History of Bistrita

Beszterce became a free royal town in 1330. In 1353 it gained the right to organize an annual 15-day fair, as well as a seal containing the coat of arms of an ostrich with a horseshoe in its beak. In 1465, the city's fortifications had 18 defensive towers and bastions defended by the local guilds. It was also defended by a Kirchenburg, or fortified church. The town was badly damaged by fire five times between 1836 and 1850.

The city became part of Romania after 1919, reverting briefly to Hungarian control between 1940 and 1944 and being reintegrated into Romania after World War II.