Cluj-Napoca

Cluj-Napoca (/ˈkluːʒnæˌpoʊkə/ KLOOZH-na-POH-kə; Romanian: [ˈkluʒ naˈpoka] ^ⓘ), or simply Cluj (Hungarian: Kolozsvár [ˈkoloʒvaːr] ^ⓘ, German: Klausenburg), is a city in northwestern Romania. It is the second-most populous city in the country^[5] and the seat of Cluj County. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest (445 km; 277 mi), Budapest (461 km; 286 mi) and Belgrade (483 km; 300 mi). Located in the Someșul Mic river valley, the city is considered the unofficial capital of the historical province of Transylvania. For some decades prior to the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, it was the official capital of the Grand Principality of Transylvania.

As of 2021, 286,598 inhabitants live in the city.^[5] The Cluj-Napoca metropolitan area had a population of 411,379 people,^[4][6] while the population of the peri-urban area is approximately 420,000.^[4][7] According to a 2007 estimate, the city hosted an average population of over 20,000 students and other non-residents each year from 2004 to 2007.^[8] The city spreads out from St. Michael's Church in Unirii Square, built in the 14th century and named after the Archangel Michael, Cluj's patron saint.^[9] The municipality covers an area of 179.52 square kilometres (69.31 sq mi).

Cluj experienced a decade of decline during the 1990s, its international reputation suffering from the policies of its mayor at the time, Gheorghe Funar.^[10] In the early 21st century, the city is one of the most important academic, cultural, industrial and business centres in Romania. Among other institutions, it hosts the country's largest university, Babeș-Bolyai University, with its botanical garden, nationally renowned cultural institutions such as the National Theatre and Opera, as well as the largest Romanian-owned commercial bank.^[11][12] Cluj-Napoca held the titles of European Youth Capital in 2015,^[13] and European City of Sport in 2018.^[14] In 2021, the city joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and was named a UNESCO City of Film.^[15]