town, capital of Sălaj județ (county), northwestern Romania. It is located in an isolated part of the country on the northwestern slopes of the Mezeș Mountains. It is the terminal of a branch line railway and a local market centre for the district's agricultural produce. A furniture factory in Zalău uses timber from the surrounding hills. The town has an archaeological museum that contains artifacts dating from prehistoric times, as well as materials from the Roman occupation. Highways and a railway connection pass through Zalău. Pop. (2007 est.) 63,642.