Dolj County

Description:

Geographical situation

                It is situated in the south-western part of the country, at the frontier with Bulgaria, downstream Jiu, the county lands are bathed by the Danube's waters, in the south.

 

Neighbours

                In the west: Mehedinti, in the north: Gorj and Valcea Counties, in the east: Olt County, in the south: Dunarea and Bulgaria.

Surface

                7,414 square km (respectively 3,1% of the Country's surface).

 

Population

                756,000 inhabitants.

 

Towns

                Craiova, capital of the County, with 310,000 inhabitants, old crossroads and trade Centre where the mountain products were changed for plain ones. Other towns: BaiIesti, Calafat, FiIiasi, Segarcea.

 

Relief

                It has three regions, in North- the heights of the southern extremities of the Getic Piedmont, in the west, the Romanian Plain, and in the south, the Danube Meadow.

 

Climate

It is temperate continental characteristic of plain areas, with hot summers and mild winters, with 220 days a year with temperatures above 0°C and winds blowing from south-east, north-west, east-west. The medium temperature in January is -2°C and in July 23°C.

 

Watercourses

                The Danube in the southern extremity, with its tributary the Desnatuiu, and the Jiu, crossing from north to south, and its tributaries the Gilort, Motru, Argetoaia, Raznic - on the right side, Ameradia-on the left.

 

Tourist attractions

Preserves and monuments of nature

                The Ciumela Forest of Poiana Mare situated at 5 km away from Poiana Mare, on national road Calafat - Bechet -

Cernavoda.

                Ornitological Preserve in Ciupercenii situate on south of Calafat.

                Palaeontological Preserve in Bucovat, situated near Craiova.

                The Wild Peony Preserve in Plenita situated at 59 km away from Craiova.

               

                Other preserves and monuments of nature: The Cosoveni Forest ( situated at10 km west of Craiova on DN 6), a hunting area: pheasants and deer, The Radovan Forest ( situated at 30 km sway from Craiova on DN 56), The Braniste Forest - Grey oak.

 

There are several Historical Buildings:

                Bania's House in Craiova

                Glogoveanu House in Craiova

                Jianu House in Craiova

                The Popova Fountain in Craiova

                The Odobescu Fountain

                The Jianu Fountain in Craiova (1800)

                Other historical vestiges: Cula Poenarilor in  Almaj (18th century), Cotofeni House in Cotofenii din Fata (1653), Ruins of the Roman Camp Raced (1^st -3^rd  centuries A.D.), Archaeological Vestiges of Neolithic and Bronze Age in Cotofenii de Jos, of the Cotofeni culture.

 

Religious buildings

                Bucovat Monastery (5 km west of Craiova on DN55), interesting monument of Medieval art built between 1506 and 1512, with later repairs. It has a wall chronicle, unique in Wallachia.

                The ,,Sfantu Dumitru" Ruling Church in Craiova,the oldest architectural monument in Craiova, it was built by Matei Basarab in 1651 - 1652, on the place of an old church (15th century).

                Sadova Monastery it was built by the Craiovesti boyards (15th century), repaired by Matei Basarab, Constantin Brancoveanu.

                Jitianu Monastery in the village of Podari, monument from the 15~ century, rebuilt by Lady Balaca in 1655.

                Other religious buildings: Segarcea Monastery (16th century), ,,Sfantu Ilie" Church in Craiova

(1720), it was repaired by Gh. Tattarescu, ,,Sfantu Gheorghe Nou" Church in Craiova (1755), Laint

Emperors" Church in Craiova (1753), Madona Dudu Church in Craiova, it was built in 1929 on the place of an old one (1758).

 

Cultural buildings

                Art Museum in Craiova, in the Dinu Mihail Palace, it was built in 1867, following the plans of the French architect Paul Gottereau. The works exhibited belong to famous Romanian and foreign poets and sculptors (Th. Aman, N. Grigorescu, Gh. Tattarescu, 0. Bancila, St. Luchian, I. Jalea, 0. Paciurea. An important place is occupied by the work of the great master Constantin Brancusi (seven sculptures, among which the famous "The Kiss").

                Museum of Oltenia in Craiova, it was founded in 1915, with valuable pieces in its three departments (history, ethnography and natural sciences).

 

Monuments and statues

                Monument of 1877 at Calafat, in memory of the Independence War, from the Danube banks (near Calafat) the first cannon volleys were fired upon Vidinul.

                Cobuz Monument at Calafat, in honour of the heroes of the Independence War.

                Monument of 1907 in Craiova, in the Romanescu Park, in memory of the peasants who

died for better life.

                Other monuments and statues: The Statue of Tudor Viadimirescu in Craiova, The Statue of Alexandru loan Cuza in Craiova.