Craiova Travel guide

Craiova - Culture

Craiova has a university that comprises 14 faculties and 2 colleges, attended by 16.615 students (January 1996) in the following fields: the human sciences, technical, economical, juridical, medical, agricultural, theological and sports.

Being an important cultural centre, Craiova contributed to the development of an impressive member of personalities: Constantin Brancusi, Alexandru Macedonski, Gheorghe Titeica, Nicolae Titulescu, Ion Tuculescu, Henri Coanda, Gogu Constantinescu. Since 1992, the theatrical world has been impressed by the amazing performances presented by The National Theatre of Craiova, under the guidance of Silviu Purcarete - producer, which rediscovers, with a simplify full of greatness that belongs to the antique theatre, the tragedy of the human existence, beyond the limits of time or space. Some of its performance as: "Ubu Rex with Macbeth scenes", "Titus Andronicus", "Phaedra" received international prizes in Europe, Japan, Australia, The United States.

There are also other famous institutions of culture in Craiova: The "Oltenia Philarmonics" - founded in 1850, The Opera House with opera and light opera performances - founded in 1861, The Puppet Theatre - built in 1949,The Museum of Oltenia - founded in 1915, The "Theodor Aman" Art Museum (which exhibits masterpieces of Constantin Brancusi - the greatest Romanian sculptor namely: "The Kiss", "Head of a child" or "Miss Pogany"). Craiova's points of tourist attraction are represented by old buildings and architectural monuments, the museums, The Botanical Garden (17 ha), Romanescu Park - laid out in 1903, in a romantic style, by the architect E. Redont, who won with the plans of this park the golden medal at the International Exhibition from Paris in 1900. A bridge in miniature was built in this park, which was the first cable suspension bridge constructed in Europe.

Craiova - History

One of the most important Gaeto-Dacian settlements around Craiova was named Pelendava that means "the place near water". This settlement was written down on Tabula Peutingeriana ,a map of the Romans, made on the initiative of the Roman Emperor Caracalla. The year 225 is regarded as the moment of the first reference mention of the oldest settlement in the present town .At the end of the XV century , Craiova was a fair laying on the land of the powerful boyars Craiovescu. After the half of the XVI century, Craiova was frequently named town.The economic power of this boyars family contained over 100 villages .This power created a status of political autonomy so large that the rulers of that time couldn't maintain their position without an an alliance with this boyar's. During many years some important rulers were picked up from this family: Neagoe Besarab (1512-1521), Radu from Afumati(1522-1529), Radu Serban (1602-1611), Matei Besarab (1632-1654), Constantin Serban (1654-1658). Arisen during the last decades of XV century the Great Banat of Craiova became during a short time the second important political institution, after the ruler. Old Romanian establishment, the Banat was in the beginning a local village establishment derived from territorial community. When Neagoe Besarab became ruler the great Ban assumed the rule r prerogatives for the territory from the right side of the Old river ,having a chancellor's office where many documents were elaborated alike the rulers . During the second half of the XVI century ,the Great Banat saw a difficult moment particularly because of the Turkish aggressive attempts to establish an effective domination in Wallachia. The Great Banat became again a very important establishment under the great leader Mihai Viteazul. Craiova under Viteazul saw a great prosperity, the contemporary sources described this town as an important political and military center. Craiova asserted in the Romanian centralization politics as a positive element, supplying the central power with loyal boyars and powerful armies during the difficult times of the union of the three provinces. In the middle ages Craiova was also a center with a military and strategically role, being a place of starting Anti Ottoman actions .There was In Craiova an army corp at Great Bans disposal, made of peasant military force from the boyar's estates ,free peasant and mercenaries. In 1735 the were 836 families in Craiova counting more than 4000 inhabitants. At the beginning of the XVIII century a guarantee modality of Ottoman Porte domination over Romanian provinces consisted in constraint of Phanariot rule. Nicolae Mavrocordat , who became ruler in Wallachia in 1716 met hostility by the genty of Craiova.After defeating the Turkish armies and the Peace Of Passarovitz(1718),the gentry welcome the Austrian domination over Oltenia, but in 1726, when George Cantaccuzino Ban was dismissed, the the gentry of Craiova began resistance actions against habsburgic administration. The Austrian domination in Oltenia determined a considerably worsening of fiscal and economic obligations system of rural and town producers .People's dissatisfaction was brought by the military character of exploitation as well as by the gathering of incomes and wealth of the provinces into the imperial court treasury. Outlawry proportion determined the Austrian administration to make slave corps to make ensure the guard and the calm of the province. In 1734 bands of panders were distributed in all Oltenian counties. There was a gendarme corp in Craiova under commander of a "iuzbasa". Many important changes were made in the institutional field. The Banat of Craiova was no longer the institution which ,during the previous period had rivalled in the political plane with the rule. In 1761 the permanent money residence was settled down by the ruler at Bucharest. Between 1770-1771, because of the war situation Money's Citadel was also the capital of Wallachia, the ruler Emanuel Giani Rosset watching from there the progress of hostilities.

The economy of this region and the flourish of Craiova have registered frequent traumata during the XVII and the XVIII centuries .The demographic equilibrium was affected at the end of the XVIII century by changing the town into a war scene , because of epidemics and fires. We can recall here the frequent distractions and invasions of Turkish groups of soldiers over the Danube in 1799.The specific feature of this town during the the two first decades of the XIX was given by the economic town flourish .Comparatively to the other big urban centers Craiova was regarded as an important commercial administrative and cultural center. In the XIX the Romanian provinces were still some of the most important places for the Russian and Austrian wars. The re-establishment of the town after these wars and especially after the Andrianopolis Peace appeared chances for many peaceful years around 1848 Craiova had about 20000 citizens .The intellectuals of Craiova placed firmly in the van of changes, in the urban life as well in the political and cultural life. The teachers from the Central School of Craiova foremost of whom Ioan Maiorescu had an important role in preparing ,encouraging and supporting the revolution from 1848. Not accidentally Craiova was chosen as meeting place of the provisional government before its settlement in Bucharest. On 30 of November, a day before the first ottoman division entered town, hundreds of simple citizens gathered to face the Turks ignoring their numerical superiority. Towards the XIX century Craiova was a big city with almost 40000 citizens and with serious economical activities. As a result of the economical developments we had the further increscent of the population in such way that in 1910 Craiova was the second town after Bucharest. At Craiova, in 1913,The Balkan War ended officially after the Criova Treaty. Since 1960 the town has been a powerful industrial centre, the engineering industry, the aeronautic, the chemical and the power industry were promoted. Over 300000 inhabitants of Craiova participated in the events from December 1989,emphasizing their desire and hope for a new life, to build a strong democracy.