• Home
• Site Map
• Special Offers
• Links
• Maps
• About_Us
• Contact Us

• MAIN CITIES
• Bucharest
• Alba Iulia
• Arad
• Baia Mare
• Brasov
• Braila
• Cluj-Napoca
• Constanta
• Craiova
• Galati
• Iasi
• Oradea
• Satu Mare
• Sibiu
• Sighisoara
• Suceava
• Timisoara
• Targu Jiu
• Targu Mures
• Tulcea

CRAIOVA [kra’yova]

City Highlights 

The university town of Craiova, founded on the site of the Dacian stronghold Pelendava (which later became the Roman Castra Nova), prides itself on the strong academic tradition and wealth of important historical figures who passed through here on their journey to fame: Wallachian Prince Mihai Viteazu - who served as the ban (military governor) of Craiova and achieved the first unification of the three Romanian principalities in 1600, the world-famous sculptor Constantin Brancusi - who studied at the Craiova Art School (Scola de Arte si Meserii) between 1894 - 1898 and carved his first sculptures here, and Craiova-born Petrache Poenary (1799- 1875) - inventor of the first cartridge fountain pen.

Interesting fact:

• The majority of train locomotives in Romania originated at the
  Electroputere workshops in Craiova.
• In 1913, the treaty of peace which ended the Balkan War,
  treaty known in history as The Peace from Craiova, was signed here.
• The bans had the right of coining money stamped with their own effigies,
  hence the name of bani (centimes) in Romanian language.

Landmarks

The city hosts a great number of religious buildings, many of them dating back to medieval times. The Church of Cosuna Monastery for example is the oldest building preserved in Craiova, dating from the 15th century. You can spend a relaxing afternoon visiting the monastery, located only 2.1 miles outside of the city centre. Another religious site, Madona Dudu Church, is renowned for its mural paintings, completed by the famous Romanian painter Gheorghe Tattarescu (1818 – 1894).

For those who want to find out more about the history and the traditions of this region we recommend a visit to the Oltenia Museum, housed in Baniei House (1699), the oldest non-religious building that exists in Craiova and one of the oldest lay buildings in the country.

Art lovers should definitely not miss the Art Museum in Craiova, hosted in the Dinu Mihail Palace, built in the early 1900s in neo-classic style by a French architect. The Museum exhibits valuable masterpieces created by famous Romanian painters, among them Craiova-born Theodor Aman (1831 - 1891) and Nicolae Grigorescu (1838 – 1907). One of its main attractions is the section dedicated to Constantin Brancusi, comprising six of his early sculptures.

At the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, Craiova’s architecture underwent a transformation with the creation of  the Brancovenesti style, a combination of Romanian traditional art, Byzantine and Venetian elements. Churches still displaying elements of the Brancovenesti style include: the Saint Ilie Church / Biserica Sfantu Ilie, built in 1720 by Ilie Oteteleseanu and the great tradesmen of the town, the All Saints Church / Biserica Tuturor Sfintilor (1700), the Old Saint Gheorghe Church / Biserica Sfantu Gheorghe Vechi (1730), the Obedeanu Monastery / Manastirea Obedeanu (1747), the Mantuleasa Church / Biserica Mantuleasa (1786), the Saint Nicolas Church / Biserica Sfantul Nicolae (1794).

The Jitianu Monk Monastery, located 4.6 miles south of the city centre, was built under the guidance of Lady Balasa, wife of  ruler Constantin Basarab Carnu (1654- 1658), and houses a rich collection of medieval art objects.

For those interested in enjoying a relaxing afternoon outside, the Nicolae Romanescu Park, is a veritable green oasis. The park is one of the valuable monuments of landscape architecture in Romania. The plans for the park, designed by French architect Emile Rendont, were awarded the gold medal at the 1900 World Fair. Through the initiative of Nicolae P. Romanescu, then mayor of Craiova, work on the park began in 1901 and was completed in 1903.

For the ones who want to experience the nature more scientifically, a stop at the Botanical Garden would be the best choice.

Museums

Craiova Art Museum

Museum of Oltenia

Day Trips

Targu Jiu

Horezu Monastery & Horezu Pottery Centre

Curtea de Arges

City Essentials

Transportation

Entire contents © 1994-2016 RomaniaTourism
All rights reserved. RomaniaTourism's prior written permission is required before parts of this Website may be reproduced in any form. The contents of this Website are for information purposes only and are not to be taken as endorsements or warranties of any kind. RomaniaTourism shall have no liability for errors, omissions or inadequacies of the information contained in this Website or for any interpretations of that information.