The county of Olt is situated in the southern part of Romania, extending across 5,489 square kilometers—representing approximately 2.3% of the country's total area. Olt is surrounded by Vâlcea, Arges to the north, Teleorman to the east, and Dolj to the west. Furthermore, to the south, the river Danube serves as a natural border between Romania and Bulgaria.[5] Geographically, Olt's landscape mainly comprises plains and low hills around the Olt River valley and its terraces.[4] Fertile lands and forests represent the most common type of landscape in Olt County.[5] The capital city, Slatina, is located in the central part of the county. Slatina offers several historical and cultural landmarks that tend to be visited by tourists, as the city has a history dating approximately 650 years back.[7] However, Slatina's oldest signs of inhabitation can be traced back to the Paleolithic era.[1] Other historical destinations in Olt County include the Sucidava area, known for its archeological heritage.[8] Additionally, there are a number of monasteries showcasing traditional architecture. One such example is the Brâncoveni Monastery, featuring a museum as well.[9] Many locals and tourists consider the summer season to be the best time of year to visit Olt when the average temperatures are the highest.[6]
Slatina, located in Oltenia, Romania, serves as the capital and largest city of Olt County. Situated in the southern region of Romania, it rests on the left bank of the Olt River, marking the intersection between the Getic Plateau and the Wallachian Plain. Boasting a population of around 70,000 residents as of 2011, Slatina plays a considerable role in the country's industrial landscape. This city, with a history spanning 650 years and a preserved historic center, holds several historical and cultural landmarks that tend to be visited by tourists. One such attraction is the "La Atletul Albanez" Confectionary, known as Romania's oldest private company, renowned for its confectionery.
For those interested in history and folk art, the Olt County Museum is available in the city. The museum has two sections, one dedicated to history and the other to folk art. It showcases items dating back to the Paleolithic era, traditional costumes, and fabrics specific to the area.
Slatina Cathedral is another noteworthy landmark. Nature enthusiasts can wander the Strehăreț Forest, a natural park featuring an accumulation lake.
For those seeking spiritual and historical sites, the Strehăreț Hermitage was built between 1664 and 1668 and was repaired in 1844. Its church was established by Metropolitan Varlaam in 1672.[7]
Sucidava—known as Sykibid or Skedevà in different historical records—is a Dacian and Daco-Roman historical site located in Corabia, Romania, on the Danube River's northern bank. Notably, it hosts the first Christian Basilica ever established in Romania. The site is also associated with a Roman bridge constructed by Constantine the Great, connecting Sucidava to Oescus, Bulgaria. This bridge played a role in the Roman efforts to reconquer Dacia.
One feature of Sucidava is a concealed underground spring that flows beneath the town's walls and reaches an external water source. Archaeological findings at Sucidava include coins spanning from the era of Aurelian to Theodosius II, indicating its historical significance. The site can be visited today.[8]
Olt County's monasteries are a part of its architectural legacy, distinguished by their spatial arrangements and ornate decorations.
One notable monastery, Brâncoveni Monastery, reportedly began in 1491, although three years later, it was fully established. Since 1985, the monastery has undergone sustained restoration efforts with state support. Later, from 1998 to 1999, a monastery museum was established, showcasing a Lapidary collection. Slatina's southern part contains Clocociov Monastery as well. A historical act during the reign of Matei Basarab is commemorated there, recorded in an inscription above the entrance.
The old center of Slatina municipality, the county seat of Olt, holds architectural significance, reflecting the municipality's historical legacy. It features 81 buildings constructed between 1860 and 1938. Various architectural styles are displayed along this strip, including classic, romantic, neo-gothic, neo-Romanian, modernist, and art nouveau.[9]
Olt County's landscape primarily revolves around the lower Olt Valley and its terraces, featuring plains and low hills. To the north, about one-third of the county's area is hilly terrain belonging to the Getic Plateau, stretching from the northern border to near Slatina. South of Slatina, extending to the Danube, lies a portion of the Romanian Plain, comprising sub-units such as the Romanatil Plain, Boianului Plain, and Burnazului Plain. The elevation slopes from Vitomirești to the Danube, providing a sunny southern exposure.
The Danube Valley, running east to west, dominates the Romanian side and includes extensive terraces. Meanwhile, the Olt Valley serves as a considerable axis within the county, characterized by expansive terraces on the right side from the north to the Danube and high terraces on the left side, particularly around Coteana and Slatina. The Olt River plays a central role in terms of hydrography, traversing the county from north to south for 143 kilometers. Predominant tributaries include the Olteț and Tesluiul rivers on the right and the smaller Dârjovul on the left. In the northern part, the Vedea River, with its Plapcea tributary on the right, also meanders through Olt County. Finally, the southern region, spanning 45 kilometers, is influenced by the Danube River, collecting the entire county's hydrographic network.[4]
Regarding Olt's natural conditions, the soil quality varies considerably between the plains and forested areas. Cultivated land accounts for 80.5% of the Olt's total area. In contrast, forests and other vegetated lands make up 10.6%, placing Olt County at the lowest position in the southwest region in this regard. Olt County features fertile lands, reportedly solidifying its status as one of the country's predominant agricultural regions in Romania. The largest expanses feature chernozem soil types found in the Caracal, Boianului, and Burnasului Plains. On the right bank of the Olt River brown-red forest soils prevail, while the northern areas are predominantly covered by podsol. The region's diverse geography and vegetation provide habitats for numerous animal and bird species.[5]
Olt County's climate is temperate-continental, with more precipitation in the northern part and less in the southern region.[4] Concerning the average temperatures in Olt's capital, Slatina, the warmest time of the year is during the summer months, namely August, with maximum temperatures ranking above 30°C. January tends to be the coldest, with an average of 4°C.[6]
Slatina, Olt's capital city, has a history spanning over a million years. The earliest signs of inhabitation come from those of the Paleolithic era who crafted tools from river stones along the Dârjov and Olt rivers. Later, stable Neolithic settlements emerged on the left terrace of the Sopot River.
During the Bronze Age, the Verbicioara culture introduced sun worship and early exchange links across the Carpathians. The Ferigele culture in the Iron Age displayed pottery influenced by the Greek and Roman worlds, evidenced by discovered coins.
With the Roman province of Dacia established in AD 106, Slatina became Romanized. Thus, Roman artifacts, including coins and structures, showcase this influence.[1]
Concerning the history of the county as a whole, the people of Olt played considerable roles in several historic moments that shaped Romania. In 1821, they supported and actively contributed to the revolution, and during the events leading to the Union of the Romanian Principalities in 1859, the people of Olt were also actively involved. Slatina's citizens, particularly the 3rd Dorobanti Regiment, played roles in battles including Canapa, Lom-Palanca, Smârdan, and Belogracic. The League for the Cultural Unity of All Romanians Olt Section was established in Slatina in January 1891, the country's first provincial branch of its kind.[2]
Historically, the county occupied the southern region of Greater Romania, situated in the western segment of the Muntenia historical region, encompassing areas in and around the south of Bucharest. This territory comprised the northeastern sector of today's Olt County, the southwestern part of present-day Argeș County, and the northwestern region of contemporary Teleorman County. In the interwar period, it shared borders with Argeș County to the north, while the eastern boundaries were adjacent to Argeș and Teleorman Counties. It bordered Teleorman County to the south, and to the west, it was demarcated by Romanați and Vâlcea Counties.[3]
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