Craiova

Craiova General Information

Location: southwest of Romania
Size: 81 sq km
Population: circa 234.000 
Distance from Bucharest: 240 km 

The capital of Dolj County and the seventh-largest city in Romania, Craiova is situated in central Oltenia next to the Jiu River's east side. It has operated as a political centre for many years and is situated approximately halfway between the Southern Carpathians in the north and the Danube River in the south. Craiova is the most significant city in Oltenia and the main commercial centre west of Bucharest.

The former capital of Oltenia was Craiova, which was located where the Dacian and Roman city Pelendava formerly existed. Craiova expanded considerably during the era of Mihai Viteazul, and modern sources portray it as a significant political and military centre. In the Middle Ages, Craiova performed a significant military and strategic significance as a centre for anti-Ottoman activities as well as a location for gathering or reassembling armed troops. The capital of Romania was shifted to Craiova between 1770 and 1771.

After the Independence War, there was a period of swift growth in both economics and culture. Due to this, the city of 40,000 people, by the end of the 19th century, had grown tiny enterprises that produced chemicals, farming utilities, and construction materials, along with textile manufacturers. The "Peace of Craiova" agreement, which officially ended the Balkan War in 1913 and was signed by Titu Maiorescu's regime.

The first city in the country to receive electric power using internal combustion engines was Craiova.

The machine-building, aviation, chemical, food, light industry, building materials, electrical engineering, mining, and energy industries have all grown in the city since the 1960s. These include the aircraft factory, the automotive factory.

According to the designs of architects I. Mincu and C. Iotzu, Craiova City Hall, which is located on Unirii Street, was built between 1906 and 1916. Its interior is lavishly decorated with stained glass windows, chandeliers, and mosaics.

The National Theatre was founded in 1850. The structure, which inaugurated to the public in 1975, houses a museum with around 5000 priceless documents.

If you have the chance to pass through Craiova, here are some places you can visit:

• Botanical Garden
• Mihai Viteazu Square
• Nicolae Romanescu Park
• Casa Baniei
• Oltenia Museum
• Craiova's Art Museum