Breaza
Encyclopedia
Breaza (ˈbre̯aza) is a town in Prahova County
, Romania
, with a population of 18,863.
The town was first documented in an act of 1503, mentioning a certain trader of Breaza called "Neagoe". In 1622 the land of Breaza was divided between four boyar
s and in 1717, the new ruler of Wallachia
, Nicolae Mavrocordat gave the Breaza estate to boyar Iordache Creţulescu. The land was divided by the agrarian reform of 1921 and in 1935 it was declared a spa.
The town's name is a feminine form of the Romanian word "breaz", meaning "courageous".
It consists of at least two villages, Podu Vadului and Breaza de Sus, which merged. Today, ten villages are administratively part of the town: Breaza de Jos, Breaza de Sus, Frăsinet, Gura Beliei, Irimeşti, Nistoreşti, Podu Corbului, Podu Vadului, Surdeşti and Valea Târsei. One of the main occupations is farming, and traditional needlework, but many inhabitants also commute to work in the neighboring towns of Comarnic
and Câmpina
. Tourism is also important for the local economy, and many locals rent out rooms in the summer months.
Due to its naturally beautiful surroundings, being located among rolling hills, the town has long been popular with inhabitants of Bucharest
, who tend to have vacation homes here. Among the people who are rumored to have second residences in Breaza are Adrian Păunescu
and Valentin Ceauşescu
.
It is also the site of a folk art museum and a military high school.
Prahova County
Prahova is a county of Romania, in the historical region Muntenia, with the capital city at Ploieşti.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 829,945 and the population density was 176/km². It is Romania's most populated county, having a population density double than the country's mean...
, 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...
, with a population of 18,863.
The town was first documented in an act of 1503, mentioning a certain trader of Breaza called "Neagoe". In 1622 the land of Breaza was divided between four boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
s and in 1717, the new ruler of Wallachia
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...
, Nicolae Mavrocordat gave the Breaza estate to boyar Iordache Creţulescu. The land was divided by the agrarian reform of 1921 and in 1935 it was declared a spa.
The town's name is a feminine form of the Romanian word "breaz", meaning "courageous".
It consists of at least two villages, Podu Vadului and Breaza de Sus, which merged. Today, ten villages are administratively part of the town: Breaza de Jos, Breaza de Sus, Frăsinet, Gura Beliei, Irimeşti, Nistoreşti, Podu Corbului, Podu Vadului, Surdeşti and Valea Târsei. One of the main occupations is farming, and traditional needlework, but many inhabitants also commute to work in the neighboring towns of Comarnic
Comarnic
Comarnic is a town in Prahova County, Romania, with a population of 13,500. Four villages are administered by the town: Ghioşeşti, Podu Lung, Poiana and Posada....
and Câmpina
Câmpina
Câmpina is a city in Prahova county, Romania, north of the county seat Ploieşti, located on the main route between Wallachia and Transylvania. In 2003, the city celebrated 500 years since its founding.-History:...
. Tourism is also important for the local economy, and many locals rent out rooms in the summer months.
Due to its naturally beautiful surroundings, being located among rolling hills, the town has long been popular with inhabitants of Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, who tend to have vacation homes here. Among the people who are rumored to have second residences in Breaza are Adrian Păunescu
Adrian Paunescu
Adrian Păunescu was a Romanian poet, journalist, and politician. Though criticised for praising dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu, Păunescu was called "Romania's most famous poet" in a Associated Press story, quoted by the New York Times.-Life:Born in Copăceni, Bălţi County, in what is now the Republic...
and Valentin Ceauşescu
Valentin Ceausescu
Valentin Ceaușescu is a Romanian physicist.Valentin is the son of former President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena Ceaușescu...
.
It is also the site of a folk art museum and a military high school.