Bania House

The earliest evidence of the existence of the old settlement dates back to the year 225. According to the "Peuntigeriana Plate", on an old map of the Roman Empire from the year 225, it is shown the city of Pelendava. The first document mentioning the name Craiova dates from 1475. The historic center includes a series of monuments dating from the 15th and the 18th-19th centuries. Apart from numerous cultural institutions, museums, administrative buildings, churches, there are also many private houses: the Palace of Justice, the Prefecture, the Bank of Commerce, the ruins of Hurezi Inn, the Palace of Jean Mihail, the Vorvoreanu Palace, the Minerva Hotel and Casino, the Glogoveanu House, the Nicolae Romanescu House, National Colleges Carol I and Elena Cuza, and many more. All of these old buildings blend harmoniously with the modern style of other buildings constructed in the last century. The historic center of Craiova was recently restored with European funds, thus giving it the glory of the past. Source: www.impact-tour.eu Photo: djcdj.cultura.ro; www.facebook.com/pg/CentrulIstoricCraiova; www.facebook.com/centrulvechicraiovaoficial

The Administrative Palace of Craiova, located at 19 Calea Unirii, is one of the most representative buildings in the city. Built in the first part of the 20th century according to the plans of architect Petre Antonescu, in the neo-Romanian style promoted by Ion Mincu, the edifice today houses two of the most important institutions of the county: the Prefecture and the Dolj County Council. The Administrative Palace was built at the beginning of the 20th century, most probably between 1912-1913 (the starting year of the construction differs from source to source, from 1907/1909/1910/1912). It is said that Prime Minister Ion I. C. Bratianu, present at Craiova at the liberal meeting of June 24, 1909, would have been present at the placement of the act at the foundation of the building. The constructor appointed by Antonescu for building the Administrative Palace was Giovanni Battista Peressutti. From an aesthetic point of view, the façade decoration is distinguished by the numerous original elements, but which reinterpret the elements of the old Romanian architecture: the roof with green enameled tile, decorative elements of zinc sheet and skylights, the loggias, balconies and bay windows on the side façades of the floor, the console crevasses, the trilobal springs from the windows, the window frames, the columns, friezes and stone sinks, the decorative brackets or rainwater gutters, modeled with the twisted rope motif. Starting with April 1, 1915, the Prefectural Palace hosted at the ground floor the Dolj County Antiquities and Ethnography Museum, set up at the initiative of history professor Ştefan Ciuceanu, and from 1928 it became the Regional Museum of Oltenia. During the period 1916-1918, during the German occupation in Craiova, the institutions that had their headquarters in the Administrative Palace were evacuated, as the German Railways Directorate was set up here. At the departure of the Germans from Oltenia, the furniture and the building were devastated, and the patrimony of the Regional Museum was severely affected by the German occupation robbery. On December 12, 1922, the Craiova Scientific Society (director professor Marin Demetrescu) was set up in the Prefecture's office, which aimed at endowing the capital of Oltenia with a Museum of Natural History. In 1934, the collections of the Regional Museum were moved to the basement of the Prefecture, in the halls facing Calea Unirii. In September of the same year, the festive hall of the Administrative Palace hosted the Congress of Numismatics and Archaeology in Craiova. In 1935, due to the works, a crack appeared in the dome of the honor stairs. The consolidation was done under the direct supervision of Petre Antonescu, the architect of the original project. Starting with February 24, 1945, the building will host the Regional People’s Council (until 1968), the Dolj County Committee of the Romanian Communist Party (PCR) and the Dolj County Council (until 1989), and since 1989 it has housed the Prefecture and the Dolj County Council . The earthquake in 1977 affected the Administrative Palace building, which has later undergone extensive repair works. Since 1989, the Administrative Palace of Craiova houses the Prefecture and Dolj County Council. Source: www.monumenteoltenia.ro

The building of the University of Craiova, originally built to serve as the Palace of Justice, is an architectural monument of national interest and one of the most representative buildings in the city. Designed in 1890 by the architect Ion Socolescu, the building is an illustration of Neoclassicism in architecture. It is located downtown, on Alexandru Ioan Cuza Street, no. 13. The building was built between 1894 and 1912. From the very beginning, were visible both from the outside and the inside, arechitectural elements borrowed from classicism, such as the triangular pediment and the peristyle of the three-door main entrance, surrounded by four composite columns (with corinthian and ionic elements). The palace was surrounded by a fence with a wrought iron grid fixed on a concrete foundation, with pillars from place to place. Between the building and the fence, on all sides of the building, is a green space. The initial form of the Palace of Justice building was a quadrangle crossed in the middle by a central structure that corresponded to the main entrance, dominated by a classic pediment, from where you can admire a group of statues picturing "The Blindfolded Justice", removed after 1948. After the change of the building's destination, the word "UNIVERSITY", written in capital letters, was placed under its pediment. In 1912 there was a partial inauguration of the building, and another one took place in 1914, when the palace already had 4 levels. Later, the edifice was extended, repaired and modernized successively, reaching 5 and 6 levels. The projects concerning the additions from the interwar period, through which a wing of the building was built, were drawn by the architect Iancu Atanasescu. The plans for the expansion of the building that was completed in the 1970s (1972-1975) were conceived by the architect Petre Falcon. The Palace of Justice was built to serve as the headquarters of various courts of justice in Craiova. Between 1941 and 1944, the palace was occupied by German troops. With the departure of the Germans, the courts of law (the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal) returned to this place until 1951. In 1948, the first higher education institution in Craiova ( The Agronomic Institute) has been established here. At the same time, the western side of the palace was occupied by local administrative institutions (The County Seat). Between 1951-1958, the eastern wing of the building sheltered the second higher education institute, the Institute of Machinery and Electrical Devices (The Technical Institute). For a short time, between 1958-1959, the Palace of Justice became the home of the regional, district and city courts, the prosecutor's office and the bar. Staring with 1966, the imposing building has been in use and has become the property of the newly established University of Craiova. Source: www.monumenteoltenia.ro Photo: https://www.facebook.com/ucvro/

The Carol I High School building in Craiova is an architectural monument of national interest, built at the end of the XIX th century. The edifice is located in the central area of ​​Craiova, near the Oteteleşanu School (the current Elena Cuza National College) and the Church of the Holy Trinity, on Ioan Maiorescu Street, no. 2. The building currently houses the Carol I National College, the second oldest secondary school institution in Romania. The history of this school begins in 1826, when two former students of Gheorghe Lazar and Ion Heliade Rădulescu, professor Stanciu Capataneanu and teacher Grigore Pleşoianu set up the Secondary National School, the second secondary school in the Principalities, after St. Sava College in Bucharest . In the beginning, the Central School functioned in the cells of the Obedeanu Monastery, then at the Madona Dudu Church. In October 1832, it was bought the current land of the College, in the centre of Craiova, with the amount of 300 gold coins donated by Iordache Otetelisanu. It was not until 1842 that the first location was inaugurated, the one immortalized by the painter Theodor Aman in the painting "Hora Unirii la Craiova ". In the big hall of the school, Ion Heliade Radulescu read The Proclamation of Izlaz, while Maiorescu, the head of the institution, climbed into a tree in front of the building and read the same Proclamation to pupils and other inhabitants of Craiova. After the defeat of the Revolution of 1848, for three years, the school closes because it does not have the necessary teachers, and the Turks turn the building into a garrison and a kitchen, heating their food with the furniture and the books in the library. Through the efforts of Professor G.M. Fontanin, who becomes head of the institution for almost 30 years, the school is reopened in 1854. In 1885, by high Royal Decree, the school was named "Carol I" High School. Between 1893 and 1895, was built the current high school building costing more than one million lei. King Carol I himself added at the foundation a metal cylinder containing the official document of the construction that will become a heritage building. The frescoes from the library and the round hall were made by the painter Francis Tribalski, and the new dome building was furnished with luxurious furniture. But this location also became a hospital during the First World War. In 1948, on the occasion of the centenary of the Revolution of 1848, the high school received the name "Nicolae Bălcescu" People's College, but in 1997 it will return to the old name "Carol I", which is preserved until today. Besides, both historical personalities are considered spiritual mentors of the College of Craiova. Over the years, the outstanding results of the students gave international recognition to the "Carol I" National College. The students, guided by outstanding teachers, gained 52 international awards, including 17 gold medals, 22 silver medals and 13 bronze medals. The school library is the most important school library in the country. It was founded in 1836 and bears the name of Mihail Strajan, a high school teacher during 1881-1902. He was the one who supplied the library with books and decorated it with expensive furniture. The Mihail Strajan Library contains heritage books, such as the Bible from Bucharest (1688). The oldest book dates back to 1514. Some heritage books were part of the library of Constantin Cantacuzino. The school also take pride in its butterfly collection (donated by Claudia and Ion Stănoiu and completed by Adrian and Ioana Rusescu), which includes thousands of specimens gathered around the globe. Another important piece from the high school's heritage is the collection of rocks collected by the teachers Dumitru and Ştefania Alexandrescu. One of the high value objects ​​sheltered by the high school is "The Ecorché" by Constantin Brâncuşi, made in collaboration with doctor D. Gerota and located in the biology laboratory. Source: www.cnc.ro; https://www.facebook.com/colegiulnational/ Photo: https://www.facebook.com/colegiulnational/

This building was constructed between 1898 and 1903 according to the plans of architects Thoma Dobrescu and D. Nedelcu. The building was erected on the land that was then the property of Madonna Dudu epitropy. The documents of that time speak of a contract concluded on November 23, 1896, between the epitropes of the Madonna Dudu Church in Craiova (Gh. Anghelescu and A. Carianopol) and the architect Th. Dobrescu from Bucharest "in order to make plans to rebuild a new establishment in Craiova City to replace the demolished one, called Minerva Casino, whose cost does not go as much as 500,000 lei." The building would have a shop, a confectionery and a café, and in the cellars and basements there would be facilities for the confectionery laboratories. A Club and hotel rooms would be arranged in the main body of the building. The majestic building will gather important names of the old days, becoming the symbol of yesteryear Craiova, but also a true altar of culture where artists of great value from those days kneeled. From the stage at Minerva great names started their successful journey, including Madelaine and Manu Nedeianu, Iordănescu Bruno, Ion Vasilescu, Mia Braia, Ioana Radu, Dorina Drăghici, Petre Alexandru and many others. Also, this is the place where ideas were born, plans were made, and the art of the days was debated. Here we could see Amza Pellea, Gheorghe Cozorici, Constantin Rauţchi, Silvia Popovici, Sanda Toma, Ioana Bulcă, Andreea Năstăsescu, Rodica Tăpălagă, Ioana Măgură, Vasile Constantinescu, Vasile Niţulescu, Remus Comănescu, Geo Barton, George Mărutză or Costel Rădulescu and others. Minerva also hosted important people in the world: General Charles De Gaulle, Ciu En Lai, or Nikita Khrushchev. The architectural style is less common with us, inspired by the Arabic / Moorish architecture. Specifical to this style are the door and window openings closed at the top with an arc of more than 180 degrees, enclosed openings in the arch of 180 degrees and multilobate, as well as the polychrome geometric decoration. In the old days, at the ground floor operated shops, and at the upper floors were large and stylish salons, where cards and billiards were played. It was a place not affordable by many, as the luxury and prices made it high-class, so the most frequent characters entering through its doors were the boyars of Craiova. Source: audiotravelguide.ro Photo: ro.wikipedia.org; audiotravelguide.ro

Casa Nicolae Romanescu este un monument de arhitectură de interes național din municipiul Craiova, situat pe Calea Unirii, lângă Biserica Mântuleasa. Casa, ce a aparținut familiei Romanescu, poartă numele celebrului om politic Nicolae Romanescu (consilier, primar al Craiovei, deputat și senator timp de 48 de ani), cunoscut mai ales pentru înființarea parcului ce azi îi poartă numele.  Clădirea şi anexele interioare ale curţii au fost construite în mai multe etape, în cursul secolului al XIX-lea (cea dintâi mărturie despre casă datează din 1833), ajungând la configuraţia definitivă, care este şi acum, în anul 1903, datorită arhitectului I.D. Berindey şi antreprenorului C. Roschovsky.  Cu un an înaintea morții, Nicolae Romanescu a hotărât să lase orașului său casa în care a trăit și toate colecțiile sale.  În jurul anului 1935 casa a fost închiriată unei bănci particulare, încăperile de la parter devenind birouri cu pupitre, seifuri și ghișee. La etaj locuia familia directorului I. Dondoe.  În 1939, aici și-au găsit adăpost temporar refugiați polonezi (funcționari militari) și familiile lor.  După 1941, la demisolul clădirii au fost depozitate lăzi pline cu documente de arhivă, în speranța conservării până la sfârșitul războiului. La mansardă erau adăpostiți refugiați din Basarabia și din nordul Ardealului.  În iarna anilor 1943-1944, în dormitoarele improvizate la mansardă au fost găzduiți copiii de la orfelinatul Liceului Ortodox de Fete din strada Brestei.  În Casa Romanescu a mai funcționat o vreme Banca Românească, care și-a încetat activitatea după naționalizarea din 1948. Administrația comunistă a schimbat numele Căii Unirii în strada Vladimir Ilici Lenin, iar în casă se organizau întruniri politice și ședințe muncitorești.  Ulterior, în Casa Romanescu s-a instalat o școală cu profil financiar, iar din 1956 până în 1974, aici a avut sediul Casa Pionierilor.  Mai târziu, în Casa Romanescu avea să funcționeze Institutul de Cercetări Socio-Umane al Academiei Române, în paralel cu Casa Universitarilor.  Din 1974, Casa Romanescu mai este cunoscută și drept Casa Universitarilor, spațiu activităților cultural-științifice organizate de cadrele didactice de la Universitatea din Craiova.  În prezent, sălile Casei Romanescu găzduiesc evenimente ale Universității din Craiova: susțineri de teze de doctorat, ceremonii academice restrânse, lansări de carte, conferințe științifice, microexpoziții de artă, cenacluri culturale, întruniri colegiale și aniversări oficiale.  În prezent, Casa Universitarilor este închiriată unei firme având ca activitate restaurant unde Universitatea din Craiova poate să - şi organizeze în continuare activităţile enumerate mai sus. Sursa: www.monumenteoltenia.ro; www.ucv.ro  Foto: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1506713899467445&set=pb.100063565119237.-2207520000

The Palace is located in Craiova, Frații Buzeşti Street, no. 10. Here, more than 100 years ago, Gogu Vorvoreanu, a well-known landowner and attorney-at-law, laid the foundation for his future family residence. For this purpose, the boyar has used the finest materials and the most talented craftsmen, desiring with all the urgency that the new construction will successfully pass through time his family crest and legacy. "Vorvoreanu" Palace was built at the beginning of the 20th century, between 1905-1910, according to the plans of famous architect Dimitrie Maimarolu. The harmony of shapes, authentically woven in a pure Renaissance style, brings together the delicacy and the finishing touches of an interior rich in ornaments with the impetuosity of the outer forms and bas-reliefs. Between 1916 and 1918 the German Military Command functioned in this palace. Vorvoreanu Palace and many other properties and assets of the family were nationalized by the Communists. Assets in the palace were not alienated. However, the sacrifice of the forerunners did not remain unpaid, and on May 31, 1964, after repeated attempts made by the representatives of the Craiova Archdiocese to the State Council of the Socialist Republic of Romania, the ”jewel” at Fratii Buzeşti Street no. 10 passed into the property of the Church, in exchange with the House of the Bania. In the old Vorvoreni courtyard, a beautiful wooden church was displaced from Tălpăşeşti, Gorj, in 1975. The holy place, dedicated to "All Saints", is more than 260 years old and was founded by the monk Daniil of the Tismana Lavra, with the support of the Tălpăşeşti population. Today it functions as a metropolitan chapel, with a liturgical daily program. Source: www.mitropoliaolteniei.ro Photo: www.monumenteromania.ro

Glogoveanu House is an architectural monument of national interest located in Craiova, on Brestei Street, no. 12. Built by the Glogoveni boyars' family in 1802 on the foundations of an 18th-century edifice, the building hosted the Craiova City Hall and then, until 2016, the Dolj County Courthouse. At the beginning of the 18th century, the Gologoveni boyars moved to Craiova, Cerneți and Râmnicu Valcea in order to be better aware of what is happening in the political, economic, social and cultural life of society. The Glogoveanu House, bought by the Overseer (vornic) Matei in 1724, remained the property of the Glogoveni boyars for almost two centuries. The end of the century coincided with bringing the young Tudor Vladimirescu to the Glogoveni house in Craiova, to learn together with the son of boyar Ioniţă Glogoveanu, Nicolae. In 1801, the building burned, but its walls were completely restored. During the Russo-Turkish wars of 1806-1812 and 1828-1829, Glogoveanu House was transformed into a hospital for Russian soldiers. The building was affected by the earthquake of 1838, after which the edifice underwent some transformations and additions. The second part of the 19th century was sprinkled with visits by King Carol I to Craiova, during which he was housed in what was then called "Glogoveanu Palace". In 1908, Nicolae Romanescu erected the northern wing of the building. The house was sold by Nicolae Glogoveanu in September 1913 to the Craiova City Hall, together with some of furniture. In this building the City Hall functioned until 1943. Between 1943 and 2016, the Dolj County Courthouse carried out its activity in the Glogoveanu House. Source: www.monumenteoltenia.ro Photo: www.monumenteoltenia.ro

The Palace of the Bank of Commerce, a monumental building that houses the Craiova City Hall, is one of the most famous buildings in the city. The Bank of Commerce was designed by architect Ion Mincu in 1906 and completed in 1916 by his student, Constantin Iotzu. The building has a rich interior decorated with stuccoes, stained glass, Venetian mosaics and wrought iron grilles. On December 12, 1897 (according to other sources in 1899), the banker and liberal politician from Craiova, Constantin Neamţu, set up in Craiova the Bank of Commerce, in the form of a family business. The banking company quickly became one of the most important and successful banks with Romanian capital in the country, opening branches in several important cities. At the time of its inauguration, the Bank of Commerce was one of the most beautiful buildings in the city and even in the country, impressing both by its exterior and its interior, richly decorated with stained glass, chandeliers and mosaics. Built on 3 levels, the building had a basement (treasury bank thesaurus, various warehouses, archive, homeowner's residence, central heating, own power plant and mechanical workshop), ground floor (a vestibule, a large hall, offices and administration offices) and an upper floor (a vestibule from which, through a gallery, one can reach the hall where various offices, the boardroom and the director's office are located). During the period 1916-1918, during the German occupation in Craiova, in the new building the German general headquarters were installed. When the Germans left Oltenia, the building was devastated, as it happened with several other occupied buildings. After 1948, several institutions were operating in the building, including the Academy of Historical Sciences, Archaeology and Ethnography, the Municipal Committee of the Romanian Communist Party (PCR) and the Municipal People's Council. After the 1977 earthquake, the building benefited from current repair works. Since 1989, the former headquarters of the Bank of Commerce is the headquarters of the City Hall and the Local Municipal Council of Craiova. In 2000, a feasibility study was carried out to consolidate the building, with the intention to request funds from the World Bank. However, the proceedings were stopped due to disputes over the ownership of the building, which is why no administration has since tried to start rehabilitation works. Source: www.monumenteoltenia.ro Photo: imagoromaniae.ro; www.monumenteoltenia.ro