Caracal, Romania

Infobox Settlement
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = ROU
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
map_caption = Location of Caracal, Romania

|official_name=Caracal
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Caracal, Romania
pushpin_mapsize =


image_shield=Coa Caracal OT RO.pngsubdivision_type1=County
subdivision_name1=Olt County
subdivision_type2=Status
subdivision_name2=Autolink|Municipality
settlement_type=Municipality|
leader_title=Mayor
leader_name=Gheorghe Anghel
|leader_party=Social Democratic Party
area_total_km2=72
population_as_of=2002
population_total=34607|latd=44|latm=06|lats=45|latNS=N|longd=24|longm=20|longs=50|longEW=E|
website=http://www.pmc.romanati.ro/

Caracal is a city in Olt county, Romania, situated in the historic region of Oltenia, on the plains between the lower reaches of the Jiu and Olt rivers. The region's plains are well known for their agricultural specialty in cultivating grains and over the centuries, Caracal has been the trading center for the region's agricultural output. Caracal has a population of approximately 34,000 and is the second largest city in the region.

History

Caracal's history dates back thousands of years to time when it was a settlement located on the former Roman road that binds Sucidava to Romula-Malva. The city's name is linked to the Roman Emperor's name Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caracalla. (211-217) After the Emperor's campaign against the Gothic's people in 215 B.C, it is believed that a portion of his soldiers established a settlement called Caracalla, with the local citizens of Romula getting Roman citizenship and the name of "Romanates." Here they established a Roman fortress that some historians claim was second only to the Roman fortress in Rome.

It is also possible that the city's name is derived from the Cuman language and that it means "Black fortress" ("kara", meaning "black", and "kal", either from the Arabic "qal'at" or the Turkish "kale", both meaning fortress). Other possibilities for the name include the wild cat "caracal" (its name – "karakulak" - is Turkish for "black ear"). Over time the city has grown and now several miles from the city's center a local village resides over the remains of this historic fortress.

The end of the XIX century and the first half of the XXth century saw Caracal experience visible economic and social growth and the region become one of the most important agricultural regions in Romania. Caracal was this region's capital and seat of Romanaţi County. Commerce rapidly developed bringing banks and many trades to the city. Caracal's importance grew and the city built impressive monuments and statues, a large city park, and a multitude of grand buildings including the National Theatre.

The 1900's and the communist rule brought changes to this region and to the city of Caracal. The ruling government appointed Slatina as the new region's capital. The communist government also instituted massive industrialization plans and Caracal experienced continued economic growth through the establishment of large industrial plants including several textile plants.

The town underwent major changes after the Nicolae Ceauşescu regime was overthrown in December 1989 and many important factories collapsed under the pressure of the market economy. After several years, mainly due to foreign investment, some of the factories started to rise again. However, the job situation today remains worse than before 1989. Also before Romania's admission to NATO, the town had a very large number of military personnel, the Caracal garrison being an important military center. However, along with the modernization of the Romanian Army, the units were disbanded and only a small amount of military professionals are present in the town.

Tourism

Some of Caracal's interesting tourist points are: the Romanti Museum, the Constantin Poroineanu Park and many beautiful church's and historic buildings.

Natives

*Gheorghe Argeşanu
*Marius Bunescu
*Virgil Carianopol
*Dan Diaconescu
*Aurelian Titu Dumitrescu
*Iancu Jianu
*Ion Rîmaru
*Marius Tucă

External links

* [http://www.primariacaracal.ro/work/ Caracal Website]
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/RO/0/Caracal.html Low-resolution map]
* [http://www.museum.com/ja/museum/id=15033&show=9&city=Caracal&country=RO Local museum in Caracal]