The folk culture of the county has roots that go back several hundreds of years. The art of spinning and weaving, wood¬carving, and pottery have been preserved and passed from generation to generation. The Szekler rugs, carved wooden gates, coloured and black pottery of Corund and Dăneşti are internationally renowned trademarks of the region. Numerous institutions endorse the preservation of local traditions, and folk dances. The gathering of the One Thousand Szekler Girls at Şumuleu, the traditional manifestations on New Years Eve in Lăsata Secuiului, and the “fărşang” (carnival), the pottery market of Corund, and the Csángó Festival of Ghimeş are just some of the events which tourists can see or even participate in. Since 1990, numerous folk dance groups, like the Szekler National Ensemble, are active in Harghita. Szekler architecture has a very specific style, characterized by houses with tall shingle roofs, which even today can be seen in some villages. The churches, looked after with great care, stand as testimony to the skill and know-how of local artisans. Many of these churches, like the ones in Leliceni, Delniţa, Mugeni, Daia, Porumbeni Mari, Cărţa, Dârjiu and Înlăceni, have been declared national monuments. The Lázár Castle located in Lăzarea, stands as a masterpiece of renaissance architecture.