Bezid. The sunken village

The Village of Bezid

Located in Mureș County, the village of Bezid (or *Bezidul Nou*) is a spot on the map of Romania known for its history – particularly during the communist era. The locals from nearby villages still remember, even today, what the former residents of Bezid, the village that once stood there, had to endure. The locality has faced a harsh fate. Before uncovering its destiny, however, it is best to take a journey into history.

Historical Context

In this regard, Bezid Nou is situated in close proximity to Sângiorgiu de Pădure, also located in Mureș County. In the past, it had over 180 houses, which, of course, housed one or two families – but not just any type of families. The most interesting aspect of this locality is the conglomerate of religions that could be found at every turn. We are talking about the fact that in the former village of Bezid Nou lived:

• Orthodox Christians
• Roman Catholics
• Protestants
• Unitarians
• Transylvanian Sabbatarians
• Others

This diversity made Bezid Nou the only place of understanding and wisdom among religions – an extremely important and rare aspect in the history of mankind.

The Dreadful Years of 1988 and 1989

However, the years 1988 and 1989 were dreadful and particularly difficult for the inhabitants. The locals of Bezidul Nou were forced to relocate due to the floodwaters that surged over the village. Thousands of people witnessed, before their very eyes, how everything they had worked for their entire lives was swept away – houses, gardens, animals, and countless, but extremely many, emotions.

It is not easy at all to see all your hard work disappear while you can do nothing to change the course of history and destiny. The official reason points to the floods caused by the two streams in the area, namely Cușmed and Niraj, which, during storms and heavy rains, posed a real threat to the localities in the region. To avoid the crisis situation, the communist dictatorship laid the foundations of an earth dam, under which they installed a hydroelectric power station.

Of course, these are the official rumors. There are also those who blame the desire to eliminate the tightly-knit community, or merely its perfect image.

The Transformation into Lake Bezid

Nowadays, the village of Bezidul Nou has transformed into Lake Bezid, which is also the only accumulation lake in Mureș County. Here, thousands of tourists come annually, attracted by the historical legend and the ruins of houses that, sometimes in summer, devise their strategy to resurface. It is a pity, however, that the former residents still wish to have their homes back.