Village Law Carved in Andesite

A monument to the village law stands guard in the central square of Zălan. The now legendary former order of the Szekler village is a stone block, representing an open book or wings, and sends a message to the future of a world based on solid moral foundations through the creation of Barna Éltes.

Located about 10 kilometres north of Sfântu Gheorghe, this settlement in the lower part of Covasna County is known primarily for its rich plum yield and, its "logical" consequence, the high-quality plum brandy (“pálinka”). But also for the fact that the oldest village law, written on 16 May 1581, “on the Tuesday after Pentecost”, survived here. The village charter of Zălan was the first to stipulate that the village community's task was to organise the basic maintenance of order and the administration of people’s lives in the village. “In front of the village court, everyday small disputes (thefts, insults, debts, fornication, forbidden grazing, etc. - author's note) were easily settled, and perhaps even more justly than the decisions of the Szekler or military authorities” - wrote István Imreh, historian, in the preface of his book The Order-keeping Szekler Village, published in Bucharest in 1973.

Since 25 September 2020, in the centre of Zălan, on a small hill all, this has been carved in an andesite that follows the “undulation” of the cemetery around the Reformed church.

Samu Csinta