(. It is located in the heart of
Transylvania , on the valley of
Târnava Mare river in the
Sibiu County .
There has been a settlement at the city's location since prehistoric times.
Was one of the seven saxon cities which give the name
Siebenbürgen to the region.
The population is around 55,403 inhabitants and the ethnical composition is:
It is the second industrial center after
Sibiu in the couty, being an important centre for automotive components production, glass production (the biggest industrial glass producer in Romania) and electrical ecomponents production. Also, the area is the biggest
Natural Gas production area in Romania and in Mediaş lies the headquarters of the
Romgaz the national gas xploatation enterprise and also
Distrigaz Nord the natural gas distribuitor for the north side of the country.
It has one of the best preserved historical centers in Romania and also some well preserved medieval fortifications.
The city lies in the middle of the area which was inhabited by
Transylvanian Saxons and in an area of 20 km around it there are a few dosens of fortified churches, two of them
UNESCO World Heritage Sites .
