View source for Solca

{{other uses|Solca (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Romanian subdivision
|type                   = town
|county                 = Suceava
|population_total       = auto
|map_caption            = Location in Suceava County
|official_name          = Solca
|other_name             = {{langx|de|Solka}}<br /> {{langx|pl|Solka}}
|image_shield=ROU SV Solca CoA.png
|image_map              = Solca jud Suceava.png
|image_skyline=Centrul civic Solca.jpg
|image_caption=Tomșa Vodă Street, the town center
|leader_name            = Cornel Țehaniuc<ref>{{cite web |url=https://prezenta.roaep.ro/locale27092020/romania-pv-final |title=Results of the 2020 local elections |publisher=Central Electoral Bureau |access-date=9 June 2021 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|leader_party           = PSD
|term                   = 2020&ndash;2024
|area_total_km2         = 64.63
|coordinates            = {{coord|47|42|9|N|25|49|54|E|region:RO|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_m            = 509
|website                = {{url|http://www.solca.ro/}}
}}

'''Solca''' ({{langx|de|Solka}}; {{langx|pl|Solka}}; {{langx|hu|Szolka}}) is a town in [[Suceava County]], northeastern Romania. It is situated in the historical region of [[Bukovina]]. Solca is the smallest town in the county and the third-smallest town in Romania, with a population of 2,405 inhabitants, according to the [[2021 Romanian census|2021 census]]. Its name is derived from that of the river flowing through it, in turn derived from Slavic ''sol'' ("salt") – in reference to the area's salty springs. Solca is known for its high quality air, for being a former spa, and for the beer that was manufactured here.

== Geography ==
[[File:The_town_of_Solca.jpg|thumb|left|The town of Solca ({{langx|de|Solka}}), as seen from the local stadium]]

Solca is located in the central-eastern part of Suceava County, at the foot of the eastern part of [Bukovinian Subcarpathians|Obcina Mare Mountains]], in the Solca-Cacica Depression. The town is situated at the border of the Suceava Plateau and the [[Moldavian-Muntenian Carpathians|Eastern Carpathians]], at an average altitude of {{cvt|522|m}}. The [[Solca (river)|Solca River]] crosses the town. Solca is a place known for the beauty of the natural landscape and the high quality of its air.

Solca borders with the following communes: [[Marginea]] (in north-west), [[Arbore]] (in north and north-east), [[Poieni-Solca]] (in south and south-east), [[Cacica]] (in south) and [[Mănăstirea Humorului]] (in west). The town is situated at a distance of {{cvt|23|km}} from the city of [[Rădăuți]], {{cvt|32|km}} from the town of [[Gura Humorului]], {{cvt|48|km}} from the city of [[Suceava]] (the county seat), and {{cvt|464|km}} from [[Bucharest]].

The town is celebrated for its monumental [[Romanian Orthodox Church|Romanian Orthodox]] church, the former Sts. Peter and Paul's Monastery (1613–1623), also knowns as Solca Monastery, built by Voievod (Ruling Prince) Ștefan Tomșa II of Moldavia and closed by the Habsburgs in 1785, and a beer factory that ranks among the oldest in the country (1810). Salt springs are located in the northern forested area. Solca is also relatively close to the [[Cacica]] salt mine and the [[Arbore]] church.

In Solca there is a Romanian traditional house which dates from the 17th century. This house was transformed into a museum in 1971. Other points of interest are the motel (known as Hanul Solca), the sanatorium with the summer garden and the central park, Tomșa Vodă High School, the Roman Catholic Church (which dates from 1868) and Pietrele Muierilor (a monument of nature located near the town).

Despite the fact it has the status of a town, Solca has a rural aspect in many areas. During the Communist regime, around 10 apartment blocks were built along the two main roads that cross the town: ''Tomșa Vodă'' Street and ''Republicii'' Street. Solca isn't connected to the Romanian national railway system.

The town administered the village of [[Poieni-Solca]]. Following a local referendum held in August 2004, Poieni-Solca split from the town of Solca in March 2007 and became a [[Communes of Romania|commune]].

== History ==
[[File:Biserica Sf. Apostoli Petru si Pavel din Solca4.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Tower of the local Orthodox church in Solca]]
[[File:Solca vue generale.jpg|thumb|right|280px|View of the town, from the northern hill]]

The settlement of Solca was first mentioned in a document issued by [[List of rulers of Moldavia|Moldavian Prince]] [[Alexandru cel Bun]] on January 15, 1418. On March 7, 1502, the [[boyar]] Luca Arbore bought the village from the grandchildren of Cârstea Horaeț and Șandru Gherman. Subsequently, Metropolitan Gheorghe Movilă offers this village to the [[Sucevița Monastery]].

At the beginning of the 17th century, the village is bought by the Moldavian Prince Ștefan Tomșa II (1611–1615, 1621–1623) and he builds here a monastery (known as Sts. Peter and Paul's Monastery or Solca Monastery). In the following centuries, Solca becomes a [[market town]] for the surrounding area.

In 1775, together with the rest of Bukovina, Solca becomes part of the [[Habsburg monarchy]], and is eventually part of [[Austria-Hungary]]. During this period, many [[Germans of Romania|Germans]] (which later became known as [[Bukovina Germans]]), [[Poles in Romania|Polish]], and [[History of the Jews in Romania|Jewish]] families settled here. Subsequently, Solca becomes a well known summer resort, its renowned fresh air helping the settlement to develop during the following century. In 1810, one of the oldest beer factories in Romania opens in Solca. This brand of beer becomes the main symbol of the settlement.

At the initiative of doctors Eduard Beilich (1845) and Hermann Poras (1876) a sanatorium for lung diseases is opened, with an additional summer garden, so the tourism industry increases and the settlement becomes a well known spa of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

During [[World War I]], Solca is the scene of [[Eastern Front (World War I)|Eastern Front]] battles between the armies of Austria-Hungary and the [[Russian Empire]]. After 1918, Solca (along with the rest of Bukovina) become part of the [[Kingdom of Romania]]. It remains a well sought resort, especially for those with lung diseases. Solca was officially declared a town in 1926.
 
After the [[Romanian Revolution]] of 1989, Solca descended into a period of regression. The sanatorium was turned into a chronic diseases hospital and eventually, in 2011, in an asylum for the elderly. The beer factory and the summer garden are closed down, the high school goes through a decrease in prestige. Today, Solca is no longer a resort, and the main occupation of its inhabitants is agriculture.

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations
|source = Census data
|1930 |2822
|1948 |2212
|1956 |2384
|1966 |2550
|1977 |4541
|1992 |4762
|2002 |4687
|2011 |2188
|2021 |2405
}}

According to the [[2021 Romanian census|2021 census]] data, 2,405 inhabitants live in Solca. At the [[2011 Romanian census|2011 census]] data, there were 2,188 inhabitants, a decrease from the figure recorded at the 2002 census, when the town had a population of 4,456 inhabitants. The main cause of the drastic population decline from 2002 to 2011 was that Poieni-Solca, the village administered by Solca, was split from the town in March 2007 and became a commune.

Solca is the smallest town in [[Suceava County]] and the third smallest town in Romania. Only [[Băile Tușnad]] and [[Nucet]] are smaller than Solca.

==Natives==
* [[Ilie E. Torouțiu]] (1888–1953), literary historian, academician

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Solca}}
* {{in lang|ro}} [http://solca.ro/site/index.php Solca Town Hall official site]
* {{in lang|ro}} [http://judetulsuceava.ro/localitati/orase/solca/ Suceava County site – Solca web page]

{{Suceava County}}

[[Category:Towns in Romania]]
[[Category:Populated places in Suceava County]]
[[Category:Localities in Southern Bukovina]]