with monuments. And, I probably found one Nagy monument there.
Charm of Satu Mare
During our one-night stay in Satu Mare at the Villa Bodi, we walked the central park square area. It was a Friday night and the park was filled with people. The merchants were selling the most magnificent flowers with huge blooms and the most vivid colors. Plus, the price was so affordable. We bought a bouquet of pink gerber daisies for a couple dollars.
The charm of Szatmar music & folk dance
I LOVE the Csardas music!
Satu Mare pictures on Flickr
Satu Mare in the News
- Agathodaimon Launches New Website
- "Also, for our romanian friends, we'll be playing the Samfest (Satu Mare) this weekend! We hope to see many of you there- there's lots of cool bands such as ...
- Short-haul flights: breath of fresh air to local airline carriers?
- ?Tarom currently operates 139 weekly flights to Timisoara, Cluj, Iasi, Oradea, Suceava, Baia Mare, Bacau, Sibiu, Targu Mures, Satu Mare and Constanta?, ...
- A Piece of Brooklyn Perhaps Lost to Time
- ... M and Z trains, is home to thousands of Hasidic Jews, mainly of the Satmar sect, which derives its name from the town of Satu Mare in Romania. ...
- RO: Carrefour to build more stores in Romania
- Other possible locations in the country include the western town of Deva, and in Satu Mare in the north-west. Carrefour opened its first hypermarket in ...
Satu Mare ~ Szatmar-Nemeti pictorial postcards
I've been researching these on eBay for several years!
Drop me a line ...
Have you vacationed in Eastern Europe--Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, or Romania? Are you planning an Eastern European vacation? I'd surely love to hear about your trip!
dc64 wrote...
Love your picture of Hotel Dacia, it's beautiful! I've come across this hotel in some of my research, and I imagine actually standing in front of it is just magical. You lucky, lucky girl!
lilkon wrote...
We are so lucky living in America (so far) and not knowing the ravages of war. Looks like many of those old buildings are in need of repair, while the streets are not maintained.
rita wrote
in reply to bogdan yes it did belong to hungary, it became part of romania after the war. because my parents were both born in the 20s that was part of hungary. and after the war parts of hungary were divided among several countries including romania. i know because i was born in satu mare and my family who still live in romania have given me the facts the history of romania
A Satu Mare Connection
Chalcopyrite Crystal -- Collectible Specimen!
From Turt Mine, Satu Mare, Maramures, Romania
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand bySurrealism by Romanian Artist Marin Gruia
Exhibited in 1997 at the Art Museum in Satu-Mare
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byProfess Your Love!

Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg Hungary City -- Black T-shirts
Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg Hungary City -- Black Sweatshirts
Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg Hungary City -- Black Caps
Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg Hungary City -- White T-shirts
Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg Hungary City -- White Sweatshirts
Fly into Bucharest, Romania. Book it Dano!
Book a hotel in Bucharest, Romania
Thank you for visiting!

Thank you for taking time today to visit my lens and learn more about Satu Mare. Please check back often as I add more to this lens.
P.S. This beautiful fuchsia pink gerber daisy was bought in Satu Mare on a Friday night. The central park area was filled with merchants selling the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen.
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