The municipality of Craiova has a population of 302,601 (Census 2002). Ethnic composition:

Romanians: 292,487 (96.66%) Hungarians: 218 (0.07%) Germans: 173 (0.06%) Serbs: 34 (0.01%) Roma: 8.820 (2.91%) Italians: 178 (0.06%) Greeks: 188 (0.06%) Ukrainians: 32 (0.01%) and 471 others.

Craiova (pronounced [krajova]), the fifth largest Romanian city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians (north) and the Danube (south). Craiova is the chief commercial city west of Bucharest and the most important city of Oltenia.

A bit of History• Much later, a strong Dacian fortress was built, Pelendava,

its name being mentioned in 255 AD on the ancient map Tabula Pentingeriana. The present name first appeared in a document dated 1475, and in 1582 documents mentioned Craiova as a town. It has had a rapid development, the town being known as “Marea Banie a Olteniei” ( Banie is a term designating the capital of a province- “The great Capital of Oltenia”)

• The capital of Banie, Craiova was destroyed by an earthquake in 1790 and burnt by the Turks in 1802. An agreement signed in the city in 1940 returned S Dobruja to Bulgaria.

The musical fountain in Craiova is unique in the country as design and the third in the world, after the ones in Shanghai and Prague.

Facultaty of Agronomy

Pharmaceutics Faculty

Faculty of Medicine

Facultaty of Automatics

University of Craiova

Institutions of pre-universitary

education

Stefan Velovan Pedagogical College Carol I National College

Elena Cuza College

Marin Sorescu High school of Arts

“Charles Laugier” Vocational School

A special sight in Craiova is represented by “Nicolae Romanescu” Park, with its picturesque character. Unique in Romania, this valuable architectural monument is also one of the most interesting accomplishments of its kind in Europe.

Located in the southern part of the town at the end of Unirii Street, the park is also known as “Bibescu” Park or the People’s Park, all names being accurate.

It was bought by the Town Hall in 1853 for 12,000 ducats. The land it was located on had belong to Iancu Bibescu, the brother of rulers Grigore Bibescu and Barbu Stirbei. ASround the end of the last century, a great park was created, at the initiative of Nicolae P. Romanescu, the mayor of Craiova during those times. The order was given to the French landscape architect Emil Redont in 1899. The works began in 1901 and its inauguration toiok place in May 1903.

It is the largest park of its kind in Europe.