Szőcs Péter Levente (szerk.): Călătorii istorice pe Valea Someşului. Ghid turistic (Satu Mare, 2014)
Odoreu
Odoreu Odoreu municipality lies on the right bank of Someş river, less than 10 km east from Satu Mare. Six settlements form the administrative unit: Odoreu (the see of administration), Berindan, Mărtineşti, Vânătoreşti, Cucu and Eteni. Odoreu was mentioned in 1214 for the first time as part of Oaş royal forest domain. It later belonged to the Móric family of Medieşu Aurit, and to the Seini estate during the 15th century. The village had several owners in early-modern times, the Báthori, Bethlen and Rákóczi families all owned it beside other small nobles. Due to its location between two important strategic points, Satu Mare and Medieşu Aurit, Odoreu was often robbed by passing armies. Fires (the biggest one occurring in 1907 and destroying almost the entire village) as well as floods have greatly damaged Odoreu. In 1970, the Someş river flooded the village, this was the most devastating flood ever. Some places the river’s width even reached 15 km. 50% of Odoreu, Berindan and Mărtineşti were destroyed, while Cucu and Eteni disappeared completely. The systematization politics tried their reconstruction according to new principles and as a result completely changed Odoreu: new streets and apartments were built and victims of the devastating floods were relocated here. Odoreu became thus one of the most densely populated villages in Romania. The Calvinist church was built in 1586 and its tower was added later, in 1843-45. Saint Michael and Gabriel Archangels Orthodox church was erected between 1818 and 1823 at the place of an old wooden one. Its altar screen dates from the beginning of the 20th century. The Transfiguration Roman Catholic church’s Odoreu • Szatmărudvari - Biserica ortodoxă Ortodox templom The Orthodox Church 7
