Ploieşti City

The city of Ploieşti is located in southern Romania, 60 km north of Bucharest. The city flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries as a centre for trade and crafts, and between the two world wars the local economy was boosted by the advent of the petroleum processing industry. Between 1912 and 2001, the population rose from 56,460 to 248,688.

 

Ploieşti is situated near the famous wine – growing region Dealu Mare – Valea Calugareasca and has direct access to Prahova Valley, the most important area of mountainous tourism in Romania.

 

It is also an important road and railway centre which makes the connection with other important cities as: Bucharest, Brasov, Buzau, Targoviste, Urziceni, Valenii de Munte and Slanic. Ploieşti is the capital of Prahova county, the county with the largest population in Romania (almost 900 000 inhabitants) who live in 100 towns.

 

A bit of local history:

 

The town was established in 1596, during the reign of Mihai Viteazul (Michael the Brave). It rapidly flourished as a center for trade and handicraft manufacturing in the 17th and 18th centuries. The road connecting Ploieşti to Braşov was opened in 1864, and the railway arrived in 1882. Many schools and hospitals were built around this time.

 
In the mid-19th century, the Ploieşti region was one of the world’s leading oil extraction and refinery sites. The city is also remembered as the site of the self-styled Republic of Ploieşti, a short-lived 1870 revolt against theRomanian monarchy.
 

World War II:

 

Although badly damaged after the November 1940 earthquake, the city was a significant source of oil for Nazi Germany. A target of the Oil Campaign of World War II, Ploieşti was attacked repeatedly, such as during the HALPRO raid, and Operation Tidal Wave. Ploieşti was captured by Soviet troops in August 1944.

 
Following the war, the new Communist regime nationalised the oil industry, which had largely been privately owned, and made massive investments in the oil and petroleum industry in a bid to modernize the country and repair the war damage.
 

The world’s first oil refinery opens at Ploieşti, Romania:

 

The world’s first large refinery opened at Ploieşti, in 1856-1857, with US investment. After being taken over by Nazi Germany, the Ploieşti refineries were bombed in Operation Tidal Wave by the Allies during the Oil Campaign of World War II.

 

Culture and sightseeing:

 

There are many cultural and architectural monuments, including the Cultural Palace; the Clock Museum, featuring a collection of clocks and watches gathered by Nicolae Simache; the Oil Museum; the Art Museum of Ploieşti, donated by the Quintus family; and the Hagi Prodan Museum, dating to 1785: the property of a merchant named Ivan Hagi Prodan, it contains elements of old Romanian architecture and for a short time after World War I it hosted the first museum in Ploieşti, “Prahova’s Museum”.

 

Ploieşti has always been a lively city, but now, more than ever, due to recent investments, the city has flourished in terms of free-time activities. In August 2011, Ploieşti hosted the Golden Carpathian European Film & Fair and a Goran Bregovic concert. Among the main attractions you can find: