Places

Founded in 1992 as a successor of the great "Nicolae Balcescu" Ensemble in Craiova, with the purpose of giving a scenic expression of the diversity of the Oltenian folklore and, at the same time, the folklore from all folk areas of Romania, the "Maria Tanase" Folk Ensemble built its reputation over the years and achieved success both in the country and abroad. Displaying on stage the traditional dances with the utmost care and consistently promoting authentic folk songs turned the Maria Tanase Folk Ensemble into one of the most representative and valuable ensembles in Romania. The choreography was assumed by master Marian Badea, master Puiu Vasilescu and then by the choreographer Marin Stîrcu, whose experience was continued by the talented master of dance, Ionel Garoafa, who leads with great professionalism the ballet department made of 22 dancers . The musical leadership was assured for 25 years by the famous violinist and conductor, Nicu Cretu, who originally made the musical arrangement for the orchestra composed of the 13 instrumentalists. The 13 soloists of the ensemble performing along with the orchestra: Niculina Stoican Mariana Ionescu Căpitănescu Constantin Enceanu Petrică Mîţu Stoian Marius Măgureanu Liliana Popa Lavinia Bîrsoghe Manuela Moţocu Aneta Şişu Cristi Banateanu Ciri Mayer Liviu Dică The great talent of the Maria Tănase Folk Ensemble was rewarded at national and international festivals in Greece, Egypt, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Turkey and Iran. We are glad and proud that through everything we do in order to cherish the folk traditions, we are the loyal representatives of the Romanian spirit that we dearly hold under the enlightened patronage of the Lady of our folk music, Maria Tanase.

The Dolj branch of the National Bank of Romania is housed in a historical monument of local interest, located in the center of Craiova, on Calea Unirii, at no. 6. The building is located near Constantin Vălimărescu House and opposite to the Evangelical Church.  The building, dating from the end of the 19th century (1887-1888), was built to serve as the office of the county branch of the National Bank of Romania (BNR), an institution founded in 1880. The development of the fabric of BNR agencies began in 1891 and ended throughout the entire country in 1900, triggering a massive expansion of the Romanian banking movement.  Returning to the headquarters of the Dolj branch of the BNR, the building is distinguished by the architectural style specific to the late 19th century, which combines European eclecticism and neoclassicism with Art Deco influences (neoclassical style, late baroque and freely interpreted French style). Responsible for the construction of the building were entrepreneurs Dimitrie Nedelcu and Domenico Costa, those who had already built the headquarters of the Galaţi branch of the institution during 1885-1886. Nedelcu had also taken part in the construction of the Casino Minerva Hotel and Carol I High School in Craiova, while Costa had built the Stock Exchange Palace (currently the National Library) and the Parliament Palace (currently the Patriarchal Palace) in Bucharest. Set on a single floor, the brick and carved stone building impresses with its total area (1,500 sqm), the height of the rooms (the central lobby has a height of 7 m) and the grandeur of the interior decorations (doors, windows, chandeliers, furniture, mosaics). In the basement there is the Bank's Treasury, which has long been used as a cash desk.  The building houses the same institution as it did 125 years ago, the Dolj branch of the National Bank of Romania. Apart from the administrative offices and the management of the institution, there is also an office of the National Agency for Consumer Protection and the Bank Inspection Service of the branch. Source: www.monumenteoltenia.ro/banca-nationala-a-romaniei-filiala-dolj/  Photo: https://www.bnr.ro/Sucursala-Regionala-BNR-Dolj-19532-Mobile.aspx

The so-called ”White House” (on one side of the central garden - English Park - made in the style of a London square) was built in the 20's of the 20th century, according to the plans of architect Constantin Iotzu. The building is the first apartment building in Craiova, was called the New Palace and belonged to the Bank of Commerce, and the street was called the New Street. According to the project, the building was supposed to have 44 apartments for the Bank of Commerce officials and to contain an elevator. The White House was built by Giovanni Batista Peressutti, together with the construction company of Carlo Dalla Barba. Source: audiotravelguide.ro Photo: www.facebook.com

The N.D. Popescu apartment building is built in Neo-Romanian style in the 1920s by architect State Baloşin.

Foto: Monumentalist

Bania House, a monument of medieval architecture and the oldest civil building in Craiova, was built in the late fifteenth century by the Craioveşti noblemen and it was rebuilt in 1699 by the prince martyr Constantin Brancoveanu. From the initial construction done by Craioveşti only part of the cellar is preserved. In the midst of history, the old foundation was burned many times, it passed through different dominations and administrations and "suffered" architectural changes, additions and deletions according to their needs. Thus, between 1718 - 1739, in Baniei House is based the austrian administration, which strengthens it for defense. In 1750, the building is transferred by ruler Grigore Ghica to the Diocese of Râmnic. Since 1850, the building became headquarters for various institutions of the city: Craiova’s Court, Buzeşti Brothers’ High School, the Local Seminar, the State Archives. Since 1933, the building will house the Museum of Oltenia until 1948, when its use is switched to the Metropolitan Church of Oltenia. Since 1966, the old brancovenian architectural monument hosts the Department of Ethnography from the Museum of Oltenia.

The Bengescu House seems to have been built in 1880 by Gheorghe Bengescu (diplomat, historian and publicist of Romanian and French languages, a full member of the Romanian Academy) and sold to the Orthodox Society of Romanian Women, around the year 1915. In the building, the Orthodox School for Girls used to function. Also, the first cinema in Craiova, "Popular Cinema", was operating in Bengescu House. After the revolution, it was returned to the National Orthodox Society of Christian Women, which donated it to the Archdiocese of Craiova. Source: www.facebook.com/Monumentalistul/

This remarkable work of landscape architecture was built between 1901-1902, at the initiative of Mayor Nicolae Romanescu, according to the plans of the French architect E. Redont. One of the main attractions of the park is the Gheorghe Bibescu House, known as the Artists' House. After the restoration of Gheorghe Bibescu House, the buiding turned into an exhibition and conference centre, sheltering art workshops and becoming an important attraction for the park visitors. Source: primariacraiova.ro/ro/monumente-de-arhitectura Photo: www.facebook.com/CraiovaMyBeautifulCity

It is a historical monument of local value, that belonged to Dr. Mihai Cănciulescu, one of the representative figures of the Oltenian medical community in Romania during the interwar period. It is located at the intersection of Simion Bărnuţiu Street and January 24 Street, opposite of the "Sf. Archangels Mihail and Gavriil" Church. Cănciulescu House has a three-level height regime (basement, ground floor and attic) and an internal courtyard enclosed by a cement and iron fence. On the exterior of the house there is the richly ornamented decoration around the windows and cornices, with decorative plaster, the sheet metal roof with windows and skylights and the main entrance covered with an awning. Photo source: monumenteoltenia.ro, gds.ro

It is a historic monument building, dating back to the end of the 19th century.

Put into use in 1963, it features a 500-seat event hall and and the "Marin Sorescu" studio hall with a capacity of 100 seats.

”Amza Pellea” House of Culture initiates and develops projects and programs in the field of lifelong education.

Time schedule for beginners, basic level: Tuesday and Thursday, 16:00-18:00; Time schedule for beginners, advanced level: Tuesday, 18:00-20:00; Time schedule for advanced, basic level: Wednesday and Friday, 16:00-18:00; Time schedule for advanced, intermediate level: Wednesday, 18:00-20:00; Time schedule for advanced, advanced level: Thursday, 18:00-20:00; Time schedule for advanced, mixed group (boys and girls): Friday, 18:00-20:00. All groups can attend the Sunday classes, from 10:00 to 12:00 at Dabuleni Children`s Club.

Similar to any other "students` culture house" in the country, the Students` Culture House in Craiova provides to the students in the university centre of Oltenia an alternative to spending their free time in a productive way through various actions that complement the curricula and the professional training. Short history The Students` Culture House was founded exactly half a century ago, in 1964, overtaking the establishment of the University of Craiova by a year. First, the SCH in Craiova was located in the "Nicolae Titulescu" Palace, under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. In 1979, the need to expand the activities led to the relocation of the Students` Culture House from Eugeniu Carada street and the construction of new buildings, including a big event hall. After 9 years of hard work, the construction has come to an end, so that on May 2, 1988, the Great Hall of Events was put into use. Soon, the students became aware of this event hall thanks to the first student festival "Jazz, Folk, Rock". Due to the great impact of this big event, all Students` Culture Houses in the country took up the idea and the event was presented in the famous Billboard magazine. Over the years, the Students` Culture House has organized cultural, artistic, educational events, but also fun tourism, sports and leisure activities, dedicated mostly to students. The Students` Culture House in Craiova has always been and remains an open institution to all volunteer students, one of the most active institutions of its kind. This is the place where great Romanian artists sterted their career: Gabriel Cotabita, Aurelian Temisan, Vacanta Mare or Janina Matei. From its very beginning, the Students` Culture House has been an expression environement for young and free spirits, an elevated alternative to leisure. This institution represents an environment in which the young students' artistic and moral skills develop, a space for cultural experiments, as well as for promoting young talents. Conclusions and perspectives 50 years since its establishment, the Students` Culture House has remained the cultural edifice that shelters, develops and promotes the talents of students attending training sessions, classes, clubs and various other activities organized by SCH under the guidance of specialists. However, despite the fact that the modernization works did not lack, the SCH`s activity is limited by the permanent budget constraints in the cultural and educational field. The loss of a substantial part of the area in which it used to function (the legal heirs recovered the old building), as well as successive staff restructuring resolutions, affected the activity of the Students` Culture House. The hope of the Students` Culture House is that, along with the long-awaited Decentralization Law, it will be subordinated to the City Hall of Craiova, its work will gain even more brilliance and efficiency, and the students will struggle to transform Craiova into a true cultural capital.

It was established in 1937 by the well-known columnist Constantin Saban Fagetel, and it was initially a Community Centre. Starting with 1968, it becomes Segarcea House of Culture. Over the years, it developed continuous cultural activity. Within the House of Culture is the ensemble of customs and traditions "Segarceanca", led by the folk musician Marius Josceanu. The building that shelters this House of Culture has two levels, a 350-seat event room and a conference room. In the same building is the headquarters of Mircea Radina Town Library.

Craiova House of Culture. In 1991 changed its name to "Traian Demetrescu" House of Culture. The institution is built in the former house of the Romanian poet Traian Demetrescu. The house, nationalized in 1950, was converted into a memorial house in 1966 and a cultural center in 1973. "Traian Demetrescu" House of Culture fulfills the following main objectives: - organizing artistic, cultural and permanent education activities; - conserving and transmitting the artistic and technical moral values ​​of the local community, the national and the universal heritage; - organizing or supporting amateur artistic groups at competitions and festivals; - organizing or supporting the documentation of temporary exhibitions, the elaboration of monographs and works of civic education and information of the public. The activity of the "Traian Demetrescu" Cultural House is addressed to all citizens, regardless of their race, nationality, age, gender, ethnicity or religion in order to develop freely and to adapt to major changes within society and general morality norms. Source: www.tradem.ro Photo source: www.tradem.ro

The Dr. Mendel House is built in the late 19th century and is located in the central area of Craiova on Simion Bărnuţiu Street at no. 27. It is considered a historical monument and is included in the list of historical monuments of Dolj county.

Construită în stil eclectic la începutul secolului XX în imediata apropiere a Palatului Poștei și centrului comercial al Craiovei, casa intra în anii `30 în proprietatea Băncii Eskenasy. Sursă: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1199466494339458&set=a.983924029227040&locale=ro_RO  Foto: RASUB Construct Engineering

Construită între anii 1909-1911 de către antrepriza constructorului italian Adotti Pietro. Sursă: https://www.facebook.com/Monumentalistul/?locale=ro_RO Foto: Monumentalist

Foto: Monumentalistul

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

Foto: Monumentalist

The Ionel (Iancu) Pleșia House is an architectural monument of the late 19th century in Craiova, located in the historical center of the city, near the former Victoria Store. An architectural jewel both on the outside and the sumptuous interiors, Pleşia House is hosting the headquarters of the Omnia branch of the National Library of Romania. Ionel Plesia House was built between 1890-1892 in an eclectic style of neoclassical predominance at the façade and neo-baroque at the interior. The architect is unknown, but the impressive building is supposed to be the work of the Frenchman Albert Galleron, who also designed in Romania the Romanian Athenaeum and the Palace of the National Bank of Romania in Bucharest, the Constantin Vălimărescu House in Craiova, the Dimitrie Ghika Palace in Comăneşti and numerous boyars' houses in Bucharest and the province. According to other sources, the Ion G. Pleșea houses were built in 1905 following the plans of the architect Iohan Goetz. The building was seized in the 1950s by the Romanian state. After the seizure, the building had different purposes. In September 1989, a conference presided by Zoia Ceaușescu was held in the Mirrors Hall of the Pleșia House and, fascinated by the beauty of the building, she would have proposed to Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu to turn it into their third residence in Craiova (along with the Barbu Drugă House and the Jianu House). Apparently, an investment of 2-3 million lei was immediately approved for the preparation of the house in order to begin the redevelopment, which lasted until December 1989 when the works were stopped by the coming of the Revolution. After the fall of the communist regime, upon receiving a fund of books donated by the EquiLibre Association and following countless petitions from a group of people of culture in the city (Marin Sorescu - editor-in-chief of Ramuri magazine in Craiova), Craiova City Hall provided a space for their hosting at the ground floor of Pleșia House. This is when the prestigious cultural institution, which is today the French Omnia Library, was set up. On May 25, 1990, following the order signed by Andrei Pleșu, then Minister of Culture, the Omnia Library became a subsidiary of the National Library of Romania. The official inauguration of the library took place on July 23, 1991, in the presence of prestigious guests, personalities of the cultural and political life of Craiova, from the country and from abroad. Since 2000, the building has returned to the patrimony of culture following a Governmental Decision. Source: www.monumenteoltenia.ro/ Photo: www.monumenteoltenia.ro

Mărăscu House

It is a monumental building, located close to the very center of Craiova. Over time, it hosted the headquarters of the Union of Students' Associations from the University of Craiova in the 1960s, or the Children's Palace, somewhat later, but the youngest know it as the site of the Court of Appeal after the' 90s. In the List of Historic Monuments in Dolj County, the house is named Matei Băileşteanu and dated from the end of the 19th century. It is supposed that Matei Băileşteanu might actually be this Gogu Matei, recorded somewhere, in any act, with this name. The house has a built-up area of 400 sqm and bears the imprint of architect Paul Smărăndescu, the author of several neo-Romanian style buildings. It was built in the years 1914-1915 on Smârdan Street, at no. 18, on the land on which there were some old houses with a single floor, that used to belong to Ghiţă Urdăreanu, the grandfather of Nicolae Titulescu. The new houses of Gogu Matei were among the largest in Craiova, as shown by a painting of the 27 buildings in the city that had heating facilities, on August 16, 1918. Gogu Matei, who used to call himself Mateescu, had an estate in Predeşti and was one of the founding members of the Banat Bank in Craiova. By 1937 it is recorded that the property was in the possession of the Naiculescu family. Source: craiovadeieri.wordpress.com, monumenteoltenia.ro

The "Amza Pellea" Memorial House in the city of Băilești was opened to the general public on 7th of April  2024. The building, built in 1908 in the neo-baroque style, was renovated with the support of the Dolj County Council. An exhibition was arranged in memory of the great actor Amza Pellea, with objects donated by his daughter, the actress Oana Pellea.  One of the halls is dedicated to the man - Amza Pellea. Family photos, baptism certificate, personal items such as gold diamond ring, silver pocket watch, sunglasses, pipes are exhibited here. Visitors can also admire a panoply of prop weapons, used by Amza Pellea in films such as "Dacians" or "Michael the Brave". Among the exhibits, there are the award obtained by Amza Pellea at the International Film Festival in Moscow, for the performance in the film "Condemnation", the medal "Golden Promotion Jubilee of the Romanian Theatre 1956-2006" and the Gold Clacheta awarded post mortem to Amza Pellea by Union of Film Authors and Producers from Romania, in 1998. The second hall is dedicated to the actor - Amza Pellea, and here, there are displayed movie posters such as: "Nea Mărin Billionaire", "Then I condemned all to death", "Michael the Brave", "Power and Truth" , "Nea Mărin's" first hat, photos and documents illustrating the rich artistic activity of the great actor.

In the courtyard on Mihail Kogălniceanu no 9, right next to the headquarters of “Alexandru and Aristia Aman” Dolj County Library, there is a small, yet history-rich building, namely the “Elena Farago” House, the oldest memorial house in Craiova. The two patrons of Craiova – the Alexandru and Aristia Aman couple – left the House by testament to be used as “residence for employees in the service of the library and the museum”. The poetess Elena Farago lived here since her naming as director of the “Alexandru and Aristia Aman” Foundation on September 1st 1921, until her passing away in January 1954. Due to the nature of the organised or hosted events, the current Memorial House had the allure of a true cultural salon, the meeting place of literary persons. The “Elena Farago” Memorial House hosts a permanent exhibition that includes 396 showpieces: furniture, personal belongings, books and reviews, as well as hundreds of original documents, photocopies, family photographs and correspondence. Each year thousands of children and young people, as well as persons interested in Elena Farago’s work and life visit the building.

Foto: Monumentalist

Here he lived the prefect of Dolj county (1914-1915) and then mayor of Craiova (1919), Constantin N. Popp (1877-1958), together with his wife, Antoaneta, who is descended from two of the great boyar families of Oltenia, Brăiloiu (after her father) and Glogoveanu (after her mother). The house will remain to their daughter, Veronica, married to Ion Caletzeanu. The Art-Nouveau-style house was built in 1875, number that is carved above the entrance. It is believed that the man who built the house was the father of Costică Popp, the banker Nae T. Popp (1848-1920), born in the suburb of Old St. George, Frăţia Street (today Petre Carp Street). In the absence of documents certifying this fact, this statement remains merely a hypothesis. The building had a ground floor and an upper floor. The walls of the ground floor rooms were gilded with golden Cordoba leather, and the ceilings were painted with scenes that matched the rooms’ purposes. In the back there was a small building where the kitchen and pantry were located, and at the back of the courtyard were stables, warehouses and staff accommodation rooms, next to which were flowers and grass. Next door was the "old house" bought by N.T. Popp from the Bengescu family, a house described by Al. Kiriţescu in the play "Gaiţele" (”The Jays”). In Nicolae Popp's house, after August 23, 1944, the Military Tribunal was established and the family members were forced to move to the old house where they lived until the summer of 1948 when they were evicted even from there. Source: www.facebook.com/craiovadeieri/ Photo: www.facebook.com/craiovadeieri/

The Pencioiu House, a historical monument, is located in the central area of the city. Situated near the Adventist Church of Craiova and the former headquarters of the conference, the building on Mitropolit Firmilian Street, no. 18, proved to be the ideal place that fully meets the current needs of the Adventist Church from the Oltenia region. In the building used to live D.G. Pencioiu, lawyer, literary critic and Romanian translator. He temporarily served as mayor of Craiova (1918) during the German occupation. Photo: www.monumenteromania.ro

The Poenaru House was built in 1890-1895 by the Italian company Adotti and belonged to a family that had large estates, namely that of Constantin Poenaru. The sumptuous building was built with the help of architects Ion Mincu, I.D. Berindei and Duiliu Marcu. The Students' House functioned in the building. The building is a monument where elements of the late French baroque style and neo-classical French style come together on the exterior, and the late Baroque and Rococo styles are intertwined in the interior. From the Great Hall of Honor, a T-shaped marble staircase allows, to the east and west, access to the basement. On the left and right of the staircase there are two large mirrors made of Venetian crystal. At the end of it was the Honor Chamber, accessible through a wide door with four sashes. From here one can pass to the other rooms through ornate doors. Source: https://audiotravelguide.ro

The Grigore Puiu Pleşa (Pleşia) House (Palace) was built between 1905 and 1910 on the site of the former Buzeşti boyars' houses, after the plans of architect Petre Antonescu. The building, called the Pleşa House, had various destinations, including the headquarters of the Trade Unions and the Court of Accounts of Dolj. Foto: Monumentalistul

The Rusănescu House in Craiova is a historic architectural monument from the end of the 19th Century, located in the central area of the city, at the intersection between Ştirbei Vodă Boulevard and Calea Unirii. The House, belonging to the Craiova boyar Ştefan D. Rusănescu, is now known as the Marriage Registry Office and hosts several sections of the Community Public Service for the Evidence of Persons in Craiova (Civil Status, Tutelary Authority). The Rusănescu House has a built area of 579 sqm with a height regime without basement, but with ground floor, upper floor and attic, and an interior courtyard. The house is a blend of styles, including features of Art Deco, late Baroque or Viennese style. At the exterior, there is a rich ornament around the entrances, windows and cornices, with decorative plaster made of cement mortar, an enclosed balcony above the main entrance and a skylight tin roof. Inside, the building features decorative panels on the walls and ceilings, painted in oil on the wall, and in oil on wood in the carpentry, an upstairs stained glass above the hallway and the stairwell, and a monumental staircase accessible through the secondary entrance (through the inner courtyard). The house was restored in 1999, with the works being performed in order to rebuild interior finishing (paintings, stuccos in golden leaves, ceilings, mirrors and skylight). Source: www.monumenteoltenia.ro Photo: www.monumenteoltenia.ro; https://audiotravelguide.ro

The Schina House in Craiova, nicknamed "The Little Louvre", is a historic architectural monument located near the central area of the city. The building is located on Calea Unirii, at no. 70, near Feraru House and opposite of Teodoru House. Built at the end of the 19th century in the Renaissance style, the house belonged to Dr. Constantin Schina, who is said to have been the chief physician of Craiova for a period of time. Schina House was sold after 1943 by the descendants of the doctor to a Craiova lawyer named Popescu. Between 1979 and 1996, the Museum of History of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Gomoiu" functioned in the building, founded by prof. Dr. Mihail Şcheau based on the "Pharmacy History Collection" organized in 1963 by pharmacists Gheorghe Cismărescu (1900-1964) and Nicolae Zahacinschi (1919-1988). The core of the museum, donated by Dr. Viorica Gomoiu in 1972, consisted of museum pieces gathered during his life by the great physician and historian of medicine Victor Gomoiu. Among the collections of the museum were two works by Constantin Brâncuşi, " Écorché" (one of the four or five existing copies, and the second remaining in Craiova, apart from the one preserved at the Carol I National College) and the bust of General Carol Davila. After 1996, lawyer Popescu's descendants claimed ownership of the building in which the museum was functioning. In 1997, they won the building in court, the collections of the museum being evacuated. The management of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova and the "Victor Gomoiu" Foundation decided to transfer the collections to the University of Targu Jiu in order to establish a medical faculty. The pieces are now located in the building of the Faculty of Medical Assistance, Dental Technique, Art and Physical Culture in Târgu Jiu. Later, in the former Schina House functioned a research institute. Currently Schina House is privately owned. Source: www.monumenteoltenia.ro Photo: www.monumenteoltenia.ro

Is located on General Dragalina Street, at no. 1, and is built in the 1900s.  It is included in the list of historical monuments of Dolj County. Photo: https://ro.pinterest.com/pin/321585229660576192/