Sóvidék (Dealurile Târnavei)
This area joins the Görgényi Alps (Muntii Gurghiului) and the western parts of Hargits Hills (Muntii Hargita), it is situated around the upper streamline of Kis-Küküllo (Târnava Mica), in the valley of Korond (Corund) Brook, Juhod Brook, Sebes Brook and Szováta (Sovata) Brook.
The localities of the area are: Korond (Corund), Alsósófalva (Ocna de Jos), Felsosófalva (Ocna de Sus), Atyha (Atia), Parajd (Praid), Szováta (Sovata) and Szakadát (Sacadat).
Atyha (Atia)
It is one of the highest located villages of Sóvidék (Dealurile Târnavei). Only catholic people live here. In this aspect this village is the only one in the area. It belongs to the village Korond (Corund). It is situated 9 km from Korond (Corund) and 36 km from Székelyudvarhely (Odorheiu Secuiesc). The road that leads to Atyha (Atia) was built on the rocky hillside of Réda (Reda) in 1913-14. The village was settled on the hillside of Fiasmál (Peak Fias (Fitod) is 823 m high) at the elevation 700 – 750 m. Peak Fias (Fitod) is as amazing as the view from Firtos (Firtus): in clear weather you can enjoy the view from Marostere to the volcanic chains.
In the north-west the ridge of Réda (Reda) Hills (752 m) leads to the water of Korond (Corund) Brook. In the south you can see Peak Kadácsmezo (Poiana Cadac) (652 m) and Peak Kerekmezo ( 743 m ) then Peak Firtos (Firtus) covered by woods, which closes the view. In the west you can get to Etéd (Atid) along Avar Brook.
The village, which has great location and historical past, has fewer and fewer population. In 1992 there were 342 inhabitants (340 Hungarian and 2 Romanian). According to Balázs Orbán the old church of the village was built in the Forest Szentegyházas (719 m ) and the bell dated in 1437 comes from this church, which was then destroyed by fire in 1867. Three villages belonged to the church named after Saint Michael before the religious reformation – Atyha (Atia), Korond (Corund) and Pálfalva (Pauleni). The ruins of the old church were found in 1918. During the reformation the people of Atyha (Atia) were converted to Unitarian religion and joined Korond (Corund), later became independent and built its own church. The inhabitants of Atyha (Atia) returned to the catholic religion thanked to Priest Péter István from Gyergyószentmiklós (Gheorgheni) in 1725. The stone church built in 1625 stood by Kupésné Hill, not far from the present one. Soon it proved to be small and was used until 1795.
The present church surrounded by a stone fence was built in 1797-99 when Priest József Kovács worked here. In its high western tower there are two big bells and a small one made in Nagyszeben (Sibiu) in 1922. Inside there is an organ-gallery, a semi-circular presbytery with a vestry in its northern part. The main and side alters are in classicist style, under the western gallery two stone fonts can be found, which date back to 1903 and 1904. In 1867 the church was destroyed by fire, only the side walls remained. Afterwards Priest Imre Betegh rebuilt it into its present shape. On 2 July 1927 there was a tornado, which destroyed the tower of the church.
The look-out tower on Peak Fiasteto
N 46? 29,612’ E 25? 6,272’ 980 m [GCFite + look-out tower]
The tower was inaugurated on 22 June 2006. The idea comes from physician Dr. Özséb Fazekas from Gyula, the architect was Márton Gyimesi.
The picturesque view from Peak Fiasteto (Fitod) (980 m) was described as ’wonderful panorama’ by Balázs Orbán about a hundred years ago. On the way you have a chance to see the works of a hidden brook and also learn about the diverse flora and fauna of the area. From the top all the villages can be seen in the neighbourhood from a bird’s eye view: Parajd (Praid), Felsosófalva (Ocna de Sus), Korond (Corund), Énlaka (Inlaceni), Etéd (Atid), and Küsmöd (Cusmed). The mountain ranges are also seen: Görgényi Alps, Carpathian Bend and Southern Carpathian.
Sources:
http://www.hhrf.org/gyrke/sajtofigyelo/2006/2/fiasteto.html
http://www.zalamedia.hu/sovidek/atyha.htm
http://atyha.hu
http://www.szistvan.hu/~balintis/1998/telepul/sovidek.html