Râmnicu Vâlcea
Encyclopedia
Râmnicu Vâlcea (population: 107,726) is the capital city of Vâlcea County
, Romania
(in the historical province of Oltenia
).
, the city is located at about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) the Cozia Mountains and about 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) from the Făgăraş
and Lotrului Mountains. The southern limit of Râmnicu Vâlcea is formed by the Getic Plateau and the Oltului Valley
.
The Olt River
crosses the town of Râmnicu Vâlcea as well as the E81 road of European interest and one of the main national railway routes.
n and Roman
times, and was the site of a castrum
. A new fortress was built on the location during the Middle Ages
. Râmnicu Vâlcea was first attested during the rule of Prince Mircea cel Bătrân, as "the princely town of Râmnic" (September 4, 1388), and confirmed as the seat of a Vâlcea County during the same period (January 8, 1392).
The town seal dates to 1505. Cetăţuia, the actual fortress, served as the residence of Oltenian Bans
and, from 1504, of Orthodox
bishop
s; in 1543, Prince Radu de la Afumaţi was killed in Cetăţuia by a boyar
conspiracy.
During the rules of Matei Basarab
and Constantin Brâncoveanu
, it became an important cultural center. It was here where the first paper mill
and printing press
in Romania were built (see Anthim the Iberian
). The city was heavily damaged during the Habsburg
takeover of Oltenia between 1718 and 1739, and its purpose was again reduced to that of a fortress.
During the Wallachian Revolution, on July 29, 1848, Deşteaptă-te, române!
(the national anthem
of Romania), with lyrics written by Andrei Mureşanu
and music composed by Anton Pann
(whose memorial house lies in the center of the town), was sung for the first time in Râmnicu Vâlcea. Gheorghe Magheru
gathered his military force in Râureni, now part of the city, in an attempt to face the anti-revolutionary forces of Imperial Russia and the Ottoman Empire
.
In the 1980s, the city was completely rebuilt in a style combining Socialist realism
with local vernacular architecture
.
Râmnicu Vâlcea has gained some notoriety as an alleged global centre for cybercrime
more recently.
. The Râmnicu Vâlcea Municipal Council, elected in the June 2004 local government elections, is made up of 23 councillors, with the following party composition:
Râmnicu Vâlcea (45.1°N 24.3°E) was the center and peak point of the path of total darkness of the 1999 Solar Eclipse at noon of August 11.
is a women handball
club which competes in the Liga Naţională and the Women's Champions League.
Vâlcea County
Vâlcea is a county of Romania, in the historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia...
, 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...
(in the historical province of Oltenia
Oltenia
Oltenia is a historical province and geographical region of Romania, in western Wallachia. It is situated between the Danube, the Southern Carpathians and the Olt river ....
).
Geography and climate
Râmnicu Vâlcea is situated in the central-south area of Romania. Set at the foothills of the Southern CarpathiansSouthern Carpathians
The Southern Carpathians or the Transylvanian Alps are a group of mountain ranges which divide central and southern Romania, on one side, and Serbia, on the other side. They cover part of the Carpathian Mountains that is located between the Prahova River in the east and the Timiș and Cerna Rivers...
, the city is located at about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) the Cozia Mountains and about 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) from the Făgăraş
Fagaras Mountains
Făgăraș Mountains , are the highest mountains of the Southern Carpathians, in Romania. The highest peaks are Moldoveanu , Negoiu , Viștea Mare , Lespezi , Vânătoarea lui Buteanu , and Dara .They are bordered in the north by the Făgăraș Depression, through which the Olt river flows, and in the west...
and Lotrului Mountains. The southern limit of Râmnicu Vâlcea is formed by the Getic Plateau and the Oltului Valley
Olt River
The Olt River is a river in Romania. It is the longest river flowing exclusively through Romania. Its source is in the Hăşmaş Mountains of the eastern Carpathian Mountains, near the village Bălan. It flows through the Romanian counties Harghita, Covasna, Braşov, Sibiu, Vâlcea and Olt...
.
The Olt River
Olt River
The Olt River is a river in Romania. It is the longest river flowing exclusively through Romania. Its source is in the Hăşmaş Mountains of the eastern Carpathian Mountains, near the village Bălan. It flows through the Romanian counties Harghita, Covasna, Braşov, Sibiu, Vâlcea and Olt...
crosses the town of Râmnicu Vâlcea as well as the E81 road of European interest and one of the main national railway routes.
History
The area has been inhabited since DaciaDacia
In ancient geography, especially in Roman sources, Dacia was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Getae as they were known by the Greeks—the branch of the Thracians north of the Haemus range...
n and Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
times, and was the site of a castrum
Castra
The Latin word castra, with its singular castrum, was used by the ancient Romans to mean buildings or plots of land reserved to or constructed for use as a military defensive position. The word appears in both Oscan and Umbrian as well as in Latin. It may have descended from Indo-European to Italic...
. A new fortress was built on the location during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Râmnicu Vâlcea was first attested during the rule of Prince Mircea cel Bătrân, as "the princely town of Râmnic" (September 4, 1388), and confirmed as the seat of a Vâlcea County during the same period (January 8, 1392).
The town seal dates to 1505. Cetăţuia, the actual fortress, served as the residence of Oltenian Bans
Ban (title)
Ban was a title used in several states in central and south-eastern Europe between the 7th century and the 20th century.-Etymology:The word ban has entered the English language probably as a borrowing from South Slavic ban, meaning "lord, master; ruler". The Slavic word is probably borrowed from...
and, from 1504, of Orthodox
Romanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, and is ranked seventh in order of precedence. The Primate of the church has the title of Patriarch...
bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s; in 1543, Prince Radu de la Afumaţi was killed in Cetăţuia by a 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....
conspiracy.
During the rules of Matei Basarab
Matei Basarab
Matei Basarab was a Wallachian Voivode between 1632 and 1654.-Reign:Much of Matei's reign was spent fighting off incursions from Moldavia, which he successfully accomplished in 1637, 1639, and 1653 - see Battle of Finta...
and Constantin Brâncoveanu
Constantin Brâncoveanu
Constantin Brâncoveanu was Prince of Wallachia between 1688 and 1714.-Ascension:A descendant of the Craioveşti boyar family and related to Matei Basarab, Brâncoveanu was born at the estate of Brâncoveni and raised in the house of his uncle, stolnic Constantin Cantacuzino...
, it became an important cultural center. It was here where the first paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
and printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
in Romania were built (see Anthim the Iberian
Anthim the Iberian
Anthim the Iberian was one of the greatest ecclesiastic figures of Wallachia , a noted Eastern Orthodox theologian and philosopher, founder of the first printing press in Romania, and Metropolitan of...
). The city was heavily damaged during the Habsburg
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
takeover of Oltenia between 1718 and 1739, and its purpose was again reduced to that of a fortress.
During the Wallachian Revolution, on July 29, 1848, Deşteaptă-te, române!
Desteapta-te, române!
"Deșteaptă-te, române" is Romania's national anthem....
(the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of Romania), with lyrics written by Andrei Mureşanu
Andrei Muresanu
Andrei Mureșianu was a Romanian poet and revolutionary of Transylvania .Born to a family of peasants, he studied philosophy and theology in Blaj. Starting in 1838, Mureșianu was a professor at Brașov...
and music composed by Anton Pann
Anton Pann
Anton Pann , was an Ottoman-born Wallachian composer, musicologist, and Romanian-language poet, also noted for his activities as a printer, translator, and schoolteacher...
(whose memorial house lies in the center of the town), was sung for the first time in Râmnicu Vâlcea. Gheorghe Magheru
Gheorghe Magheru
General Gheorghe Magheru was a Romanian revolutionary and soldier from Wallachia, and political ally of Nicolae Bălcescu.-A Pandur and radical conspirator:...
gathered his military force in Râureni, now part of the city, in an attempt to face the anti-revolutionary forces of Imperial Russia and the Ottoman Empire
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...
.
In the 1980s, the city was completely rebuilt in a style combining Socialist realism
Socialist realism
Socialist realism is a style of realistic art which was developed in the Soviet Union and became a dominant style in other communist countries. Socialist realism is a teleologically-oriented style having its purpose the furtherance of the goals of socialism and communism...
with local vernacular architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
.
Râmnicu Vâlcea has gained some notoriety as an alleged global centre for cybercrime
CyberCrime
CyberCrime was an innovative, weekly America television program on TechTV that focused on the dangers facing computer users. Filmed in San Francisco, California, the show was hosted by Alex Wellen and Jennifer London...
more recently.
Politics
The mayor of Râmnicu Vâlcea is Romeo Rădulescu, former Democratic Party candidate, now independent, and two deputy mayors, Eusebiu Veţeleanu, also independent, and Monceanu Constantin, from National Liberal PartyNational Liberal Party (Romania)
The National Liberal Party , abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social...
. The Râmnicu Vâlcea Municipal Council, elected in the June 2004 local government elections, is made up of 23 councillors, with the following party composition:
| Party | Seats | Current Council | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Liberal Party National Liberal Party (Romania) The National Liberal Party , abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social... |
8 | |||||||||
| Democratic Party | 8 | |||||||||
| Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party (Romania) The Social Democratic Party is the major social-democratic political party in Romania. It was formed in 1992, after the post-communist National Salvation Front broke apart. It adopted its present name after a merger with a minor social-democratic party in 2001. Since its formation, it has always... |
5 | |||||||||
| Greater Romania Party | 2 |
Solar eclipse of August 11, 1999
Natives
- Anton PannAnton PannAnton Pann , was an Ottoman-born Wallachian composer, musicologist, and Romanian-language poet, also noted for his activities as a printer, translator, and schoolteacher...
- Eugen Angelescu
- Mircea Angelescu
- Ion Emanuel FlorescuIon Emanuel FlorescuIon Emanuel Florescu was a Romanian army general who served as Prime Minister of Romania for a short time in a provisional government in 1876 and then in 1891 ....
- Victoraş IacobVictoras IacobVictoraş Constantin Iacob is a Romanian professional footballer who currently plays for Aris Thessaloniki in the Greek Super League.-Rocar Bucureşti:...
- Gabriel LiiceanuGabriel LiiceanuGabriel Liiceanu is a Romanian philosopher.He graduated from University of Bucharest's Faculty of Philosophy in 1965, and from Faculty of Classical Languages in 1973. He earned a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Bucharest in 1976....
- Nicolae ManolescuNicolae ManolescuNicolae Manolescu is a Romanian literary critic. As an editor of România Literară literary magazine, he has reached a record in reviewing books for almost 30 years...
- Marian-Jean MarinescuMarian-Jean MarinescuMarian-Jean Marinescu is a Romanian politician and member of the Democratic Liberal Party , part of the European People's Party–European Democrats. Elected to the Chamber of Deputies for Dolj County, he became a Member of the European Parliament on January 1, 2007, with the accession of Romania to...
- Alexandru PapadopolAlexandru PapadopolAlexandru Papadopol is a Romanian actor.At the beginning of the year 2000 he appeared in the films Marfa şi banii and Occident, after which he appeared in a series of television productions.-External links:...
- Dem RădulescuDem RadulescuDem Rădulescu was a Romanian theatre, film and television actor and academic. He was also a professor at the Universitatea Naţională de Artă Teatrală şi Cinematografică – I.L. Caragiale, in Bucharest.-Personal life:...
- [(Adrian Foltea)]
Sport
Râmnicu Vâlcea is home to CS Oltchim Râmnicu VâlceaCS Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea
CS Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea is a Romanian women's handball club from Râmnicu Vâlcea, that plays in the Liga Naţională and in the EHF Women's Champions League....
is a women handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
club which competes in the Liga Naţională and the Women's Champions League.