It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from theSouthern Carpathians (north) and theRiver Danube (south). Craiova is the chief commercial city west ofBucharest and the most important city of Oltenia. The city prospered as a regional trading centre despite an earthquake in 1790, a plague in 1795, and aTurkish assault in 1802 during which it was burned.
Eight villages are administered by the city: Făcăi, Mofleni, Popoveni, Șimnicu de Jos, Cernele, Cernelele de Sus, Izvoru Rece, and Rovine. The last four were a separate commune calledCernele until 1996, when they were merged into the city.
There are two possible etymologies for Craiova:Old Slavonickral ("king"), which has been borrowed in Romania ascrai, and Slavonickrajina ("border" or "edge").[8] Since no source prior to 1475 mentions the city, it is impossible to tell which of the two words is the real etymology.[8]
In Hungarian, the town is either referred to asKirályi, or asKrajova.[9] The German name of the city isKrajowa.[10]
Craiova, which occupied the site of theDacian andRoman cityPelendava, was formerly the capital of Oltenia. Its ancientbans, the highest rankingboyars of theWallachian state, were initially those of theCraiovești family. Thebans had the right ofminting coins stamped with their owneffigies – the origin of theRomanian wordban as used for coins.
The economic power of the Craiovești family at the end of the 16th century was about 100 villages (182 financial goods). This power gave them a statute of political autonomy so big, that thehospodars ruling at that time were not able to keep in power without an alliance with this powerful dynasty. From the Craiovești family there were chosen a lot of hospodars to rule the country:Neagoe Basarab,Radu de la Afumați,Radu Șerban (1602–1611),Matei Basarab,Constantin Șerban,Șerban Cantacuzino,Constantin Brâncoveanu.
In 1395 Craiova was probably the scene of a victory won by theWallachian PrinceMircea I of Wallachia overBayezid I,Sultan of theOttomans (seeBattle of Rovine).[citation needed]Frequently referred to as "a city" after the first half of the 16th century, the Craiova area was always regarded as an important economic region ofWallachia and Romania at large. During the 1718–1739Habsburg occupation of Oltenia (seeBanat of Craiova), Craiova's status declined due to economic pressures and increasedcentralism, partly leading to an increase inhajduk actions, in parallel with protests of Craiovanboyars. In 1761, under PrinceConstantine Mavrocordatos, thebans relocated to Bucharest, leaving behindkaymakams to represent them in Craiova.
During theWallachian uprising of 1821, inhabitants of the present-dayDolj County joinedTudor Vladimirescu'sPandurs in great numbers, contributing to the expedition on Bucharest. During the first two decades of the 19th century, Craiova witnessed economic prosperity, centered onhandicraft trades and public services. DuringImperial Russian occupation and the early stages ofOrganic Statute rules (1828–1834), the city increased its economic output; in 1832 there were 595 shops, 197 of which were madebarracks and 398 were houses built of brick. At the time, Craiova exported wheat, furs, leather, live animals and other products into theAustrian andOttoman Empires.
Costache Romanescu, a citizen of Craiova, was among the leaders of the Provisional Government during the1848 Wallachian revolution. Wallachia's last two rulers,Gheorghe Bibescu andBarbu Dimitrie Știrbei, came from an important boyar family residing in Craiova – the Bibescu family.
Around 1860, there were 4,633 buildings in Craiova, which were 3,220 houses, 26 churches, 11 schools and 60 factories and workshops. In all, the city also housed about 90 industrial establishments, of which 12 were mills, 3 breweries, 2 gas and oil factories, 4tanning yards and 2printing presses; 57% of the total number of craftsmen ofDolj County lived in Craiova (1,088craftsmen, 687journeymen and 485apprentices).
Lipscani Street in Craiova
The period following theIndependence War was a time of economic and cultural progress. As a result, at the end of the 19th century, the city of Craiova, with its 40,000 inhabitants, had developed small factories (producing chemicals, farming utilities, and construction materials) and textile factories. On October 26, 1896, the Craiovapower station entered service (withAEG equipment working at 310 CP, supplying 365 streetlights on 39 streets, forming a 30 km-long network); Craiova was the first city in the country to be supplied with electric power byinternal combustion engines.
In 1900, Craiova had 43.1% of the industrial units ofOltenia; these numbered 924 industrial companies (including 20 large industrial establishments, employing 1,078 workers). The number of large industrial establishments rose to 40 by 1925.Banking also developed at the beginning of the 20th century (when 6 banks and 2bureaux de change were already operating).
In the interwar period, Craiova, as the centre of an agricultural region, experienced little furtherindustrialization; the number of industrial workers remained comparatively small. In 1939, Craiova had 7 industrial units with over 100 workers: the clothing industry companiesOltenia andScrisul Românesc were well-known all over the country and abroad. TheTreaty of Craiova was signed here on 7 September 1940; under its terms, Romania ceded toBulgaria the territory ofSouthern Dobruja, which Romania had gained after the 1913Second Balkan War.
After the1989 Revolution brought the re-establishment of afree market and decentralisation in overall management, several industries became subject toprivatisation, while the market opened itself to private initiatives. Industry, although affected by economic changes, remains an important branch, representing circa 70% of Craiova's output.
Annually, Craiova experiences 64 days withfog, more frequently in winter than other seasons. The city also experiences 34 days per year with thunder, and 1 day withhail.[11]
Climate data for Craiova (1991–2020, extremes since 1931)[i]
As of 2021[update], 234,140 inhabitants live within the city limits,[3] a decrease from the figure recorded in 2011,[19] making it the7th most populous city in Romania.
In the first two decades of the 19th century, Craiova was characterized by economic growth and the increased presence of trade, commerce, and public services. Similarly to other large urban areas, Craiova became a commercial, administrative and cultural centre.
During theTsarist take-over (1828–1834), Craiova experienced significant economic growth. In 1832, there were 595 shops, of which "187 [were] of wood and 398 of stone wall". The city was the commercial centre ofOltenia. It exported cereal, skins, wax, animals, tallow and services toAustria andTurkey. As a consequence of the permanent high demand for exports, Craiova was the site of the first Romanian society for shares in cereal shipping on theDanube toBrăila, established in 1846.
Around 1860 in Craiova there were 4633 buildings, of which 3220 were houses, 26 churches, 11 schools, and 60 factories or workshops. There were also approximately 90 establishments with an industrial character, of which 12 werewind mills, 3 beer factories, 2 gas and oil factories, 4 tanneries, and 2 were printing houses. Statistics show that Craiova was home to 57.7% of the total number of craftsmen inDolj County (1088 craftsmen, 687 journeymen and 485 apprentices). Towards the end of the 19th century, the city of Craiova had small factories and workshops with chemical products, agricultural machines, graphic design, tanneries, textiles, construction materials, among others. On 26 October 1896, Craiova's power plant (usingAEG equipment) began operations, supplying 365 lamps on 39 streets in a 30 km (18.64 mi) network. Craiova was the first city in the country powered by electricity based on internal combustion engines.
In 1900, Craiova held 43.1% of the industrial units in Oltenia, having 924 industrial firms (of which 20 establishments belonged to heavy industry, using 1078 workers). In 1925, the number of heavy industry establishments had increased to 49, and in 1930 the number of workers was 5530. The banking industry was also present; at the beginning of the 20th century, there were 6 banks and 2 bureaux de change.
In theinter-war period, the city, situated in an eminently agricultural area, was considered to be industrialising too slowly in comparison with other urban areas of Romania.
In 1939, there were only 7 industrial units with over 100 workers in Craiova: the "Oltenia" clothing factory, the "Scrisul Românesc" ("The Romanian Writing") publishing house, the "Concordia" macaroni factory, the "Barbu Druga" bread and macaroni factory, the "Semănătoarea" factory and the "Traiul" bread factory.The only branch of industry at the same level of development as other centers of the country was graphic art. The two printing houses "Ramuri" and "Scrisul Românesc" were well-known all over Romania and abroad.
Starting in the 1960s the city became a powerful industrial center; it developed industry in machinery, tools, aircraft, chemicals, food, light industry, construction materials, electronics, extraction, and energy. TheRomanian Revolution of 1989 led to important changes in the economy, with the introduction of a free market and decentralization of the management of all national economic sectors. In industry, an overall drop in production capacity was noted, caused by an inability to anticipate the impact of change and the economic shocks that followed the change of system. Nevertheless, industry continues to represent the largest sector of the city's economy (70%).
The suspended bridge in Nicolae Romanescu ParkConstantin Mihail Palace, now Art Museum
Madona Dudu Church – built between 1750 and 1756, renovated in 1844, after being destroyed by an 1831 earthquake.[citation needed] Murals were completed byGheorghe Tattarescu.
The Church of Coșuna Monastery – the oldest building preserved in Craiova, dating from 1483.[citation needed]
Băniei House – the oldest non-religious building that exists in Craiova, dating from 1699. Today it hosts the Museum of Ethnography and Folk Art.
Craiova Art Museum – the building that houses the museum was built in 1896, following the plans of the French architect Paul Gotereau. Its main attraction is the art gallery dedicated toConstantin Brâncuși, exhibiting six of his early sculptures (including variants of his best-known works)
Museum of Oltenia – founded in 1915 and divided into three sections: ethnography, history and natural science. The collection is based on donations made in 1908.
Nicolae Romanescu Park (formerly Bibescu Park) – the largest and most well-known park in Craiova. Through the initiative of Nicolae P. Romanescu, the mayor of Craiova at that time, the park was designed by French architect Émile Rendont. Plans for the park were awarded the gold medal at the1900 World Fair; work began in 1901 and was completed in 1903.
Botanical Garden – The garden was laid out by the botanist Alexandru Buia and was opened in 1952.
The first school in Craiova was founded in 1759 by Constantin Obedeanu. In the spring of 1826 Obedeanu's school took the nameȘcoala Naţională de Limba Română which meansNational School of Romanian Language. This was the second Romanian high school afterSaint Sava high school in Bucharest (founded in 1818).
The first football teams in Craiova appeared in 1921, Craiovan Craiova and Rovine Griviţa Craiova. They merged in 1940, forming a team,FC Craiova, that won the unofficial war championship. Later, another team from the city,Universitatea Craiova, became the first Romanian football team to reach the semi-finals of a European tournament, during theUEFA Cup in1982-83.
Public transportation in Craiova started in September 1948 with only 2 buses, received fromBucharest. The buses connected theCraiova railway station with theNicolae Romanescu Park. Thetram was first introduced in 1987, on an 18.4 km (11.43 mi) double-track line, as a result of the state's intention of keeping energy consumption low.Thepublic transport in Craiova today consists of 3 tram lines and 17 bus lines. It is operated by theRAT Craiova [ro], a corporation run by City Hall. There are 190 buses and 35 trams serving the city today.
Craiova is also a major railwaycentre and is connected to all other major Romanian cities, as well as local destinations, through the nationalCăile Ferate Române network.
There are daily trains with service from Craiova to:Bucharest (3 hours),Brașov (6 – 8 hours - via connecting service),Cluj-Napoca (8 – 10 hours - connecting service),Sibiu (4 – 7 hours),Sighișoara (8 – 11 hours - connecting service),Timișoara ( 5 hours)[citation needed]
The city is served byCraiova Airport, which has recently been modernised.
^abLaurențiu Rădvan,At Europe's Borders: Medieval Towns in the Romanian Principalities, Brill, 2010,ISBN9789004180109, p.272
^Fábián, Attila; Forman, Balázs (2011). "Románia" [Romania]. In Fábián, Attila (ed.).Alkalmazott strukturális politikák Közép-Európában [Applied structural policies in Central Europe](PDF) (in Hungarian). Sopron:University of Sopron. pp. 345–352.ISBN978-963-334-002-8. Retrieved8 August 2022. p. 346:Sud-Vest régió legnagyobb városa, Krajova (Dolzs megye központja) a Zsil folyó közelében fekszik. [The largest city in the Sud-Vest region, Craiova (the centre of Dolj County), is located near the river Jiu.]
^Leitner, Erich (5 April 2019)."Vom Balkanesel zum Verkaufsschlager" [From Balkan donkey to best seller](PDF). Wirtschaft.Junge Freiheit (in German).19 (15). Berlin: 10.ISSN0932-660X. Retrieved8 August 2022.Die 21.684 in Deutschland verkauften Mini-SUV EcoSport stammten von Ford România aus Krajowa (Királyi/Craiova). [The 21,684 EcoSport mini SUVs sold in Germany came from Ford Romania in Krajowa (Királyi/Craiova).]
Istoria Craiovei, Titu Georgescu, Constantin Barbacioru, Florea Firan, Virgil Joița, Constantin Mocanu, Luchian Deaconu, Ion Dogaru, Editura Scrisul Românesc, 1977
Florea Firan, Alexandru Firescu,Craiova, Ghidul orașului, Editura Sport-Tourism, 1982
Documentare statistică privind evoluția economică și socială a municipiului Craiova, Dolj County Statistical Office, 1992
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