Gilău commune is located on the Someșului Mic valley, at its intersection with the Căpușului valley. It represents a locality with a rich history, with archaeological evidence identifying traces of a Neolithic settlement that persisted into the Bronze and Iron Ages. The excavations also revealed vestiges of a Roman fort, having an important role in controlling the road along the Someșului Mic valley and the Căpușului valley, as well as the access from the Someșului Cald si Rece valley, along with the Bologa, Gherla and Cășeiu forts . These fortifications housed troops from the Dacian Porolissensis army.
The ruins of the Roman fort, located in the castle park, occupied an area of over 2 hectares. Originally built of earth, the fort was later rebuilt of stone (210 x 133 m). In its vicinity is a walled construction, possibly a bathroom. Among the notable discoveries was a Roman military diploma from 164 AD, currently exhibited at the History Museum in Cluj, representing a rare and valuable document that completes the ancient information about Transylvania (in all of Dacia only 15 military diplomas).
The function of the troops stationed in the Gilău fort included keeping under control the local population, which, according to existing material evidence, was quite numerous in the area and often tried to free itself from Roman domination. Even after the withdrawal of the Romans, the fort continued to be inhabited, discoveries of pre-feudal pottery attesting to the continuity of the local community's life. There are historians who associate the name of the locality with that of Voivode Gelu, who is supposed to have had one of his fortified centers here, where he tried to take refuge during his last confrontation with the Hungarian invaders led by Tuhutuni, but without success, being captured and killed.
Popular legends relate that Gelu was buried under a tree in Gilau.
The first official mention of the town of Gilău dates from 1246, when it became the property of the episcopate of Transylvania.
Following the bloody suppression of the uprising of the serf peasants from Bobâlna in 1437, in 1439 the order was given by bishop Gh. Lepeș to start the construction of the Gilău fortress. The aim was to subdue the masses of serfs more easily and to guard the communication routes against the Turks.
In the second half of the 15th century, the settlement evolved into a small town (oppidum).
Around 1500, the fortress was transformed into a castle. In December 1541, the treaty between Isabella, regent of Hungary, and Ferdinand of Habsburg was signed here, by which the latter received the royal crown and several cities in Hungary and Transylvania in exchange for concessions. This treaty served as justification for the policy of annexation of Transylvania by the Habsburgs.
Between 1599 and 1601, the Gilău fortress was under the control of Mihai Viteazul, giving it great importance.
On May 22, 1660, near the town, battles took place between Gh. Rakoczi II, the prince of Transylvania, and the Turks. After this confrontation, in which the freedom-loving Romanians also gathered under the prince's flag, on June 7, 1660, Gh. Rakoczi II died.
After a devastating fire, the castle suffered significant damage and was rebuilt around 1877.
Initially, the castle served as a residence for Gheorghe Rakoczi I, and later it was mortgaged by Maria Tereza in favor of Gheorghe Bánffy, the governor of Transylvania.
In 1784, Gh. Şincai established a village school in the town of Gilău.
Source: Tourist itinerary Alba Iulia - Cluj-Napoca - Oradea (Ministry of Tourism, 1982)
