Călimăneşti

Călimăneşti lies on the edge of the Southern Carpathians , to the right of the Olt River . Part of the city's territory is to the left of the river and therefore not in the Small , but in the Great Wallachia . The district capital Râmnicu Vâlcea is about 15 km south.

history

Archaeologists discovered objects from the Neolithic , the Bronze Age and the Dacian era in the area of the city . After their submission by the Romans , they built the fortress Arutela on the left bank of the Olt in 137/138 . The healing properties of mineral springs were already known in ancient times. Călimăneşti was first mentioned in 1388 in connection with the nearby Cozia monastery . The place had a certain importance due to its strategic location at the southern end of the Olt-Carpathian breakthrough, but nevertheless remained a smaller village for a long time. In 1827, through travel reports, the healing power of the mineral water that emerged here regained national fame. At an international fair in Vienna in 1873, the water from the Căciulata district received an award. From 1882 to 1884 the first spa facilities and guest accommodations were built in Călimăneşti. Here and in Căciulata, a number of other hotels followed in the years before and after the First World War. In 1927 Călimăneşti was declared a city. After the communists came to power in 1947 and the tourist facilities were nationalized, the spa business continued. In 1977 the largest hydropower plant opened in the course of the Olt River with an output of 70 MW .

The main industries are tourism and trade.

population

In 1948, 3329 people lived in the area that is now the city. The 2002 census counted 8605 inhabitants in the city, including 8308 Romanians , 278 Roma and 15 Hungarians .

traffic

Călimăneşti is located on the railway line between Sibiu and Râmnicu Vâlcea, which runs in the Olt Valley . There are four train stations in the city, with express trains stopping in Călimăneşti and only local trains in Mănăstirea Turnu , Cozia and Pausă . Călimăneşti is located on the European route 81 . There are regular bus connections to Râmnicu Vâlcea and Bucharest .

Attractions

Cozia National Park (171 km²)
Roman fortress Arutela (2nd century, partially reconstructed)
Cozia Monastery (14th century) with the grave of the Wallachian prince Mircea cel Bătrân
Turnu Monastery (17th century)
Stânișoara monastery (18th century)
Ostrov Hermitage on an island in the Olt, founded in the 16th century by the Wallachian prince Neagoe Basarab