Vatra Dornei Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Vatra Dornei

Municipality

Traditional Romanian wooden church in Dorna-Arini (2012)

Coat of arms

Location in Suceava County

Vatra Dornei

Location in Romania

Country

Romania

County

Suceava

Area

144.34 km² (55.73 sq mi)

Elevation

802 m (2,631 ft)

Population

(2011)

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Time zone

EET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)

Postal code

725700

Area code

(+40) 0230

Vatra Dornei is a lovely town in north-eastern Romania. It is located in Suceava County, a region known as Bukovina. This town is famous for being a popular spa and ski resort. It sits right in the middle of the beautiful Carpathian Mountains.

Vatra Dornei is the fifth largest town in its county. About 12,578 people lived here in 2021. The town became a "municipality" in 2000. This means it's a special type of city with its own local government. Vatra Dornei also includes three smaller villages: Argestru, Roșu, and Todireni.

Exploring Vatra Dornei's Location
- Rivers and Mountains Around Vatra Dornei
- Getting Around Vatra Dornei
A Look at Vatra Dornei's Past
- Vatra Dornei's Changing Borders
Who Lives in Vatra Dornei?
- Population Changes Over Time
Fun Things to Do in Vatra Dornei
Famous People from Vatra Dornei
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Vatra Dornei's Location

Vatra Dornei is found in the south-western part of Suceava County. It is about 110 kilometers (68 miles) away from Suceava, the main city of the county. Other nearby towns include Câmpulung Moldovenesc (40 km away) and Gura Humorului (74 km away).

Rivers and Mountains Around Vatra Dornei

The town is built where two rivers meet: the Bistrița and the Dorna. This area is called the Dorna Depression. Because it's surrounded by mountains, Vatra Dornei is a perfect spot for winter sports and relaxing spa treatments. It is one of Romania's oldest resorts.

Getting Around Vatra Dornei

Vatra Dornei is easy to reach by train. It has two train stations, Vatra Dornei and Vatra Dornei Băi. Both of these stations are considered historic buildings. A major road, European route E58, also passes through the town. This road connects the regions of Moldavia and Transylvania.

A Look at Vatra Dornei's Past

The town of Vatra Dornei was first mentioned in writing in 1592. For a long time, from 1775 to 1918, it was part of the Habsburg monarchy. This was a powerful empire that later became Austria-Hungary. During this period, Vatra Dornei grew a lot. It became a well-known resort in the early 1800s.

Vatra Dornei's Changing Borders

Between 1925 and 1950, Vatra Dornei was part of a different county called Câmpulung. Since 1950, it has been part of Suceava County. The historic Vatra Dornei Casino is an important old building in the town.

Who Lives in Vatra Dornei?

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1930	9,826	—
1948	7,078	−28.0%
1956	10,822	+52.9%
1966	13,815	+27.7%
1977	15,873	+14.9%
1992	18,488	+16.5%
2002	16,321	−11.7%
2011	14,429	−11.6%
2021	12,578	−12.8%
Source: Romanian census data and/or official estimates

For many years, Vatra Dornei was home to people from different backgrounds. There were Romanians, Germans (especially from Bukovina), Ukrainians, and Jewish people. You can still see a large synagogue and a Jewish cemetery in town. These show the long history of the Jewish community here.

Population Changes Over Time

Vatra Dornei had its largest population in 1992, with about 18,500 residents. Since then, the number of people living in the town has slowly decreased. In 2011, there were 13,659 inhabitants. Most of them (98.65%) were Romanians. There were also smaller groups of Roma, Germans, Hungarians, and Ukrainians.

Vatra Dornei is the fifth most populated town in Suceava County. It is smaller than cities like Suceava, Rădăuți, Fălticeni, and Câmpulung Moldovenesc. It is also the newest and smallest municipality in the county.

Fun Things to Do in Vatra Dornei

Vatra Dornei is a very popular place for tourists, especially for skiing.

Skiing and Outdoor Adventures

There are several ski slopes near the town. They attract many visitors during the winter. The area around Vatra Dornei has huge forests. These are great for hiking and enjoying nature.

Relaxing at the Spa

The town also has natural mineral water springs. These springs helped Vatra Dornei become a famous spa town. In the past, it was one of only two spa towns in the entire Bukovina region.

Exploring Historical Sites and Museums

Vatra Dornei has many hotels for visitors. It also has two interesting museums:

The Ethnographic Museum, which shows local traditions and culture.
The Museum of Natural Sciences, where you can learn about the local plants and animals.

There are also several old buildings that are important historical sites. These include: