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Craiova the capital of Oltenia.


 Location:

 The city of Craiova is situated near the left bank of the Jiu in central Oltenia, halfway between the southern Carpathians and the Danube in the south of the country, 184 km west of Bucharest.
 Its population was 304 142 inhabitants in 2005.

History:

The city is built on the ruins of the former residence of the tribe "Geto Dac" his name was al'époque Pelendava, J C. 400-350 BC
 It appears on the card called Tabula Peutingeriana, an ancient map of 225 AD.

There was also a Roman castrated, the name seems to come from Craiova Slavonic "Kraj" which means king.

The first documentary in the name of Craiova dated 1 June 1475 in a chronic Voïvode (prince) Laiota Basarab.

At the beginning of the first millennium the city was known as Ponsiona (which means bridge over the River Jiu) confirmed by a map made during the 1396 Battle of Nicopole manuscript kept in the National Library in Paris.

Romanian historians (including Nicolae Iorga) consider that the city of Craiova was the place of the great battle of Rovine against the Turks during the reign of Mircea cel Batrin, emblematic place in the history of Wallachia.

The importance of the city increased during the reign of Michael the Brave.
Craiova was the center for strategic and military struggle against the Ottoman Empire.

Moreover Craiova there were in the XIV and XVI century Army Corps consisting of free peasants and mercenaries.  The latter had gathered as to Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldova, first attempt at national unity of the Romanians in 1600, Michael the Brave relied on the support of brothers Buzesti, Stroe, Radu, Preda, Baba Novac , Bañuls Mihalcea, Bañuls Mărăcine, März, Matei Basarab, Radu Serban, brave hero of Craiova.

One of the most important families of boyars of Craiova, the family gave a Bibescu Wallachia the last two princes, brothers Bibescu: Gheorghe Dimitrie Bibescu (1842-1848) and Barbu Dimitrie Ştirbei (1849-1856).


 Houses, palaces, places of interest:

 The oldest of the secular city is Casa Baniei which dates from 1699.
 rebuilt by Prince Constantin Brancoveanu, it is built on two levels, rooms with large brick arches and verandas.

This is where the assembled dignitaries of the county in the Middle Ages.

One hundred Orthodox churches have been built in the city, some are very old like Madona Dudu, a true pilgrimage 1750-1756, painted by the painter Gh.Tatarescu and the church Cosun, Bucoovatul vechi, built in 1483.  For its construction were used the stone of Roman Pelendava castrated.

The church now houses the remains of the Middle Ages, when Craiova was the heart of the region of Oltenia

 There are some famous and ancient fountains including
La Fontaine Jianului built around 1800
Fontaine Purcarului
Fontaine Popova known the name of Fountain Basaarabes since 1613.
After 1800 we tried a kind of systematization of the city, the streets were paved with sandstone or porphyry brought from Switzerland, France and Belgium.

The Cathedral of St. Dimitri, the protector of the city of Craiova was built in place of an old church by the boyars Craiovesti late fifteenth century. `It is the work of Prince Matei Basarab, as is written in the Pisan dating from 1652.

 In 1889 on the ruins of the cathedral destroyed during the great earthquake of 1840, a new cathedral was built from plans by the architect Le comte de french Nouy.

Moreover Craiova has always been a cosmopolitan city, inspired particularly the experience of European culture and, particularly French.

In 1854 it introduced the public lighting of lamps with a base of canola oil.  Starting from 1858 we start to use oil in 1887 at the Théâtre Theodorini installing the first light bulbs.

 In 1896 Craiova has its own power plant, to the point of view it is an eclectic architectural styles.

There are buildings in the baroque, renaissance, classical, neoclassical, romantic, Roman, designed by architects french, German, Italian and Romanian.

 For example Jean Mihail Palace strikes between 1899-1907 by architect Paul Gottereau french at the request of Mihail Constantin, one of the richest of the time, building its famous gilded stucco, Venetian mirrors, painted ceilings, large candelabra, crystal from Murano, the columns and the staircase of Carrara marble, walls lined with natural silk and gold decorative elements.

Constantin Mihail 1908 and died in his palace is inherited by his son.

 The palace which today houses Vorvorenilor The Metropolitan (seat of orthodoxy for the region of Oltenia) of Oltenia is an example of the influence of French architecture, with lots of stucco and decorative as well as attics, interiors are very rich in decoration.

The Palais de Justice (which is now home to the University) was screened in 1890 by the architect Ion Socolescu in the neoclassical style.

 The Art Museum is located in a building built at the same architect Paul Gottereau.

It also houses works by Constantin Brancusi, which were performed during the first period of creation of the sculptor while he studied at the School of Arts and Trades Craiova.


 The six works presented are:
 - The kiss 1907 stone
 - Vitellius, 1898 first work of the artist
 - Torso of woman, marble 1909
 - The Pride, 1905
 - Head boy, 1906
 - Mademoiselle Pogany
 - La Chaise
 - Écorchée 1902

 - The Museum of Oltenia erected in 1915
 - Park Romanescu

 Historians believe that the Romanian city of Craiova was the place of the great battle against the Turkish Rovine during the reign of Mircea cel Batrin, emblematic places in the history of Wallachia.

Its importance has increased during the reign of Michael the Brave.

 Personalities:

 * Petrache Poenaru (1799-1875), founder of the National College in Bucharest and Craiova, the inventor of a feather pen patented by the french state in May 1827. During his youth he was recruited into the army of Tudor Vladimirescu creator of the first Romanian newspaper on a french model.

 * The diplomat Nicolae Titulescu, twice president of the League of Nations in 1930 - 1931).
 * Gogu Constantinescu, inventor.
 * Henri Coanda, inventor of the jet.
 * Horia Macellariu, against Romanian admiral, hero of the Second World War.
 * Mathematicians Ţiţeica Gheorghe and Traian Lalescu.
 * The Astronomer Coculescu Nicolae, founder of the Astronomical Observer in Bucharest.
 * Doctors Dimitrie Gerot, Demetru Paulian.
 * Nicolae Vasilescu-Karpen, a physicist, engineer, inventor.
 * Writers: Macedonski Alexandru, Ion Minulescu, Traian Demetrescu, I. Gib Mihăescu . Mihăescu.
 * The philosopher Constantin Radulescu-Motru.

 And today:

 * Marin Sorescu .
 * Adrian Păunescu .   

 Text: Cleopatra Lorintiu

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