Horezu

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

Location

Horezu is located in the foothills of the Southern Carpathians, on the south side of the Capatana Mountains. The district capital Râmnicu Vâlcea is situated about 30 km to the east.

History

The first mention of Horezu dates back to 1487th The place belonged to the principality of Wallachia, which was under Ottoman suzerainty.

In 1700 the village of Wallachian Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu donated to the monastery he Horezu was given away. From 1780 Horezu was officially a market town and later a local administrative center. 1832 opened the first school. 1968 Horezu was declared a city.

The main industries are agriculture and tourism. Many residents are concerned with the pottery.

Population

1930 lived on the territory of today's approximately 3,400 residents, including about 50 Roma; the rest were Romanians. As of the 2002 census, 6,807 inhabitants were counted in the city, including 6,803 Romanians. Approximately 3,900 lived in Horezu itself, the other in the six incorporated villages.

Traffic

Horezu has no rail connection. Through the city along the national road 67 from Drobeta Turnu Severin leads to Râmnicu Vâlcea. There are regular bus services to Râmnicu Vâlcea and because of the tourist operation in many larger cities in the country.

Attractions

• Monastery Horezu (1692-1694) in the district Romanii de Jos, UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Church Duminica tuturor Sfinţilor with bell tower (1659/1859)
• Art gallery
• Large pottery market on the first Sunday in June
• Church Intrarea în biserica (1800-1804)
• Sf. Voievozi (1826 )
• Ruins of the hermitage Sf. Ioan (17th century) in the village of Romanii de Sus

Born in Horezu

• Comanescu ( b. 1949 ), former Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Adrian Popa (* 1988), Romanian national football team