Photos

This picture was taken at Count Mikes estate in the village of Zăbala, where we are at the moment. The estate consists of a huge park (34 ha) and a number of buildings, including a guesthouse.

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Zăbala or Zabola (Romanian: Zăbala; Hungarian: Zabola) is a commune in Covasna County, Romania comprising of 4 villages: Peteni (Székelypetőfalva), Surcea (Szörcse), Tamaşfalău (Székelytamásfalva), Zăbala (Zabola).

The commune has an absolute Székely Hungarian majority. According to the 2002 Census it has a population of 4,814 of which 76.55% or 3,685 are Hungarian.

The name of "Zabola" means "bridle", i.e. the straps of leather that are put around the head of a horse to allow the rider to control it.

In the course of various battles with the Tatars, the villages north and south of Zabola were destroyed by the Tatars. However, the inhabitants of Zabola were capable of holding the Tatars in check and survived, as if they had put bridles around the Tatars horses in order to control them and their riders. Outside the village lies the "Tatárhalom" (Tatar Hill); some historians think the Tatars that were killed in action were buried there.

Things to see in Zăbala:

* Mikes Castle and park, which dates back to around 1500. It was once a fortified building with a tower in front. On the first floor all the ceilings were covered (currently painted over) with frescoes partly dating back to 1580 -1600. The castle in its current form dates back to 1867. It features a 34 ha English park.
* Csángó museum

Source: Wikipedia