Valcău de Jos


Valcău de Jos is a commune in Sălaj County, Crișana, Romania. It is composed of six villages: Lazuri, Preoteasa, Ratovei, Sub Cetate, Valcău de Jos and Valcău de Sus. It is 14 km southwest of Șimleu Silvaniei.

History

Its name comes from the Slavic word vlk. Its Hungarian name Alsóvalkó means "Lower Valkó"; before 1899 it was called Magyarvalkó. Felsővalkó is now Valcău de Sus. Its castle was built in the late 13th century, and was unlawfully occupied by Dezső Elefánti in 1312. King Sigismund of Luxemburg laid siege to it in 1404. In 1665 the Ottoman army destroyed it and it was not rebuilt again.

Population

In 1910 the village had 900 residents, with a Romanian majority and a significant Hungarian minority.
In 2002 the commune of which Valcău de Jos is the administrative center had 3302 inhabitants: 2909 Romanians, 287 Roma, 105 Hungarians, and one Slovak.

Sights