Carei is a city connected from its beginnings with Hungary and its culture. It was owned by the wealthy Karolyi family who built their castle here. It is still the main attraction of Cerea and the surrounding area.
The city was founded in the 13th century by the Hungarian family of Karolyi, and today's name is the Romanian version of her surname. Thanks to the privileges of Louis the Great and subsequent Hungarian rulers, it was a thriving commercial center with the right to organize fairs and markets. Another impulse to develop was given to the city by the settlers from German Swabia brought in in the 17th and 18th centuries. In addition to new craft workshops, they brought with them an increase in the cultural level, which resulted, among others, in establishing a gymnasium and printing house.
Today in Cerea, Hungarians are still the predominant community. The most important monument and main attraction of the city is the Castle of Cerea . Initially, it was a defensive structure erected in the 14th century, but subsequent reconstructions, in the 18th and 19th centuries, made it a comfortable residence with baroque and neo-Gothic features. The castle is surrounded by an arboretum park, which is a popular place for walks and leisure for residents.
There are also two noteworthy religious buildings in Cerea, the Church of St. Joseph Calasantius and the Church of St. Dimitri .
