Cluj-Napoca, often referred to simply as Cluj, is a city located in northwestern Romania. It serves as the seat of Cluj County and holds the distinction of being the second-most populous city in the country. Geographically, the city is situated in the Someșul Mic river valley and is positioned roughly equidistant from Bucharest, Budapest, and Belgrade.
The city is widely regarded as the unofficial capital of the historical province of Transylvania. Historically, it served as the official capital of the Grand Principality of Transylvania for several decades leading up to the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867.