Description

Malnaș (Hungarian: Málnás) is a commune located in Covasna County, in the upper part of the Olt Valley, between the Baraolt and Bodoc Mountains. The commune has approximately 1,024 inhabitants and is situated about 17 km from Sfântu Gheorghe and 45 km from Miercurea Ciuc. Administratively, the commune includes the spa resort of Malnaș-Băi, once known for its lively balneary life, as well as the picturesque village of Zalánpatak (Valea Zălanului), hidden in the forested area of the Baraolt Mountains.

The territory of the commune has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Archaeological discoveries attest to the presence of Neolithic communities, as well as settlements from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. On Füvényes Hill, above Malnaș-Băi, Neolithic ceramic fragments have been found, while in the area of Malnaș, remains from the Bronze and Iron Ages have come to light. This section of the Olt Valley was once crossed by a Roman road, highlighting the region’s strategic and commercial importance. The ruins of Herecz Fortress, located on Herec Hill above the settlement, date back to the 12th–13th centuries, and the settlement at its foot was first documented in 1366 under the name “Malnas.”

Valea Zălanului is renowned for its former glassworks, where craftsmen produced window panes for important churches such as St. Michael’s Church in Cluj and the Black Church in Brașov. Objects and memories of this past can now be seen in the local village museum.

In the area of Malnaș-Băi, the Southern Harghita mountain range comes to an end, and the mineral water springs, mofettas, and natural carbon dioxide emissions give the region a unique character. Within the commune’s boundaries—especially around Valea Zălanului—there are numerous saline and alkaline mineral springs. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Malnaș-Băi was an important spa resort, well known for its healing waters.

According to the most recent statistical data, the commune’s population is slightly over one thousand inhabitants, the majority being of Hungarian ethnicity, alongside smaller Romanian and Roma communities. From a religious perspective, Roman Catholic and Reformed denominations predominate.

Cultural and community life plays an essential role in all three localities. In recent years, educational institutions and cultural centers have been renovated, and numerous infrastructure investments have been carried out, including road modernization, the development of public utilities, and the arrangement of community spaces. Additional development projects are currently underway. Thus, the commune of Malnaș harmoniously combines its historical heritage, natural wealth, and the living traditions of its local community.

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