Brezoi

Brezoi is a small town in the district of Vâlcea in Wallachia region of Romania.

Location

Brezoi is surrounded by the Southern Carpathians in Lauterbach Valley ( Valea Lotrului ), a right tributary of the river Olt. In the north are the foothills of the Lotru Mountains, in the south of the Căpăţână Mountains. The district capital Râmnicu Vâlcea is situated about 30 km south-east.

History

In the area of the city, archaeologists discovered objects from the Iron Age and the era of the Dacians. After their subjugation by the Romans built this here a base with a watchtower. From the Roman period an antique statuette and a coin were found. According to Romanian historian believes that some field names indicate a continuous settlement of Lauterbach valley since that time. Since 1389 settlements are also attested in writing in the valley; The first documented mention of Brezoi dates back to 1575th The place belonged to the principality of Wallachia, which was under Ottoman suzerainty.

In the 16th century, was recovered in the region at a modest gold, both from mines and from the waters of the Lotru ( Lauterbach ).

From 1718 to 1739 the Oltenia and thus Brezoi was under Austrian rule. The very secluded Lauterbachtal experienced a boom during this period by the construction of a road ( " Via Carolina " ) through the valley of the Olt. After the Oltenia had come in peace of Belgrade ( 1739 ), again under Turkish control, fell into the Via Carolina and was restored only after 1829.

In the 19th century the timber extraction and processing was the main industry of the inhabitants. 1819, the first sawmill was mentioned; since the 1830s, there was a school.

1864 Brezoi became a municipality. At the end of the 19th century reached the number and importance of sawmills its peak. 1900 opened a hospital.

During the First World War Brezoi was occupied from 1916 to 1918 by German and Austro-Hungarian troops; in the vicinity of the place was a prison camp for Romanian soldiers.

After the Second World War, a narrow-gauge railway from Olttal about Brezoi after Voineasa was 1948/49, built in the upper Lauterbachtal, which made the hitherto usual rafts of logs in Lauterbach superfluous.

1968 Brezoi was connected to the electricity grid; In the same year the town was declared a city. In 1969, the leading through the Lauterbachtal a road asphalt surface; the narrow-gauge railway line was closed.

In 1986, below the city the hydroelectric plant Gura Lotrului in operation.

The main industries are cattle breeding and continue logging. An increasing role of tourism.

Population

1930 lived on the territory of today's approximately 4,300 residents, including 450 Roma, 200 German and Hungary, and 100 Jews; the rest were Romanians. As of the 2002 census, 6,859 inhabitants were counted in the city, including 6,810 Romanians, 16 Hungarians and 9 German.

Traffic

Brezoi is on the running in the valley of the Olt railway line between Sibiu and Ramnicu Valcea. Near the town is the Lotru station. From here run in both directions at present ( 2009) day each about seven local trains. There are regular bus services to Râmnicu Vâlcea.

Attractions

• Church in the district Proieni (1794-1798)
• Church in the district Călineşti (1775 )
• Wooden church in Brezoi (1789 )
• Lotru Station (1897-1902)
• Scenic surroundings