This cache is part of our series, Sacred Springs. A sacred spring, or holy well, is a small body of water emerging from underground and venerated either in a pagan or a Christian context, often both. The term is commonly employed to refer to any water source of limited size which has some significance in the folklore of the local area. This can take the form of a particular name, an associated legend, or the attribution of healing qualities. In Christian legend, the spring water is often said to have been made to flow by the action of a saint. Our approach on the sacrality of these springs is slightly profane: it refers mostly to the holiness of native land.
[EN] The cache is located at 30-40 meters S-SW from the Elisabeth's spring, at the root of some younger trees. After a short, but detailed research we concluded that the spring was named after Elisabeth of Bavaria, Empress of Austria and Queen consort of Hungary as the spouse of Franz Joseph I. In those times it was a common habit to name places after famous (and certainly rich) people in order to get funds and fame through them. In the 19th Century's Cluj there were several places named after the famous empress, for example the Elisabeth Street (Emil Racovita) and the Elisabeth Bridge (at the Hungarian Theater).
[EN] Elisabeth (1837-1898), was empress consort of Austria from 1854 and also queen of Hungary (crowned in 1867) after the Austro-Hungarian Compromise. She was the daughter of the Bavarian duke Maximilian Joseph, in August 1853 she met her cousin Franz Joseph, then aged 23, who quickly fell in love with the 15-year-old Elisabeth, who was regarded as the most beautiful princess in Europe. After a long period of happy marriage the suicide of their only son, the crown prince Rudolf, in 1889, was a shock from which Elisabeth never fully recovered. It was during a visit to Switzerland that she was mortally stabbed by an Italian anarchist, Luigi Luccheni.
[RO] Cutia se afla la 30-40 de metri S-SV de Izvorul Elisabeta, la radacina unor copaci tineri. Dupa o cercetare scurta, dar amanuntita, am ajuns la concluzia ca izvorul si-a primit numele dupa Elisabeta de Bavaria, împarateasa a Austriei si Regina a Ungariei, sotia lui Franz Joseph I. În acele timpuri era un obicei des intalnit numirea unor locuri dupa persoane celebre (si bineinteles bogate) în scopul de a obtine fonduri si faima prin intermediul lor. În Clujul secolului al 19-lea au existat mai multe locuri numite dupa împarateasa, de exemplu Strada Elisabeta (Emil Racovita), sau Podul Elisabeta (de la Teatrul Maghiar).
[RO] Elisabeta (1837-1898), a fost imparateasa Austriei din 1854 si apoi regina Ungariei (din 1867, dupa Compromisul Austro-Ungar). Ea a fost fiica ducelui bavarez Maximilian Joseph, în august 1853 l-a cunoscut pe varul ei, Franz Josif (atunci in varsta de 23 de ani) care imediat s-a îndragostit de fata de 15 ani, ea fiind considerata atunci cea mai frumoasa printesa din Europa. Dupa o perioada lunga de casnicie, sinuciderea fiului lor, Printul Rudolf, în 1889, a fost un soc din care nu Elisabeta nu si-a revenit complet. În timpul unei vizite în Elvetia a fost înjunghiata mortal de catre un anarhist italian, Luigi Luccheni.