2. POPULATION
• The municipality of Craiova has a population of
302,601 (Census 2002). Ethnic composition:
• Romanians: 292,487 (96.66%)
• Hungarians: 218 (0.07%)
• Germans: 173 (0.06%)
• Serbs: 34 (0.01%)
• Roma: 8.820 (2.91%)
• Italians: 178 (0.06%)
• Greeks: 188 (0.06%)
• Ukrainians: 32 (0.01%)
• and 471 others.
3. CRAIOVA
Craiova (pronounced [krajova]), the fifth largest Romanian city and
capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river
Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is
located at approximately equal distances from the
Southern Carpathians (north) and the Danube (south). Craiova is the
chief commercial city west of Bucharest and the most important
city of Oltenia.
A bit of History
• Much later, a strong Dacian fortress was built, Pelendava, its name
being mentioned in 255 AD on the ancient map Tabula Pentingeriana. The
present name first appeared in a document dated 1475, and in 1582
documents mentioned Craiova as a town. It has had a rapid development,
the town being known as “Marea Banie a Olteniei” ( Banie is a term
designating the capital of a province- “The great Capital of Oltenia”)
• The capital of Banie, Craiova was destroyed by an earthquake in 1790
and burnt by the Turks in 1802. An agreement signed in the city in
1940 returned S Dobruja to Bulgaria.
16. Institutions
of pre-universitary
Elena Cuza College
education Stefan Velovan Pedagogical
College
Marin Sorescu High school of
Fratii Buzesti College Carol I National College
Arts
“Charles Laugier”
Vocational School “Tudor Arghezi”
High school
18. NICOLAE ROMANESCU PARK
Short history
• A special sight in Craiova is represented
by “Nicolae Romanescu” Park, with its
picturesque character. Unique in Romania,
this valuable architectural monument is
also one of the most interesting
accomplishments of its kind in Europe.
• Located in the southern part of the town at
the end of Unirii Street, the park is also
known as “Bibescu” Park or the People’s
Park, all names being accurate.
19. It was bought by the Town Hall in 1853 for 12,000 ducats. The land
it was located on had belong to Iancu Bibescu, the brother of rulers Grigore
Bibescu and Barbu Stirbei. ASround the end of the last century, a great park
was created, at the initiative of Nicolae P. Romanescu, the mayor of Craiova
during those times. The order was given to the French landscape architect
Emil Redont in 1899. The works began in 1901 and its inauguration toiok
place in May 1903.
It is the largest park of its kind in Europe.
