Panciu

Panciu (Hungarian Páncsu ) is a city in Vrancea County in Romania.

Geographical location

Panciu lies in the Vltava River in the foothills of the Eastern Carpathians, in the foothills of the Vrancea Mountains. The city center is located on a small ridge, which is bounded on the north and south by two streams. The district capital Focsani is located approximately 25 km south-east.

History

The oldest archaeological finds in the region date back to the Paleolithic era. In 1589 Panciu was first mentioned under the name Crucea. In the 17th century, especially the living from the wine-growing town became a local administrative center. 1798 the place name Panciu was first mentioned. Besides Romanians lived in Panciu many Jews ( 1,410 in 1900 ). 1907 came in the context of the peasant uprising in Romania in Panciu unrest. The place was repeatedly hit by disasters; so by a fire in 1869 by an earthquake in 1894 and by fighting in the First World War in 1916. hardest an earthquake had on November 10, 1940 with a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale. 42 people were killed, 70 seriously injured and almost destroyed the whole place. The city subsequently rebuilt consists largely of prefabricated buildings.

Today, in addition to the wine, the textile industry and the food processing of primary importance.

Population

As of the 2002 census, 8,903 inhabitants were registered in the city, including 8,839 Romanians and 55 Roma. 5,327 lived in the city proper, the others in the incorporated villages.

Traffic

Panciu last stop is a leading Mărăşeşti railway line. However, there is currently run (2009 ) is only about two local trains daily.

Attractions

• Monastery Brazi ( 17-18. Century)
• Historic wine cellar ( 18-19. century)
• Jewish cemetery (19th century)

Personalities

• Ioan Slavici (1848-1925), writer, died in Panciu
• Gheorghe Alexianu (1897-1946), Governor of Transnistria 1941-1944, born in Panciu
• Dan Nica ( born 1960 ), Deputy Prime Minister, born in Panciu