| Ploiești | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Muntenia | |
| Territory | Prahova district | |
| Altitude | 165 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 58 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 209.945 (2011 census) | |
| Prefix tel | 40 44 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 100xxx | |
| Time zone | UTC 2 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Ploiești is a city of Romania, capital of the Prahova district located in the historical region of Muntenia .
To know
Nicknamed the capital of black gold, Ploieşti is a petrochemical center with impressive crude oil refineries once extracted from the wells of the surrounding countryside but today mostly imported. The first oil refinery dates back to 1856 and this branch of industry still occupies the first place in the formation of income, followed at a distance by the food industry (17.7%) and by electricity and gas production plants (14, 5%).
Ploiești also has machinery, metal, rubber, plastic, wood and cellulose processing plants. Since the early years of the 21st century, trade and the service sector have absorbed ever greater market shares to the detriment of industries (77.5% against 22.5%).
Despite its economic importance, Ploiești cannot be defined as a tourist city. Its architectural heritage has been wiped out by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, fires as well as by human activity: during the Second World War the city suffered repeated bombardments by both the allies and the Axis powers.
Geographical notes
The city is crossed by the meridian 25 ° E and by the parallel 44 ° 55'N Ploiești is bathed by the Dâmbu river, little more than a stream while the western outskirts are lapped by the Prahova, a famous river in whose valley there are some of the famous of the Romania.
The city is located in a flat area about 150 m. above sea level and near the southern Carpathians visible on the horizon.
At one time the whole area was covered by dense forests, centenary oaks and mostly oaks, of which strips remain in the Ghighiu locality.
Background
Ploiești is a newly established city. His name appears for the first time in documents of the sixteenth century, during the reign of Mihai Viteazul (Michael the Courageous), prince of Wallachia (1593-1601). Over the next two centuries it flourished as a center of trade and crafts.
In 1856 the Mehedințeanu brothers inaugurated the first crude oil refinery in Ploiești. In 1870, following a revolt against the monarchy, the city proclaimed itself the independent Republic of Ploiești which lasted a day.
During the First World War the central powers invaded Romania with the aim of seizing the black gold, but a British army operation under John Norton-Griffiths destroyed production and sabotaged much of the sector's infrastructure.
During the Second World War, the city was targeted by Soviet (1941), British (1944) and American (1942, 1943, 1944) bomber planes. The first US air force attack on Nazi German-controlled Europe took place on June 12, 1942 and aimed to destroy the refining capabilities around Ploiesti. A year later, on 1 August 1943, the "Tidal Wave" operation took place, which remained in history because American bombers attacked at a very low height (about 40 meters). Extensive damage occurred in 1944, when 22 of the 50 bombings carried out by the Anglo-American air force targeted nearby refineries. According to official statistics, over 55% of the buildings were destroyed.
During the years of the communist regime the importance of the city decreased somewhat and the economic awakening took place a few years after the revolution of December 1989.
How to orient yourself
Ploieşti: full screen map.The main station, the Race de Sud is located at the beginning of the Independence Avenue (Bulevardul Independentei), a long straight that points to the north flowing into Piazza Vittoria and which then changes its name to viale della Repubblica (Bulevardul Republicii). The major attractions of Ploieşti, as well as hotels, restaurants, various clubs and shopping centers are located along these two avenues or a short distance from them.
To the east of the central Piazza Vittoria is the AFI shopping center and just beyond the other railway station, the Ploiești Nord race.
How to get
the closest airport is the Henri Coandă di Bucharest. Ploiești It is located 60 km north of capital.
On the train
Ploiești has two main stations:
- 1 Ploiești Sud station (Ploiești South Race). The main station on the line from Bucharest to Suceava (Bukovina).
- The station building was renovated in 2008. It houses 8 ticket offices and is equipped with a touch screen system for viewing the timetables of the trains and their destinations.
- Trains for Oradea with intermediate stops Brașov and other cities of the Transylvania (Sighișoara - Teiuș - Războieni - Cluj). Sometimes however the trains for Oradea stop at the west station.
- 2 Ploiești Nord Station (Ploiești Nord race).
By bus
How to get around
By public transport
Within the city public transport is provided by TCE Ploiești and includes bus, tram and trolley bus lines.
What see
Civil architectures
- 1 Palace of Culture (Palatul Culturii), Strada Sublocotenent Erou Călin Cătălin 1.
Religious architectures
- royal church "Saints Apostles Peter and Paul".
- Church of Cristo Re.
- 2 Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista (Catedrala Sfântul Ioan Botezătorul).
- 3 Beth Israel Synagogue (Marea Synagogue), Basarabi road no. 12.
Museums
- 4 National Petroleum Museum (Muzeul Național al Petrolului), Street Doctor Dumitru Bagdazar 8, ☎ 40 371 400 670.
- 5 Nicolae Simache Clock Museum, Strada Nicolae Simache 1, ☎ 40 244 542 861.
Events and parties
What to do
Shopping
- 1 Central market (Central Halele).
- 2 AFI Ploiești, Calomfirescu road 2, ☎ 40 344 802 797.
Mon-Thu 10: 00-22: 00, Fri-Sat 10: 00-23: 00, Sun 10: 00-22: 00.
Mon-Thu 10: 00-22: 00, Fri-Sat 10: 00-23: 00, Sun 10: 00-22: 00.How to have fun
Night clubs
- 1 The Fable, Vasile Lupu street 32, ☎ 40 344 100 615. Live music venue.
Where to eat
Average prices
- 1 Curtea Berarilor Ploiesti, Nicolae Bălcescu road 10, ☎ 40 725 982 771. Mon-Thurs 11: 00–00: 00, Fri-Sat 11: 00-02: 00, Sun 11: 00-00: 00.
- 2 Da Vinci, Bobâlna street 52, ☎ 40 244 599 009. Mon-Sun 11: 00-00: 00.
- 3 Nabucco Pub & Grill, Bulevardul Republicii 307, ☎ 40 740 622 826.
- 4 New London House, Rondul 2, Bulevardul Independenței, ☎ 40 344 802 600. Mon-Sun 10: 30-00: 30.
- 5 Jinx pizza, Strada Tache Ionescu 10.
- 6 Taverna Greceasca Dionysos, Strada Anul 1907 nr2.
- 7 Tres Olivos, Rahovei Street 4, ☎ 40 724 443 448.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- 1 Forum, Gheorghe Doja road 215 A (AFI shopping center), ☎ 40 722 997 979. 3 star hotel
- 2 South Hotel, Depoului street 2 (South station area), ☎ 40 244 597 411.
Average prices
- 3 Central Ploiești Hotel, Bulevardul Republicii 1, ☎ 40 244 526 641.
- 4 Prahova Plaza Hotel, Constantin Dobrogeanu Gherea street 11, ☎ 40 244 526 850.
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
- The most classic of the excursions from Ploiești is the one to the Prahova Valley where there are three holiday resorts among the most popular in the Romania (3 Sinaia, 4 Bușteni, 5 Predeal). The connections are ensured by buses and trains that depart from Bucharest and stop in Ploiești.
- 6 Slănic (14 km north of Ploiești) - Purely tourist town, thanks to the presence of three salt lakes, the Shepherd's Lake (Baciului bay), the Green Lake (Green Bay) and the Red Lake (Roşie bay) which make it a well-known spa. The salt extraction activity was carried out in two large mines, the Old Salina (Salina Veche) and the New Salina (Salina Nouă). The latter is still active today, while the Salina Vecchia has now been transformed into a tourist attraction. Among the events that take place annually in the city, of particular interest is an international model aircraft competition with indoor flight tests that take place in the large rooms of the upper level of the mine.
- 7 Târgoviște - Capital of the principality of Wallachia until 1659, Târgoviște is famous for the building, now transformed into a museum of communism, which was the scene of the brief trial of the Ceaușescu spouses followed by their execution in December 1989.
- 8 Tohani - Nestled among hills covered with vineyards, Tohani is a picturesque village where every activity revolves around wine. Tohani is in fact part of the Dealu Mare wine region, famous for the production of red wines.
