Vâlcea County
Vâlcea (also spelt
Vîlcea; ) is a county (
judeţ) of
Romania, in the historical region
Oltenia, its capital city is
Râmnicu Vâlcea.
*
Argeş County in the East.
*
Gorj County and
Hunedoara County in the West.
*
Sibiu County and
Alba County in the North.
*
Dolj County and
Olt County in the South.
In
2002, it had a population of 413,247 and the
population density was 72/km².
*
Romanians - over 98%
*
Rromas, others.
official statisticsedrcThis county has a total area of 5,765 km².
The North side of the county is occupied by the mountains from the
Southern Carpathians group - The
Făgăraş Mountains in the East with heights over 2200 m, and the
Lotru Mountains in the West with heights over 2000 m. They are separated by the
Olt River valley - the most accessible passage between
Transylvania and
Wallachia. Along the
Olt River Valley there are smaller groups of mountains, the most spectacular being the
Cozia Mountains.
Towards the South, the heights decrease, passing through the sub-carpathian hills to a high plain in the West side of the
Romanian Plain.
The main river is the
Olt River crossing the county from North to South. Its main affluents are the
Lotru River in the North and the
Olteţ River in the South.
The city of
Râmnicu Vâlcea is the most industrialised in the county, the rest of the county having an agrarian development.
The predominant industries in the county are:
* Chemical industry.
* Food and beverage industry.
* Textile industry.
* Mechanical components industry.
* Construction materials.
* Wood and furniture industry.
In the West of the county
coal and
salt are extracted.
The area in the center of the county is well suited for fruit orchards,
wines and raising cattle. The South is better suited for growing cereals and vegetables.
The main tourist destinations are:
* The
Olt River Valley:
** The
Călimăneşti-Căciulata Resorts.
** The
Cozia Monastery.
** The Turnu Monastery.
** The
Cozia Mountains.
** Various small churches and fortifications.
* The
Lotru River valley:
** The town of
Brezoi.
** The
Lotru Mountanis.
** The
Voineasa Resort
** The
Vidra Resort
** The
Obârşia Lotrului Resort.
* The city of
Râmnicu Vâlcea.
* The
Băile Govora Resort.
* The
Băile Olăneşti Resort.
The county has 2 municipalities, 8 towns and 75 communes.
Municipalities
*
Râmnicu Vâlcea - capital city; population: 119,581
*
DrăgăşaniTowns
*
Băbeni*
Bălceşti*
Băile Govora*
Băile Olăneşti*
Brezoi*
Călimăneşti-Căciulata*
Horezu*
Ocnele MariCommunes
