Târg
Encyclopedia
A târg was a medieval Romania
n market town
. The term originates from the Slavic root torg for "trade
". Târgs were originally established on the places where periodic fair
s were held. With time, they became permanent settlements as craftsmen built their workshops near the place where the fair was held. Some of the towns were fortified and became known as fortresses (cetăţi).
Many of the earliest fairs were named after the river that flowed nearby. Examples include:
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
. The term originates from the Slavic root torg for "trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
". Târgs were originally established on the places where periodic fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
s were held. With time, they became permanent settlements as craftsmen built their workshops near the place where the fair was held. Some of the towns were fortified and became known as fortresses (cetăţi).
Many of the earliest fairs were named after the river that flowed nearby. Examples include:
- Târgul MoldoveiBaiaBaia is a commune in the Suceava County, Romania with a population of 6,793 . It is composed of two villages, Baia and Bogata. Located on the Moldova River, it was one of the earliest urban settlements in Moldavia, originally inhabited by Germans...
, on Moldova RiverMoldova RiverThe Moldova River is a river in Romania, in the historical region of Moldavia. The river rises from the Obcina Feredeu Mountains of Bukovina in Suceava County and joins the Siret River near the city of Roman in Neamţ County....
(currently known as BaiaBaiaBaia is a commune in the Suceava County, Romania with a population of 6,793 . It is composed of two villages, Baia and Bogata. Located on the Moldova River, it was one of the earliest urban settlements in Moldavia, originally inhabited by Germans...
) - Târgu Mureş, on Mureş RiverMures RiverThe Mureș is an approximately 761 km long river in Eastern Europe. It originates in the Hășmașu Mare Range in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains, Romania, and joins the Tisza river at Szeged in southeastern Hungary....
- Târgu JiuTârgu JiuTârgu Jiu is the capital of Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is situated on the Southern Sub-Carpathians, on the banks of the river Jiu. Eight villages are administered by the city: Bârseşti, Drăgoeni, Iezureni, Polata, Preajba Mare, Româneşti, Slobozia and Ursaţi.-History:The city takes its name...
, on Jiu RiverJiu RiverJiu is a river of southern Romania. It is formed near Petroşani by the junction of headwaters Jiul de Vest and Jiul de Est.It flows southward through the Romanian counties Hunedoara, Gorj and Dolj before flowing into the Danube a few kilometers upstream from the Bulgarian city of Oryahovo, 331... - Târgul ArgeşuluiCurtea de ArgesCurtea de Argeș is a city in Romania on the right bank of the Argeş River, where it flows through a valley of the lower Carpathians , on the railway from Pitești to the Turnu Roşu Pass. It is part of Argeș County. The city administers one village, Noapteș...
, on Argeş RiverArges RiverArgeș is a river of Southern Romania. It starts at the junction of headwaters Buda and Capra in the Făgăraș Mountains, in the Southern Carpathians and flows into the Danube at Oltenița.The main city on the Argeş is Piteşti...
(currently known as Curtea de ArgeşCurtea de ArgesCurtea de Argeș is a city in Romania on the right bank of the Argeş River, where it flows through a valley of the lower Carpathians , on the railway from Pitești to the Turnu Roşu Pass. It is part of Argeș County. The city administers one village, Noapteș...
) - Târgu NeamţTârgu NeamtTârgu Neamţ is a town in Neamţ County, Romania, on the Neamţ River. It had, , a population of 20,496. Three villages are administered by the town: Blebea, Humuleşti and Humuleştii Noi.- History :...
, on Neamţ River - Târgu LăpuşTârgu LapusTârgu Lăpuş is a town in Maramureş County, northern Transylvania, Romania, on the river Lăpuş. In 2002, it had a population of 13,355. Of these, 86.5% were Romanians, 12.4% Hungarians and 1% Roma...
, on Lăpuş RiverLapus RiverThe Lăpuș River is a tributary of the Someș River in Romania.It is formed at the junction of the headwaters Izvorul Alb and Izvorul Negru.-References:* Administrația Națională a Apelor Române — Cadastrul Apelor — București... - Cetatea DâmboviţeiBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, on Dâmboviţa RiverDâmbovita RiverDâmbovița is a river in Romania. It has its sources in the Făgăraş Mountains, on the Curmătura Oticu. The upper reach of the rivers, upstream of the confluence with the Boarcăşu River is also known as Izvorul Oticului River or Oticu River....
(historical name for BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
) - Cetatea SuceveiSuceavaSuceava is the Suceava County seat in Bukovina, Moldavia region, in north-eastern Romania. The city was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia from 1388 to 1565.-History:...
, on Suceava RiverSuceava RiverThe Suceava River is a river located in the north-east of Romania, in Suceava County. It rises from the Obcina Mestecăniş in Bukovina, near the border with Ukraine...
(currently known as SuceavaSuceavaSuceava is the Suceava County seat in Bukovina, Moldavia region, in north-eastern Romania. The city was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia from 1388 to 1565.-History:...
) - Târgul BârladuluiBârladBârlad is a city in Vaslui County, Romania. It lies on the banks of the Bârlad River, which waters the high plains of eastern Moldavia....
, on Bârlad RiverBârlad RiverThe Bârlad is a river in eastern Romania, a tributary of the Siret River. Its total length is 207 km. Its source is in the low hills between the Siret and Prut rivers, southwest of Iaşi. It flows generally south, through the cities of Negreşti, Vaslui, Bârlad and Tecuci. The Bârlad river flows...
(currently known as BârladBârladBârlad is a city in Vaslui County, Romania. It lies on the banks of the Bârlad River, which waters the high plains of eastern Moldavia....
) - Târgul SiretuluiSiretSiret is a town in Romania, Suceava County, one of the oldest towns in, and a former capital of, the former principality of Moldavia. It is located 2 km from the border with Ukraine, being one of the main border passing points in the North of the country, having both a road border post and a...
, on Siret RiverSiret RiverThe Siret or Sireth is a river that rises from the Carpathians in the Northern Bukovina region of Ukraine, and flows southward into Romania for 470 km before it joins the Danube...
(currently known as SiretSiretSiret is a town in Romania, Suceava County, one of the oldest towns in, and a former capital of, the former principality of Moldavia. It is located 2 km from the border with Ukraine, being one of the main border passing points in the North of the country, having both a road border post and a...
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