Rociu
Encyclopedia
Rociu is a commune in Argeş County
, in southern central Romania
. It is composed of four villages: Gliganu de Jos, Gliganu de Sus, Rociu and Şerbăneşti.
, from Şerbăneşti Village. Then, much later, the village Gliganu is mentioned, on June 12, 1564. The village belonged to a boyar from Rucăr
. According to the same source, all four villages are mentioned after 1830.
In the Communist
period, the commune received a strong impulse for economic growth: A 25 km long irrigation
canal was built to drain water from the Argeş River
. Rociu received special attention because there was built a farm of the Communist Party.
is 240 meters.
, like Mozacu River
and Gliganu River
. There are many small lakes, used for fishing
.
.
and the nearby villages:
The communal roads link the villages one to another:
. There are two major agricultural companies, a few mills, a small pig farm, a paper factory and a lot of small markets and pubs that provide the population with daily goods. There is a fair every Tuesday.
Since the economy is based on agriculture, the old irrigation canal might still be used. Today, it only brings water to local fishing lakes.
, is an important oil refinery
, the Arpechim Refinery
. Since its construction, nearly all the toxic waste was released in the river. In 2005, the situation was so bad, that water in the fountains was no longer drinkable, even for animals. The only solution to provide water for the inhabitants and their animals was to use the deep freatic waters (about 200 meters deep) and to build an extensive system of water pipes to every house. Today, the river is only occasionally polluted and even fish
have reappeared after more than 50 years.
is a protected area, Poiana cu Narcise Negraşi (or in English, Negraşi Daffodil Meadow
).
There is an old church in Şerbăneşti village, that is considered a touristic objective.
Arges County
Argeș is a county of Romania, in Wallachia, with the capital city at Pitești.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 652,625 and the population density was 95/km².*Romanians – 96%*Roma , and other.-Geography:...
, in southern central 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...
. It is composed of four villages: Gliganu de Jos, Gliganu de Sus, Rociu and Şerbăneşti.
History
The oldest relicves come from the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
, from Şerbăneşti Village. Then, much later, the village Gliganu is mentioned, on June 12, 1564. The village belonged to a boyar from Rucăr
Rucar
Rucăr is a commune in the north-eastern part of Argeş County, Romania. At the 2002 census, the population of the commune was 6,207. It is composed of two villages, Rucăr and Sătic....
. According to the same source, all four villages are mentioned after 1830.
In the Communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
period, the commune received a strong impulse for economic growth: A 25 km long irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
canal was built to drain water from the Argeş River
Arges River
Argeș is a river of Southern Romania. It starts at the junction of headwaters Buda and Capra in the Făgăraș Mountains, in the Southern Carpathians and flows into the Danube at Oltenița.The main city on the Argeş is Piteşti...
. Rociu received special attention because there was built a farm of the Communist Party.
Location
Rociu is situated in the southern part of the Argeş county, in the Găvanu-Burdea plains. It is situated 25 to 30 kilometers from Piteşti, the main town of the county. The average altitudeAltitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
is 240 meters.
Villages
There are 4 villages: Rociu, Gliganu de Jos, Gliganu de Sus and Şerbăneşti.| Village | Distance to center | Population | Number of firms | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rociu | Center | 662 | 17 | |
| Gliganu de Jos | 3 km West | 637 | 8 | |
| Gliganu de Sus | 6 km North-West | 971 | 8 | |
| Şerbăneşti | 8 km North | unknown | unknown |
Geography
The Găvanu-Burdea plain is a flat region, with large and fertile valleys. Rociu is situated close to the Dîmbovnic River (sometimes called Dâmbovnic or Drâmbovnic). There are a few smaller rivers that are dry in summerSummer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
, like Mozacu River
Mozacu River
The Mozacu River is a tributary of the Dâmbovnic River in Romania. It is situated in the southern art of Argeş County and passes through Teiu commune, through Leşile village and about 5 km East to Rociu. Sometimes, in summer, it dries up...
and Gliganu River
Gliganu River
The Gliganu River is a tributary of the Dâmbovnic River in Romania. It flows through Gliganu de Jos, a vilage in Rociu commune. Its main tributary is Gligănel, a river that flows through the village Gliganu de Sus, also in Rociu commune. Both rivers have sharp valleys and dry up in summer...
. There are many small lakes, used for fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
.
Climate
Rociu has a temperate climate, like all Romanian villages. Usually, summers are hot and winters have frequent winds.Demographics
According to the 2002 census, the commune has 3014 people, of which 2968 are Romanians and 46 are Gipsy (Roma people). Also, the population is dramatically aged: 40% are older than 60 years, and children are only 12% of the total population. 99% are OrthodoxEastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
.
Transportation
There are a few county roads that link the commune with PiteştiPitesti
Pitești is a city in Romania, located on the Argeș River. The capital and largest city of Argeș County, it is an important commercial and industrial center, as well as the home of two universities. Pitești is situated on the A1 freeway connecting it directly to the national capital Bucharest,...
and the nearby villages:
- DJ503 links Rociu with OarjaOarjaOarja is a commune in Argeş County, in southern central Romania. It is composed of two villages, Ceauşeşti and Oarja....
and the A1 Motorway. It is asphalted from the motorway to Rociu. The road continues South to GiurgiuGiurgiuGiurgiu 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...
, but it is unasphalted. - DJ659 links Rociu north with SuseniSuseniSuseni may refer to several places in Romania:* Suseni, Argeş* Suseni, Harghita* Suseni, Mureş* Suseni, a village in Bogaţi Commune, Argeş County* Suseni, a village in Runcu, Gorj* Suseni, a village in Râu de Mori Commune, Hunedoara County...
, BraduBraduBradu is a commune in Argeş County, in southern central Romania. It is composed of two villages, Bradu and Geamăna....
and PiteştiPitestiPitești is a city in Romania, located on the Argeș River. The capital and largest city of Argeș County, it is an important commercial and industrial center, as well as the home of two universities. Pitești is situated on the A1 freeway connecting it directly to the national capital Bucharest,...
and to the south it continues to NegraşiNegrasiNegraşi is a commune in Argeş County, in southern central Romania. It is composed of four villages: Bârlogu, Buta, Mozacu and Negraşi.Near Negraşi is situated Poiana cu Narcise Negraşi , a natural reservation....
, VideleVideleVidele is a town in Teleorman County, southern Romania, with a population of 12,015 in 2002. It was upgraded to town status in 1968 by incorporation of a few villages nearby...
and GiurgiuGiurgiuGiurgiu 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...
. It is asphalted. - DJ703b is unasphalted and links Rociu to CosteştiCostestiCosteşti is a town in Argeş county, Wallachia, Romania. The population was 10,868.The town administers six villages: Broşteni, Lăceni, Pârvu Roşu, Podu Broşteni, Smei and Stârci....
in the west and to CăteascaCateascaCăteasca is a commune in Argeş County, in southern central Romania. It is composed of seven villages: Catanele, Căteasca, Cireşu, Coşeri, Gruiu, Recea and Siliştea.-References:...
in the east.
The communal roads link the villages one to another:
- DC104 links DJ659 (in Gliganu de Jos) with DJ 503 (in Rociu village) and then extends West to CăteascaCateascaCăteasca is a commune in Argeş County, in southern central Romania. It is composed of seven villages: Catanele, Căteasca, Cireşu, Coşeri, Gruiu, Recea and Siliştea.-References:...
. It is asphalted between Gliganu and Rociu. - DC106 links the centre of Rociu village with Şerbăneşti village and DJ659. It was recently asphalted.
Economy
There are no major firms in the area. The main occupation is agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. There are two major agricultural companies, a few mills, a small pig farm, a paper factory and a lot of small markets and pubs that provide the population with daily goods. There is a fair every Tuesday.
Since the economy is based on agriculture, the old irrigation canal might still be used. Today, it only brings water to local fishing lakes.
Institutions
The town hall is located in the Rociu village. Near the town hall are the post office and the Veterinarian and Human services. Not far away is the politic centre, of the Social Democratic Party. There is a school and a church in each village.Environmental problems
Upstream, on the Dîmbovnic RiverRiver
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
, is an important oil refinery
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
, the Arpechim Refinery
Arpechim Refinery
Arpechim Refinery is one of the largest Romanian refineries and one of the largest in Eastern Europe, located in Piteşti, Argeş County, and has both refining and petrochemical capacities. The refinery has two processing modules with a nominal capacity of 6.5 million tonnes/year. Now only one of...
. Since its construction, nearly all the toxic waste was released in the river. In 2005, the situation was so bad, that water in the fountains was no longer drinkable, even for animals. The only solution to provide water for the inhabitants and their animals was to use the deep freatic waters (about 200 meters deep) and to build an extensive system of water pipes to every house. Today, the river is only occasionally polluted and even fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
have reappeared after more than 50 years.
Tourism
Rociu is not a tourist destination and has no hotels or camp sites. However, not far away, in NegraşiNegrasi
Negraşi is a commune in Argeş County, in southern central Romania. It is composed of four villages: Bârlogu, Buta, Mozacu and Negraşi.Near Negraşi is situated Poiana cu Narcise Negraşi , a natural reservation....
is a protected area, Poiana cu Narcise Negraşi (or in English, Negraşi Daffodil Meadow
Negraşi Daffodil Meadow
The Negraşi Daffodil Meadow is a protected area near Negraşi Commune, in Argeş County, Romania. It was declared as a natural reservation on June 24, 1966.-Position and accesibility:...
).
There is an old church in Şerbăneşti village, that is considered a touristic objective.