Ațel

Ațel
Hetzeldorf
Aerial view of Ațel/Hatzeldorf with the local medieval Evangelical Lutheran fortified church in the centre
Location in Sibiu County
Ațel
Location in Romania
Coordinates: 46°09′N 24°28′E / 46.150°N 24.467°E / 46.150; 24.467
CountryRomania
CountySibiu
Established1283 (first attested)
SubdivisionsAțel, Dupuș
Government
  Mayor (20202024) Ioan-Ovidiu Aldea (PNL)
Area
27.21 km2 (10.51 sq mi)
Population
 (2021-12-01)
1,263
  Density46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zoneEET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)
Postal code
557020
Vehicle reg.SB
WebsitePrimăria Comunei Ațel (in Romanian)

Ațel (German: Hetzeldorf; Transylvanian Saxon: Hätselderf; Hungarian: Ecel) is a commune in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Ațel and Dupuș (Tobsdorf; Táblás). The commune first appears in written history in 1283 as villa Echelini. Later appearances in written documents are villa Heclini (1289), Hetzelini villa and villa Eczlen (1359), Ecczel (1365), and Heczeldorf (1548). A church is mentioned as of 1380.