Braila
Encyclopedia
Brăila is a city in Muntenia
, eastern Romania
, a port on the Danube
and the capital of Brăila County
, in the close vicinity of Galaţi
.
According to the 2002 Romanian census there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila, making it the 10th most populous city in Romania.
A settlement at this location on the left bank of the Danube, in Wallachia
, was mentioned with the name Drinago in a Spanish
Libro de conoscimiento ("Book of knowledge", circa 1350) and in several Catalan portolan chart
s (Angelino de Dalorto, 1325/1330 and Angelino Dulcert
, 1339). This may have been an erroneous transcription of Brillago. In Greek
documents of roughly that time, the city is referred to as Proilabum or Proilava, a Greek language adaptation of its Slavic
name, Brailov. In German language
sources, it is mentioned as Uebereyl. The origin and meaning of the name is unknown.
As a kaza, the town and its surrounding area was controlled by Ottoman Turks
from 1538–1540 until 1829 (it was restored to Wallachia through the Akkerman Convention
); the Ottomans called it Ibrail or Ibraila.
Brăila was attacked, plundered, and set fire to by the forces of Moldavia
n Prince Stephen the Great
on February 2, 1470, during the retaliation campaign against Wallachian Prince Radu the Fair
, who had allied himself with the Ottomans. It was briefly ruled by Michael the Brave, prince of Wallachia (1595–1596).
During the 19th century, the port became one of the three most important ports on the Danube in Wallachia, the other two being Turnu and Giurgiu
. The city's greatest period of prosperity was at the end of the 19th century and in the early 20th century, when it was an important port for most of the merchandise coming in and going out of Romania.
After the 1989 Revolution
, Brăila entered a period of economic decline.
According to the last census, from 2002, there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila. The ethnic makeup is as follows:
For 2010, Brăila has an estimated population of 210,245.
, Islaz and Chercea.
Streets radiating from near the port towards Brăila's center are crossed at symmetrical intervals by concentric streets following the geometric design of the old Ottoman fortifications.
The old center of the city has many 19th century buildings, some of them fully restored. The most important monuments are the Greek Church, erected at 1865 by the Greek community, the Sfinţii Arhangheli Church, former jāmi
during the Ottoman rule (until 1831), the 19th century Sfântul Nicolae Church, also from the 19th century, the Maria Filotti theatre
, the Palace of Culture and its Art Museum, the History Museum, and the old Water Tower. The latter houses a restaurant and a rotation system (360° in one hour).
Another important site is the Public Garden, a park situated above the bank of the Danube with a view over the river and the Măcin Mountains
. Early in 2006 the municipality received European Union
funds to renovate the old center of the city, aiming to transform Brăila into a major tourist attraction of Muntenia.
The Church of the Holy Archangels is the oldest in the city. Begun in 1667, the former mosque was transformed into an Orthodox Church in 1808.
lines in Romania, inaugurated at the end of the 19th century and still in use. Brăila's bus system is operated by the town hall in cooperation with Braicar Company, with four primary bus configurations available servicing most of the city.
, and in 2009 ArenaTV established a regional production office.
with: Pleven
in Bulgaria
. Calais
in France
. Argostoli
in Greece
. Katerini
in Greece
. Bitola
in Macedonia
. Kavadarci
in Macedonia
. Denizli
in Turkey
. Nilüfer in Turkey
.
Muntenia
Muntenia is a historical province of Romania, usually considered Wallachia-proper . It is situated between the Danube , the Carpathian Mountains and Moldavia , and the Olt River to the west...
, eastern Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, a port on the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
and the capital of Brăila County
Braila County
Brăila is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Brăila.- Demographics :In 2002, Brăila had a population of 373,174 and the population density was 78/km².*Romanians – 98%*Romas, Russians, Lipovans, Aromanians and others....
, in the close vicinity of Galaţi
Galati
Galați is a city and municipality in Romania, the capital of Galați County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, in the close vicinity of Brăila, Galați is the largest port and sea port on the Danube River and the second largest Romanian port....
.
According to the 2002 Romanian census there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila, making it the 10th most populous city in Romania.
History
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
, was mentioned with the name Drinago in a Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
Libro de conoscimiento ("Book of knowledge", circa 1350) and in several Catalan portolan chart
Portolan chart
Portolan charts are navigational maps based on realistic descriptions of harbours and coasts. They were first made in the 14th century in Italy, Portugal and Spain...
s (Angelino de Dalorto, 1325/1330 and Angelino Dulcert
Angelino Dulcert
Angelino Dulcert , probably also the same person known as Angelino de Dalorto , and who's real name was probably Angelino de Dulceto or Dulceti or possibly Angelí Dolcet, was an Italian-Majorcan cartographer....
, 1339). This may have been an erroneous transcription of Brillago. In Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
documents of roughly that time, the city is referred to as Proilabum or Proilava, a Greek language adaptation of its Slavic
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
name, Brailov. In German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
sources, it is mentioned as Uebereyl. The origin and meaning of the name is unknown.
As a kaza, the town and its surrounding area was controlled by Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
from 1538–1540 until 1829 (it was restored to Wallachia through the Akkerman Convention
Akkerman Convention
The Akkerman Convention was a treaty signed on October 7, 1826 between the Russian and the Ottoman Empires in the Budjak citadel of Akkerman . It imposed that the hospodars of Moldavia and Wallachia be elected by their respective Divans for seven-year terms, with the approval of both Powers...
); the Ottomans called it Ibrail or Ibraila.
Brăila was attacked, plundered, and set fire to by the forces of Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
n Prince Stephen the Great
Stephen III of Moldavia
Stephen III of Moldavia was Prince of Moldavia between 1457 and 1504 and the most prominent representative of the House of Mușat.During his reign, he strengthened Moldavia and maintained its independence against the ambitions of Hungary, Poland, and the...
on February 2, 1470, during the retaliation campaign against Wallachian Prince Radu the Fair
Radu cel Frumos
Radu III the Fair, Radu III the Handsome or Radu III the Beautiful , also known by his Turkish name Radu Bey , was the younger brother of Vlad Ţepeş and voivode of the principality of Wallachia, of the four brothers he converted to Islam and entered Ottoman service...
, who had allied himself with the Ottomans. It was briefly ruled by Michael the Brave, prince of Wallachia (1595–1596).
During the 19th century, the port became one of the three most important ports on the Danube in Wallachia, the other two being Turnu and Giurgiu
Giurgiu
Giurgiu is the capital city of Giurgiu County, Romania, in the Greater Wallachia. It is situated amid mud-flats and marshes on the left bank of the Danube facing the Bulgarian city of Rousse on the opposite bank. Three small islands face the city, and a larger one shelters its port, Smarda...
. The city's greatest period of prosperity was at the end of the 19th century and in the early 20th century, when it was an important port for most of the merchandise coming in and going out of Romania.
After the 1989 Revolution
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
, Brăila entered a period of economic decline.
Demographics
| Historical population of Brăila | |||||||||||||
| Year | Population | %± | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 58,392 | — | |||||||||||
| 1912 census | 65,053 | 11.4% | |||||||||||
| 1930 census | 68,347 | 5% | |||||||||||
| 1948 census | 95,514 | 39.7% | |||||||||||
| 1956 census | 102,500 | 7.3% | |||||||||||
| 1966 census | 138,802 | 35.4% | |||||||||||
| 1977 census | 194,633 | 40.2% | |||||||||||
| 1992 census | 234,110 | 20.2% | |||||||||||
| 2002 census | 216,292 | −7.6% | |||||||||||
| 2007 estimate | 215,316 | −0.4% | |||||||||||
According to the last census, from 2002, there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila. The ethnic makeup is as follows:
- RomaniansRomaniansThe Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
: 97.25% - LipovansLipovansLipovans or Lippovans are the Old Believers, mostly of Russian ethnic origin, who settled in the Moldavian Principality, in Dobruja and Eastern Muntenia...
: 1.6% - Roma: 0.71%
- GreeksGreeksThe Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
: 0.14% - Other: 0.3%
For 2010, Brăila has an estimated population of 210,245.
Economy
Accessible to small and medium-sized oceangoing ships, Brăila has large grain-handling and warehousing facilities. It is also an important industrial center, with metalworking, textile, food-processing, and other factories.Cityscape
Brăila has the following areas: Centru (Center), Viziru (1, 2, 3), Călăraşi 4, Ansamblul Buzăului, Radu Negru, Obor, Hipodrom, Lacu Dulce, Dorobanţi, 1 Mai, Comorofca, Calea Galaţi, Gării, Apollo, Siret, Pisc, Brăiliţa, Vidin-ProgresulVidin-Progresul
Vidin-Progresul is a neighborhood located in the NNE of Brăila, Romania roughly between "Calea Galaţi" and Izlaz .-History:...
, Islaz and Chercea.
Landmarks
The old center of the city has many 19th century buildings, some of them fully restored. The most important monuments are the Greek Church, erected at 1865 by the Greek community, the Sfinţii Arhangheli Church, former jāmi
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
during the Ottoman rule (until 1831), the 19th century Sfântul Nicolae Church, also from the 19th century, the Maria Filotti theatre
Maria Filotti theatre
The Maria Filotti is a theatre in Brăila, Romania.The theatre was built in 1896 as "Teatrul Rally". In 1919, it was renamed "Teatrul Comunal" , in 1949, "Teatrul del Stat Brăila - Galaţi" , and in 1969, acquired its present name, in honour of the Romanian actress, Maria Filotti .The theatre has 369...
, the Palace of Culture and its Art Museum, the History Museum, and the old Water Tower. The latter houses a restaurant and a rotation system (360° in one hour).
Another important site is the Public Garden, a park situated above the bank of the Danube with a view over the river and the Măcin Mountains
Macin Mountains
The Măcin Mountains is a mountain range in Tulcea County, Dobrogea, Romania. Part of the Northern Dobruja Massif, they are located between Danube River to the north and west, Taiţa River and Culmea Niculiţelului to the east and Casimcea Plateau to the south...
. Early in 2006 the municipality received European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
funds to renovate the old center of the city, aiming to transform Brăila into a major tourist attraction of Muntenia.
The Church of the Holy Archangels is the oldest in the city. Begun in 1667, the former mosque was transformed into an Orthodox Church in 1808.
Transport
Brăila features one of the oldest electrical tramTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
lines in Romania, inaugurated at the end of the 19th century and still in use. Brăila's bus system is operated by the town hall in cooperation with Braicar Company, with four primary bus configurations available servicing most of the city.
Local media
The city has several local newspapers, including Obiectiv-Vocea Brăilei, Monitorul de Brăila, Ziarul de Brăila and Arcaşu. It also has three television stations: Mega TV, and the local stations of Antena 1 and Pro TVPro TV
Launched in December 1995, Pro TV reaches almost 99% of Romania’s 21.5 million people and has 48% of its broadcast schedule comprising locally-produced programs...
, and in 2009 ArenaTV established a regional production office.
Natives
- Nicu Alifantis
- Petre Andrei
- Ana AslanAna AslanAna Aslan was a Romanian biologist and physician. She is considered to be a founding figure of gerontology and geriatrics in Romania. In 1952, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Ana Aslan, the Geriatric Institute in Bucharest was founded...
- Anton Bacalbaşa
- Beatrice CăslaruBeatrice CaslaruBeatrice Căslaru-Coadă is a former medley swimmer from Romania, who competed in three consequentive Summer Olympics for her native country, starting in 1996...
- Anişoara Cuşmir-StanciuAnisoara Cusmir-StanciuAnişoara Cuşmir-Stanciu . is a former Romanian athlete who competed mainly in the Long Jump.Cuşmir-Stanciu improved the long jump world record four times between 1982 and 1983. She lost to Heike Daute of East Germany in the 1983 World Championships at Helsinki...
- Hariclea DarcléeHariclea DarcléeHariclea Darclée was a celebrated Romanian operatic soprano. She possessed an agile, powerful, and beautiful voice that was wielded with a fine technique. An extremely beautiful woman, Darclée's stage presence was as elegant and refined as her singing...
- Anton Dumitriu
- Constantin von EconomoConstantin von EconomoConstantin Freiherr von Economo was a Romanian psychiatrist and neurologist of Greek origin. He is mostly known for his discovery of encephalitis lethargica and his atlas of cytoarchitectonics.- Youth and schooling :Constantin Freiherr Economo von San Serff was born in Brăila, Romania, to Greek...
- Andreas EmbirikosAndreas EmbirikosAndreas Embirikos was a Greek surrealist poet and the first Greek psychoanalyst.-Life:...
- Maria FilottiMaria FilottiMaria Filotti was a Romanian actress of Greek origin...
- Liviu Floda
- Nae IonescuNae IonescuNae Ionescu was a Romanian philosopher, logician, mathematician, professor, and journalist. Near the end of his career, he became known for his antisemitism and devotion to far right politics, in the years leading up to World War II.-Life:...
- Panait IstratiPanait IstratiPanait Istrati was a Romanian writer of French and Romanian expression, nicknamed The Maxim Gorky of the Balkans. Istrati was first noted for the depiction of one homosexual character in his work.-Early life:...
- Joseph M. JuranJoseph M. JuranJoseph Moses Juran was a 20th century management consultant who is principally remembered as an evangelist for quality and quality management, writing several influential books on those subjects. He was the brother of Academy Award winner Nathan H...
- Antigone KefalaAntigone KefalaAntigone Kefala is a contemporary Australian poet and prose-writer of Greek-Romanian heritage. She has also been a teacher, and a member of the Literature Board of the Australia Council....
- Manea MănescuManea ManescuManea Mănescu was a former Romanian communist politician who served as Prime Minister for five years during Nicolae Ceauşescu's Communist regime....
- Gheorghe MihocGheorghe MihocGheorghe Mihoc was a famous Romanian statistician. He was born in Brăila, the son of a worker.In 1908, his father moved the family to Bucharest. Here he attended elementary school and the Gheorghe Şincai high school...
- Mina MinoviciMina MinoviciMina Minovici was a Romanian forensic scientist, famous for his extensive research regarding cadaverous alkaloids, putrefaction, simulated mind diseases, and criminal anthropology...
- Diana MocanuDiana MocanuDiana Iuliana Mocanu is a former Romanian swimmer. She won gold medals in the 100 meter backstroke and the 200 meter backstroke at the 2000 Summer Olympics. She also won in the 200 meter backstroke at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships.- External links :*...
- Jean MoscopolJean MoscopolJean Moscopol was a Romanian singer of the interwar period.-Biography:Moscopol's parents were Greeks. His mother, née Constantinidi, was from Constanţa, while his father originated in Mesembria on the shores of the Aegean Sea. From there he settled in Brăila, where he opened a pastry shop and then...
- Serge MoscoviciSerge MoscoviciSerge Moscovici is a Romanian-born French social psychologist, currently the director of the Laboratoire Européen de Psychologie Sociale , which he co-founded in 1974 at the Maison des sciences de l'homme in Paris...
- Gheorghe Munteanu MurgociGheorghe Munteanu MurgociGheorghe Munteanu Murgoci was a renowned Romanian geologist, founder of the South-Eastern European Studies Institute in Bucharest. He was a member of the Romanian Academy....
- Valeriu NiculescuValeriu NiculescuValeriu "Sony" Niculescu was a Romanian football striker.-Notes: The Divizia A 1940–41 was the last season before World War II and the Divizia A 1946–47 was the first one after, so the appearances and goals scored during this period for Unirea Tricolor Bucureşti, Lares Bucureşti and Ciocanul...
- PerpessiciusPerpessiciusPerpessicius was a Romanian literary historian and critic, poet, essayist and fiction writer. One of the prominent literary chroniclers of the Romanian interwar, he stood apart in his generation for having thrown his support behind the modernist and avant-garde currents of Romanian literature...
- Gheorghe PetraşcuGheorghe PetrascuGheorghe Petraşcu was a Romanian painter. He won numerous prizes throughout his lifetime and had his paintings exhibited posthumously at the Paris International Exhibition and the Venice Biennale. He was the brother of N. Petraşcu, a literary critic and novelist.-External links:**...
- Camelia PotecCamelia PotecCamelia Potec is a female Romanian swimmer, who won the gold medal in the women's 200 m freestyle final at the 2004 Summer Olympics.She won the Mare Nostrum in 2004.-References:* *...
- Johnny RăducanuJohnny RaducanuJohnny Răducanu was a Romanian jazz pianist of Romani ethnic background, whose family has a long musical tradition dating back to the 17th century....
- Mihail SebastianMihail Sebastian-Life:Sebastian was born to a Jewish family in Brăila. After finishing his secondary studies, Sebastian went on to study law in Bucharest, but was soon attracted to the literary life and the exciting ideas of the new generation of Romanian intellectuals, as epitomized by the literary group...
- Tudorel StoicaTudorel StoicaTudorel Stoica is a retired Romanian footballer who played as a central midfielder.-Club career:...
- Vasilica Tastaman
- Christos TsaganeasChristos TsaganeasHristos Tsaganeas was a Greek actor and a cinematographer.-Biography:Tsaganeas was born in Brăila, Romania on July 2, 1906 and died on July 2, 1976. He starred in several movies, his most famous role being the college headmaster in To xylo vgike ap' ton paradeiso...
- Ilarie VoroncaIlarie VoroncaIlarie Voronca was a Romanian-French avant-garde poet and essayist.Voronca was of Jewish ethnicity...
- Iannis XenakisIannis XenakisIannis Xenakis was a Romanian-born Greek ethnic, naturalized French composer, music theorist, and architect-engineer. He is commonly recognized as one of the most important post-war avant-garde composers...
- Ionut- Catalin Banica
- Florin Valeriu Mihalache
Twin towns - sister cities
Brăila is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Pleven
Pleven
Pleven is the seventh most populous city in Bulgaria. Located in the northern part of the country, it is the administrative centre of Pleven Province, as well as of the subordinate Pleven municipality...
in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Argostoli
Argostoli
Argostoli is a town and a former municipality on the island of Kefalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kefalonia, of which it is a municipal unit...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Katerini
Katerini
Katerini is a town in Central Macedonia, Greece, the capital of Pieria regional unit. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mt. Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude of 14 m. The town, which is one of the newest in Greece, has a population of 83,764...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Bitola
Bitola
Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...
in Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. Kavadarci
Kavadarci
Kavadarci is a town located in the Tikveš region of the Republic of Macedonia. Situated in the heart of Macedonia’s wine country, it is home to the largest winery in south-eastern Europe, named after the Tikveš plain. The town of Kavadarci is the seat of Kavadarci Municipality...
in Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. Denizli
Denizli
Denizli is a growing industrial city in the Southwestern part of Turkey and the eastern end of the alluvial valley formed by the river Büyük Menderes, where the plain reaches an elevation of about a hundred meters. Denizli is located in southwestern Turkey, in the country's Aegean Region.The city...
in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Nilüfer in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.