Dolj

Craiova is the largest city in southwestern Romania and the capital of Dolj County, serving as the historical and economic centre of the Oltenia region. Often called the Citadel of the Bans, it grew from a medieval market town into a university city with a strong commercial, automotive and manufacturing base.

The city's layered past is visible in landmarks such as the 18th-century Casa Băniei, the Church of the Apostles, the Old Saint John's Church and the stately 1907 Art Museum housed in the Jean Mihail Palace. The Museum of Oltenia covers regional archaeology, history and ethnography, while the Marin Sorescu National Theatre keeps Craiova's performing arts tradition alive.

Nicolae Romanescu Park, a landscaped late-19th-century park of roughly 90 hectares, is among the city's best-known green spaces, with a lake, a suspended bridge and tree-lined paths. The compact centre is easy to explore on foot around Alexandru Ioan Cuza, with cafés, restaurants and shops radiating from the main pedestrian areas.

Craiova hosts Universitatea Craiova football matches at the modern Ion Oblemenco Stadium and a calendar of cultural and business events that draw visitors from across the region. Its university, manufacturing sector and international airport make it a practical base for both work and leisure travel.

For travellers, Craiova offers a relaxed alternative to Bucharest with genuine regional character, convenient access to the Danube at nearby Calafat and connections by road, rail and air to the rest of Romania and Europe.