Dej is a city that has been associated with Hungary and its culture for centuries. A lot of historic buildings have survived to this day, and its advantages also include hot springs used in the small health resort.
The city was founded in the 13th century by the Hungarian monarchs. Until 1920, they were mostly inhabited by Hungarians and a small group of descendants of German settlers. It was a layout typical of most of the urban centers of Transylvania. After the Treaty of Trianon, when these lands fell to Romania, most Hungarians left, but a minority of this nationality still lives here.
The Dej Center consists mostly of tenement houses built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. These are mainly multi-storey, eclectic buildings with Art Nouveau elements. The older building is a gothic Reformed church , and the most magnificent building is a synagogue built in the Moorish style.
There are two interesting museums in Dej. The largest of them are the City Museum with collections on history and culture, and the Locomotive Museum , one of the few institutions of this type in the country.
The most important entertainment attraction in Dej is the Toroc Spa Park with a thermal bath and numerous recreational and relaxation opportunities.
