Vrancea County is found in the eastern part of Romania, surrounded by the territory of Bacau County in the north, Covasna County in the west, Buzau County in the southwest, and Braila County in the southeast, the territory of Galati County in the east and Vaslui County in the northeast. It stretches across an area of 4,857 square kilometers.[1] Vrancea's capital city, Focşani, is located in the eastern part of the county. The city houses several historical and cultural landmarks. However, it is known for lying in the center of the wine region.[6] In terms of Vrancea's history, the county was mentioned in 1431. Thus, several historical monuments can be found across its territory.[1] One of them is the Heroes' Mausoleum in Mărășești.[7] Concerning Vrancea's geography, the county's landscape forms an amphitheater with a west-to-east bend featuring mountains, hills, and plains.[1] There are several protected areas within Vrancea's borders. In the Vrancei Mountains, people might be interested in hiking trails in Cheile Tișiței Nature Reserve.[8] Another protected area is Focul Viu Nature Reserve (Andreiasu de Jos), known for its natural gas emissions and the "live fires."[9] Regarding local climate, due to Vrancea's morphological conditions, both continental and mountainous climate types are typical for the area.[1]
Focşani is the capital city of Vrancea County, located in east-central Romania. Situated approximately 160 kilometers north-northeast of Bucharest, it is positioned along the Milcov River, historically serving as the border between Moldavia and Walachia. The city features a monument that marks this former frontier.
Focşani is reportedly known for being at the heart of a wine-producing region with a winemaking tradition dating back to the 15th century. Additionally, the city plays a role in the industrial sector, particularly in processing dairy products and manufacturing furniture and clothing.[6]
One of the historical attractions of Valcea County is the Heroes' Mausoleum in Mărășești, which was initiated by the National Orthodox Society of Romanian Women during a congress in Bucharest in 1919. Architect George Cristinel designed the monument, laying its foundation on August 6, 1923. In the summer of 1924, the remains of fallen soldiers were transferred to the crypts, including General Eremia Grigorescu, the commander of the 1st Romanian Army during the Mărășești battle. Construction on the monument's dome, known as "The Dome of Glory," resumed 12 years later. Today, the Mausoleum houses 154 individual and nine common crypts containing the remains of 5,073 soldiers and officers, including heroine Măriuca Zaharia, Captain Grigore Ignat, and Lieutenant Gabriel Pruncu. The frontispiece bears the words "For the Grace of Nation's Heroes" and the central battle locations on the Romanian front.[7]
People seeking outdoor recreation can travel to the Vrancei Mountains, offering hiking and walking trails. One such trail is the route through the Cheile Tișiței Nature Reserve, starting at "Gura Tișita," where the Tișita River joins the Putna River. The trail extends 7 kilometers upstream to the "Great Tunnel" with a 200-meter elevation gain. Depending on individual capabilities and experience, the round trip takes four to six hours.
The route follows an old logging road, partially destroyed by floods in 2005, built on an early 1900s logging railway site. Key landmarks along the way include "La Tuburi," "La Pârâul Arșiței," "La Bolovan," "La Pândar," "Arcade 1 and 2," and "La Tunelul Mare."[8]
Another natural attraction located in the Vrancea Mountains, around 37 kilometers from Focșani, near the Milcov River, is the Focul Viu Nature Reserve (Andreiasu de Jos), known for its natural gas emissions. These emissions burst through crevasses in the Earth's crust and ignite instantly, creating flames reaching 30 to 50 centimeters. This phenomenon is rare worldwide, often called "live fires." It is considered the country's most extensive field of such fires, with a methane flow of approximately 50 tons per year. Around 24 tons of methane gas are emitted annually from six analyzed openings. The exact date of the phenomenon's origin is unknown. Still, it is believed to be ancient, possibly resulting from a volcanic eruption, supported by archaeological findings and surface research revealing tools made from volcanic rocks. It is recommended to see the live fires at night.[9]
Vrancea County encompasses the area of the Carpathian curve, offering a diverse geography ranging from the peaks of Cozia, Giurgiu, and Goru to the Siret Plain. The county's landscape takes the form of a natural amphitheater, characterized by a west-to-east bend and featuring three primary geographical types: mountains (27.2% of the county), which include the Vrancea Mountains; hills (43.9%), encompassing the Curve Subcarpathians; and plains (28.9%), consisting of the Siret Plain.
The Subcarpathian depression in Vrancea reportedly experiences the most significant seismic activity in Romania, with several earthquake epicenters located there. From a hydrographical perspective, the Siret River is the predominant waterway, impacting all other rivers in Vrancea County, including the Trotus, Putna, Rîmnic, and Zabala rivers. Bodies of water and lakes cover 140.3 square kilometers, accounting for 2.9% of the county's area. This percentage ranks the county 14th in Romania for the most significant water coverage.
Natural resources in the area include salt, construction materials, clay, ceramics, mineral springs (e.g., Soveja and Vizantea-Livezi), and, to a lesser extent, oil, natural gas, and coal. Vrancea County is home to 18 natural reservations spanning 2,878 hectares and housing various animal and plant species.[1]
One particular protected area is the Putna-Vrancea Natural Park, housing flora, high relief energy, varying slopes, and topoclimatic diversity. Geological formations and relief variations contribute to climatic differences. The park's fauna aligns with mountainous regions, featuring non-morainal forests, boreal forests, mountain meadows, subalpine thickets, and ruderal areas. Among the 195 vertebrate species identified, several are protected under various legislative acts.
Of particular significance are the large carnivores inhabiting the area, including bears, wolves, lynxes, and otters. Conservation efforts for these carnivores are facilitated through the PNPV's Management Plan and the existence of a local ecological network in Vrancea County dedicated to their protection.[4]
Vrancea County sits at the crossroads of two distinct climate zones: a continental climate region and a mountain climate zone. Its climate is characterized as temperate-continental, featuring cold winters and warm, dry summers. The high temperatures during the summer, combined with low rainfall and strong winds, give rise to dry conditions, which can negatively impact agricultural production in the area.[1] The warmest month in the Vrancea's capital, Focşani, tends to be August, reaching the average temperature of 29°C. January tends to be the coldest, with an average of 3°C. The most precipitation falls in June, receiving 88 millimeters of rainfall on average.[5]
Vrancea—an ancient Romanian region dating back to at least 1431 when it was referred to as "Varancha"—serves as a geographical link connecting the three historical Romanian regions: Moldova, Wallachia, and Transylvania. This county possesses a unique historical significance, retaining traces of ancient pastoral transhumance practices, albeit in modified forms that persist to this day.
In the early 20th century, Vrancea became the focus of multidisciplinary investigations led by sociologist H. Stahl. These inquiries into "Devalmasia vrânceana" shed light on the region's social archaeology, preserving elements of the past while also revealing ancient pre-Christian customs and magical practices that have been passed down through generations. One example is the magic theater of Nereju, which showcases these traditions and rituals.[1]
Historically, Vrancea County was an autonomous peasant state before Wallachia and Moldavia's establishment.
Considerable historical events in Vrancea include Ion Voda cel Cumplit's victory over the Turks in 1574, Mihai Viteazul's passage in 1600, and battles during the Russian-Turkish War of 1789. Focşani holds particular importance for its role in the Moldavia-Wallachia union in 1859.
The county also played a part in World War I, with battles in 1917 contributing to Romania's national statehood in 1918.
Vrancea is home to memorials and mausoleums honoring First World War figures.[2]
In 1968, Vrancea County regained its current name. It expanded its territory to the south and southeast by incorporating parts of the former Râmnicu Sărat district (abolishing the Ploiești region and creating Buzău County). This expansion included several localities from various areas. Additionally, four other localities joined from Bacău County, and two communes, Măicănești and Râmniceni, joined from Brăila district.[3]
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