Romania: interesting data and facts about the country. Interesting facts about Romania Interesting facts about Romania by geography

Romania

Socialist Republic of Romania (SRR). State in southeastern Europe. Territory - 237.5 thousand square meters. km. Population - 21.7 million people (1976) Capital - Bucharest (1.7 million inhabitants). The official language is Romanian.

Physical culture and sports really began to develop in Romania only after the Second World War, when the country became a people's republic. Now physical education and sports in the Socialist Republic of Romania have become a matter of national importance and are part of the sphere of national interests.

The single coordination center for the management of physical education and sports in the country is the National Council for Physical Education and Sports, the rights and responsibilities of which are established by the Law on the development of activities in physical education and sports, adopted by the Grand National Assembly of the SRR on December 28, 1967.

The National Council for Physical Education and Sports deals with the following issues:

Development of mass physical culture among the population;

Solving the problems of elite sports and representing Romanian sports on the international stage;

Regulation and methodological development of educational and sports work, planning and use of funds allocated to the physical education movement;

Construction and operation of sports facilities;

Work on the promotion of physical culture and sports, publication of printed materials;

Establishing and developing connections with similar sports organizations in other countries and with international sports associations.

The National Council for Physical Education and Sports is elected at a conference of the sports movement throughout the country. In addition, it includes representatives of central state and public organizations involved in issues of physical education and sports.

The National Council for Physical Education and Sports selects the chairman and secretaries. The executive committee consists of a chairman, vice-chairmen, secretaries and several council members. The Executive Committee ensures the implementation of council decisions and performs its functions between plenary meetings.

The activities of the National Council for Physical Education and Sports are based on a territorial principle. In all administrative-territorial units of the country there are local councils for physical education and sports.

In addition to the National Council for Physical Education and Sports, a number of state and public organizations are involved in the development of physical culture and sports.

The tasks of developing mass sports activities in enterprises and institutions are solved by trade unions. Together with the National Council for Physical Education and Sports, trade unions are responsible for the development of elite sports in enterprises and institutions.

The organization of mass sports work in schools, universities and in the countryside is carried out by the Communist Youth Union with the support of the National Council for Physical Education and Sports.

The National Council of the Pioneer Organization conducts mass physical education activities among students under 14 years of age.

The Ministry of Education and Training organizes the process of physical education in schools of all levels according to the curriculum, supports mass sports activities among school and student youth; together with the National Council for Physical Education and Sports, it is responsible for the development of elite sports in schools and universities.

The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are responsible for mass physical education and sports work and, together with the National Council for Physical Education and Sports, ensure the development of elite sports in sports clubs and societies belonging to them.

The Ministry of Health, the National Union of Agricultural Production Cooperatives, the General Union of Craft Cooperatives, local government bodies, and the Ministry of Tourism also participate in the development of physical culture and sports in the country.

The main tasks of all organizations involved in physical culture and sports are to attract the masses of workers, especially young people, to systematic exercise and sports, the widespread development of mass physical culture and sports, and the improvement of sports achievements.

In Romania there are currently 93 sports clubs and 9,716 sports societies.

Sports societies are public organizations in which mass physical education and sports work is carried out. Sports societies may also have sections for highly qualified athletes.

Sports clubs are public organizations that are primarily involved in elite sports.

Sports clubs and societies are organized at enterprises, institutions, schools and universities, military units, cooperatives, villages and cities. They are governed by councils elected at general meetings of members of these organizations.

In accordance with the program for the further development of physical education and sports for 1976-1980, adopted by the leadership of the Romanian Communist Party, councils for physical education and sports are being created in all rural communes of the republic. They are designed to ensure unified management of sports life in rural areas, development of the material base, and attraction of the broad masses of rural workers, especially young people, to physical education and sports.

New public organizations consist of representatives appointed by municipal people's councils, trade union councils, SCM committees, councils of pioneer organizations, heads of schools, rural production cooperatives, and state agricultural farms.

Communal councils are subordinate to the county councils for physical education and sports and carry out their activities under the leadership of municipal party committees.

The first rural sports club in the country included four sports associations from the Branesti commune. All conditions for training and competitions have been created for almost four thousand boys and girls of the commune. They have at their disposal five halls, a small sports complex with a football field and an athletics sector. Athletes from local lyceums achieved good success in youth republican competitions and were finalists in the Youth Cup in handball and athletics. In addition to these sports, gymnastics and wrestling are very popular in Branesti.

Organizing your own club will give Branesti athletes the opportunity to participate in competitions on a national scale.

Personnel training

The training of physical education personnel and the development of problems in sports science in the country are carried out by 1 specialized institute of physical education, 11 faculties of physical education, 1 special school of trainers, 1 research center, 1 center of sports medicine.

In recent years, Romanian athletes - participants in various international competitions - have achieved brilliant successes, incomparable to the previous modest achievements, achieved only thanks to the talent and great love for sports of a few enthusiasts. All today's victories are the result of the conditions created for the development of sports by the Communist Party of Romania and the government, the skill of athletes and coaches.

For 1947-1972 Romanian athletes won 193 medals at the world championships, 70 of which were gold, and 297 medals at the continental championships, 66 of them gold. During this period of time, Romanian athletes improved 9 Olympic, 88 world and 53 European records.

The whole world knows the names of outstanding Romanian athletes. This is boxer Kalistrag Kutsov - Olympic medalist, European lightweight champion; classical style wrestlers Gheorghe Berceanu - Olympic champion in flyweight, two-time world and European champion; Nicolae Martinescu is one of the best light heavyweight wrestlers of recent years, who, among the best athletes of the socialist countries, was awarded the title “Honored Master of Sports of the USSR”; rower-kayaker Aurel Vernescu - four-time world champion, eight-time European champion, multiple Olympic medalist; one of the best canoeists of recent years, Ivan Patsaykin, two-time Olympic champion, two-time world and European champion; the best high jumper of the late fifties - early sixties, Yolanda Balazs - two-time winner of the Olympic Games and European Championships, who improved the world record 14 times; one of the best handball players of recent years, two-time world champion Gheorghe Gruia.

In 1975, Romanian athletes won 2 gold, 8 silver and 9 bronze medals at the World Championships, and 11 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze medals at the European Championships. The world champions were fencer Ekaterina Stahl and Maria Alexandru, who won the table tennis championship in women's doubles together with Japanese S. Takahashi.

The wonderful gymnast Nadia Comăneci won 4 gold medals at the European Championships (all-around, uneven bars, beam, vault).

The great contribution of Romania to the development of world sports is recognized by the fact that Romania has been honored with the organization of many international competitions. Since 1945, 10 world championships have been held in Romania: table tennis, handball, skittles, classical wrestling, modeling, hockey (groups B and C); 11 European championships: volleyball, kayaking and canoeing, shooting, boxing, clay pigeon shooting; the 1951 World University Games, in which 35 countries took part; European Cups in gymnastics and athletics; more than 200 international meetings in 46 sports.

Currently, Romania maintains contacts, exchanges experience, publications and information with sports organizations in more than 125 countries.

Every year, the National Council for Physical Education and Sports draws up plans for cooperation with sports organizations of socialist states. In order to expand mutual assistance, the National Council signed an agreement for a long period with sports organizations of Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary and the USSR.

The National Council for Physical Education and Sports, federations and sports clubs maintain and develop comprehensive friendly cooperation with sports organizations of the Balkan states. Romanian athletes regularly participate and organize traditional Balkaniadas in weightlifting, basketball, wrestling, table tennis, tennis, boxing, sailing, shooting, motorsports, football, equestrianism, fencing and other sports. Balkan committees or secretariats, which include representatives of federations of all Balkan countries, do not limit their activities only to the organization of competitions, but also hold meetings for the exchange of experience between coaches and sports doctors, help establish regular contacts between sports clubs and associations and expand traditional ties that have historically developed between the Balkan peoples.

Romanian sports organizations are constantly strengthening their relationships with organizations in developing countries. Every year the number of sports meetings and experience exchange meetings between Romanian athletes and athletes from Asia, Africa and Latin America is growing. More and more young representatives of these countries are studying at the Institute of Physical Education and Sports in Bucharest and receiving scholarships from the National Council for Physical Education and Sports. In the academic year 1972/73, 21 foreign students from the People's Republic of Congo, Ghana, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia, Zaire and other countries studied at the institute. In the 1973/74 academic year, 12 more scholarships were established for athletes from Egypt, Morocco, Togo, Zaire, Zambia, and Angola.

Recently, one of the effective forms of cooperation has been long-term business trips to various countries for Romanian coaches to train sports personnel. Thus, 2 Romanian football coaches and 1 weightlifting coach worked in Tanzania; in Morocco - wrestling coach; in Iran - 1 basketball coach, 1 water polo coach, 2 soccer coaches; In Algeria there are 2 boxing coaches and 1 football coach, 5 handball coaches and 5 volleyball coaches, etc.

Sports contacts with organizations in France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, England, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland and other countries are also constantly developing.

Representatives of Romania cooperate in all international sports associations, consistently implementing the Olympic principles that proclaim peace, understanding between nations and friendship among athletes, compliance with the rules and charters of international sports organizations, and the fight against any form of discrimination.

In the volume of external sports relations, a significant place is occupied by the activities of 44 international sports organizations, which were joined by the National Council for Physical Education and Sports and the sports federations of Romania.

Representatives of Romanian sports federations actively participate, especially in recent years, in the work of most congresses and symposiums on various issues of physical culture and sports. 62 representatives of the Socialist Republic of Romania were elected to the governing bodies of international federations for kayaking and canoeing, wrestling, fencing, handball, rugby, shooting, volleyball, as well as European unions for shooting, table tennis and volleyball; Member of the technical commissions of international federations for weightlifting, airsports, basketball, kayaking and canoeing, gymnastics, athletics, football, motorsports, bowling, swimming, rugby, chess, fencing, shooting, table tennis, volleyball.

Romania was among the founding countries of the International Amateur Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

The Romanian Olympic Committee was created in 1914. A. Shiperko was elected a member of the IOC for Romania in 1955. Since 1924, representatives of Romania have participated in all (except 1922 and 1948) Olympic Games, competing in most sports that make up the Olympic program. Representatives of Romania won their first medal - bronze - at the Games of the VIII Olympiad in 1924 in rugby competitions. At the XV Olympic Games in 1952, Ion Sarbu won the first gold medal in small-bore rifle shooting. At the XVI Olympic Games in 1956, the successful performance of the team put Romania in the group of leading sports powers (11th place in the unofficial team standings and 8th in the number of medals received). Romanian athletes performed just as successfully at subsequent games. At the XVII Olympic Games in 1960, Romanian athletes took 3rd place in the unofficial team competition in classical wrestling, 4th in shooting, at the Games of the XVIII Olympic Games in 1964 - 3rd place in kayaking and canoeing competitions , 4th - in men's and women's volleyball competitions, 5th - in classical wrestling and shooting, at the Games of the XIX Olympiad 1968 - 3rd place in kayaking and canoeing, 4th - in classical wrestling, 5th - in boxing and fencing. Great success was achieved by canoeists Ivan Patsaykin, who won 2 gold and 1 silver medal (1968, 1972), Leon Rotman, who was awarded 2 gold and 1 bronze medal (1956, 1960), Yolanda Balash, who won the high jump championship (1960, 1964).

Romanian gymnasts performed well at the XXI Olympic Games in 1976. In the team championship, they won silver medals, and in the individual competition, Nadia Comeneci achieved brilliant success, becoming the absolute champion of the Games and winning 2 gold medals (uneven bars and beam) and 1 bronze medal (floor exercise) on individual apparatus.

Romanian athletes have been participating in the Winter Olympic Games since 1928. They did not compete only at the White Olympics in 1960. The first medal was won by Romanian athletes at the White Olympics in 1968: they took 3rd place in the double bobsled race.

Holidays in Romania are considered not very expensive compared to many EU countries. Prices for most services, goods and food are 50% lower than in Western Europe.

In every city, shopping can be done in huge supermarkets, markets, as well as in numerous small private shops, where the owner himself often stands behind the counter.

Among the Romanian souvenirs, the most popular among tourists are:

handmade leather goods;
silver jewelry;
embroidery;
clay and porcelain products;
colorful warm blankets;
wool sweaters;
silk blouses and dresses;
all kinds of “Dracula” souvenirs (from mugs and T-shirts to aspen stakes).

Credit cards are accepted in all major hotels, restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets, but it is always a good idea to carry cash with you.

Transport

When traveling around Romania, you can use road, rail, river and air transport.

The quality of roads in Romania has improved significantly in recent years. In mountainous areas, the quality of the surface is slightly worse than in the flat areas of the country, which is primarily due to heavy rainfall in the Carpathians, so certain sections of mountain roads are constantly being repaired. To travel on national roads you must pay a road tax - rovigneta.

Romania has a large railway network, but this type of transport is not very popular among tourists and the population due to the limited speed of travel (the average speed of trains is approximately 43 km/h). Most of the trains are outdated and have little comfort.

River transport is represented by ferries carrying passengers and goods across the Danube. There is also (as a type of ecotourism) traveling by boat or small ship on the Danube.

Those who value travel time should use air transport. There are 17 airports in Romania, including 5 international ones. Air transportation in the country is well developed. From Bucharest you can get to all the largest cities in the country. On the most popular routes, planes fly 4–5 times a day. This type of transport is very popular among local residents. The planes are in excellent condition, with polite, qualified staff.

Urban public transport is well organized in all large and medium-sized cities in Romania (costs 1–2 lei, or 25–50 euro cents). Recently, double-decker buses have appeared in Bucharest, plying the tourist route within the city. The capital also has the only metro in the country. Taxis are metered. If they are not available, then the cost of the trip should be agreed upon in advance (most taxi drivers have basic knowledge of English).

Connection

Telephone calls abroad can be made both from specialized pay phones (work with cards that can be purchased at kiosks of printed materials), from telephone booths at post offices, and from hotel rooms, but this will be 10–20% more expensive.

Mobile communications in Romania are provided by 4 GSM operators - Connex Vodafon, Orange, Cosmte and DigiMobil - and one CDMA operator - Zapp. Today, the coverage area includes almost the entire territory of the country, with the exception of remote, hard-to-reach mountainous areas. Orange and Vodafone are the leaders in coverage area, occupying 98–99% of Romania.

Access to Internet resources is provided by more than 200 providers in Romania. Most hotels and hostels offer free Wi-Fi.

Safety

Recent studies of the criminal situation in different countries of the world have shown that Romania occupies a leading position in security among European countries. In the northern and northeastern regions, near the Ukrainian and Moldovan borders, the situation is slightly worse than in the rest of the country: there are gypsy beggars and pickpockets. Here you should be careful with your valuables - keep money, mobile phones, cameras with you.

There are no gypsies at all in resort areas; public order is monitored by city police patrols.

Business

Membership in the European Union led Romania to implement a series of free market reforms, which resulted in the liberalization of foreign trade, the modernization of the tax and banking systems, and the active development of the private sector.

Today, investing in the Romanian economy is considered promising and profitable.

The fixed income tax rate is 16%, and for small enterprises with no more than 10 employees and a total annual income not exceeding 100,000 € - 3%.

Cities and resorts in Romania are attracting more and more attention as business tourism destinations. Affordability and the availability of modern, well-equipped conference rooms make Romania an attractive place for business seminars, meetings, exhibitions and conferences of various levels.

Real estate

The unique nature, favorable climate and proximity to world-famous health resorts attract many who want to purchase real estate in Romania.

Here, foreigners have the same rights to purchase real estate as local residents. There are minor restrictions imposed by international treaties, as well as restrictions on the purchase of agricultural and strategic lands, national park lands, as well as real estate of historical and cultural value.

The greatest interest among foreigners is in real estate on the Black Sea coast, in the capital and at ski resorts. Here the minimum cost per 1 m² is about 800 €.

To avoid any misunderstandings during your stay in Romania and enjoy your holiday, tourists should follow some rules of conduct in the country. The basic rule, as in many European countries, is the ban on smoking in public places and transport, including railways.

Fans of photographic art should remember that in Romania, bridges and ports are considered strategic objects, so they should never be photographed.

In restaurants and cafes, it is customary to leave a tip of 10% of the cost of the check.

Chemicals, in particular bleach, are used as a disinfectant for tap water. Such water, of course, cannot be poisoned, but it is not suitable for drinking, and can also cause allergic reactions on sensitive skin when washed. But the water in mountain springs and wells in the Carpathians is not only safe and tasty, but also healthy.

Visa information

To visit Romania, citizens of Russia and other CIS member countries will need a visa that does not grant the right to enter the countries of the Schengen zone, despite the fact that Romania is a member of the European Union.

There are 3 types of visas: transit (B), short-term for a period of less than 90 days (C) and multiple long-term (D). To obtain a visa to the embassy, you must provide a passport valid for at least 3 months from the end of the trip to Romania, plus photocopies of the pages of the passport with the owner’s personal data, photographs (2 pcs.), a completed application form of the established form, medical insurance and a certificate from the place of work indicating salary and position. The consular fee is 35 € for registration within 5–10 days, 70 € for an urgent visa.

The Romanian Embassy in Moscow is located at 119285, Moscow, st. Mosfilmovskaya, 64 (tel.: (+7 495) 143-04-24; 143-04-27).

Consulates:

St. Petersburg, Gorokhovaya st., 4 (tel.: (+7 812) 312-61-41, 335-08-44 344019,
Rostov-on-Don, st. 7th Line, 18/39 (tel: (+7 863) 253-08-61, 230-29-15, 227-59-25). If you have a Schengen visa, you can make transit trips through the territory of Romania for 5 days without issuing a Romanian transit visa.

Culture

Over the centuries, Romanians have been exposed to various cultures, each of which has contributed to the formation of modern Romanian culture. The influence of the ancient Romans was replaced several centuries later by the influence of the culture of the Slavs, Greeks, Turks and Hungarians. In the Middle Ages, Byzantium had a strong influence on the Romanians, especially in terms of church rituals, architecture, iconography and fresco painting. In the 16th and 17th centuries. Many works of church literature were written in Romanian. Modern Romanian culture is a synthesis of this medieval influence, ancient folklore and music (which was important for maintaining ethnic unity) and various foreign influences.

Romanian literature and art reached their maturity at the end of the 19th century. Among the outstanding writers of that time were M. Eminescu, the talented storyteller I. Creanga, playwright I. L. Caragiale, literary critics T. Maiorescu and C. Dobrogeanu-Geria. The most famous artists were the portrait painter T. Aman, the landscape painters N. Grigorescu and I. Andreascu, as well as the artist S. Lucian.

The best writers of the interwar period were the poet T. Arghezi and the short story writers M. Sadoveanu, L. Rebreanu and C. Petrescu.

Post-war Romanian literature is still influenced by the writers who became famous during the interwar period. Patriotic, democratic and pro-peasant inclinations in literature were already developed before the First World War by the literary movement “Semenetorul” (“The Sower”). These writers argued that the development of art should be ideologically determined, and easily adapted to the philosophy and goals of the communist regime. The non-communist T. Argezi was recognized by the authorities as the most outstanding Romanian poet, and M. Sadoveanu, without any effort, was able to become the patriarch of post-war Romanian literature. Arghezi, known even before World War II for his deeply original poems, began to write optimistic poems about peasant uprisings. Sadoveanu, an imaginative writer and creator of a broad historical panorama, added to his historical short stories new works about the awakening of the proletariat; his Return recounts the achievements of the communist regime. However, after 1965 the regime also began to patronize nationalist writers.

Among the post-war writers, it should be noted such poets as M. Beniuk, E. Zhebelyanu, V. Porumbaku, A. Toma, C. Teodorescu, M. Dragomir, D. Deshliu. The short story writers E. Kamilar, A. Zhar, Z. Stancu became famous; playwrights - A. Baranga, R. Boureanu, M. Davidoğlu, L. Demetrius and M. Banush (also a poetess). A feature of post-war literature was the publication of books and magazines in the languages of national minorities, especially in Hungarian. Among the Hungarian writers, the most famous are I. Horváth and I. Astálos.

Before World War I, there were several notable works in Romanian fine art. During the interwar period, it is unlikely that any outstanding achievements in this field can be noted, with the exception of the works of artists who were under strong Western, mainly French, influence. These include such artists as S. Petrescu, G. Petrascu, K. Ressu, J. Steriade, Iser. The most famous artists of the communist period were P. Athanasiou, S. Barabas, L. Agricola, G. Lazar.

In music, most state prizes were awarded to works such as the Folk Festival by Sabina Dragoi. In the 1960s and 1970s, the regime began to encourage the revival of Romanian classics, including the works of D. Enescu, and imitations of classical Romanian and modern Western works.

Story

Ancient Romania was inhabited by Thracian tribes. In the 1st century BC. Greece founded the state of Dacia to protect itself from Rome. Dacia passed to Rome in 106 AD, becoming a province of the Roman Empire. As a result of attacks by the Goths in 271, Emperor Aurelius recalled the Roman legionaries back to the south of the Danube, but the Wallachian peasants remained in Dacia, forming the Romanian people. By the 10th century, small Romanian lands had formed, and their unification led to the creation of the principalities of Moldavia, Wallachia, and Transylvania. From the 10th century, the Magyars came to Transylvania, and by the 12th century it became an autonomous principality under Hungarian rule. In the 14th century, Hungarian troops tried unsuccessfully to capture Wallachia and Moldavia.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, Wallachia and Moldavia resisted the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. During the struggle, Prince Vlad Tepes of Wallachia (known as the "Impaler" because he rarely ate without being accompanied by a writhing, impaled Turk) became a hero and was later associated with Dracula. In the 16th century, Transylvania passed to the Ottoman Empire, at the same time Wallachia and Moldavia submitted to the Turks, but retained their autonomous position. In 1600, all three Romanian provinces were united by Prince Mihai Vitazul of Wallachia after he joined forces with the ruling princes of Moldavia and Transylvania in the fight against the Turks. The unification lasted only a year, then Mihai was defeated by the combined Habsburg-Transylvanian forces, after which he was captured and beheaded. Transylvania passed to the Habsburg Empire, and Wallachia and Moldavia remained Turkish suzerainties until almost the end of the 19th century. In 1775, the northern part of Moldavia, Bukovina, was annexed by Austria-Hungary. Then in 1812 the eastern territory, Bessarabia, passed to Russia. After the Russo-Turkish War (1828-1829), Ottoman ownership of the principalities ended.

After 1848, Transylvania fell under the rule of Austria-Hungary and “Magyarization” began. In 1859, Alexandru Ioan Cuza was crowned on the thrones of Moldavia and Wallachia, creating a new state, which was named Romania in 1862. Charles I inherited the throne in 1866, and Dobruja became part of Romania in 1877. In 1881, Romania began to be called a kingdom, and Charles I became its king. He died at the beginning of the First World War. His nephew Ferdinand I inherited the throne and entered the war in 1916 on the side of the Triple Entente. His goal was the liberation of Transylvania from Austria-Hungary. In 1918, Bessarabia, Bukovina and Transylvania became part of Romania.

In Romania, after the First World War, numerous political parties emerged, including the Legion of the Archangel Michael, better known as the fascist Iron Guard. The party, led by Cornelius Codreanu, dominated the political arena by 1935. Charles II, who inherited the throne after the death of his father Ferdinand I, declared the state a royal dictatorship in 1938 and abolished all political parties. In 1939, he pacified the Iron Guard, which he had previously supported, executing Codreanu and other legionnaires. In 1940, the USSR occupied Bessarabia, and Romania was forced to hand over northern Transylvania to Hungary on orders from Germany and Italy. Southern Dobruya was transferred to Bulgaria. Based on all this, numerous rallies broke out, so the king summoned Generalissimo Ion Antonescu to pacify the discontent. Antonescu forced Charles to abdicate, transferring power to Charles's 19-year-old son Michael, and then introduced a fascist dictatorship, proclaiming himself ruler. In 1941 he joined Hitler's anti-Soviet war. When the Soviet Army approached the Romanian border in 1944, Romania went over to the side of Russia.

The Soviet transfer of Transylvania to Romania helped the Moscow-backed communists win elections in 1946. A year later, King Michael was forced to abdicate and the Romanian People's Republic was formed. A period of state intimidation began when pre-war leaders, prominent intellectuals and suspicious dissidents were rounded up and sent to prison camps. In the late 1950s, Romania began to move away from Moscow, seeking an independent foreign policy under the leadership of Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej (1952-1965) and Nicolae Ceausescu (1965-1989). Ceausescu decried Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia in 1968, which earned him respect and economic assistance from the West. Most of his great projects (the construction of the “deadly” Danube-Black Sea Canal, the pompous and expensive House of Peoples in Bucharest). His secret militia suppressed the population and had a huge network of informants.

The rise to power of Mikhail Gorbachev in the late 1980s meant that the United States no longer needed Romania and removed its status as “the most beloved nation.” Ceausescu decided to export Romania's food supply to pay off the country's huge debt. While Ceausescu and his wife Elena (his first deputy prime minister) lived in luxury, the people tried to survive, since the rationing of bread, eggs, flour, butter, salt, sugar, beef, potatoes was mocking, and by the mid-1980s 's there was no meat at all. In 1987, riots broke out in Brasov and were brutally suppressed. After regime after regime began to collapse in Eastern Europe, on December 15, 1989, priest Lazlo Toks preached against Ceausescu in a church in the city of Timisoara. That same evening, a group of people gathered at his house to protest the decision of the Reformed Church of Romania to remove Tox from his post. Clashes between protesters, police and army continued for 4 days. On December 19, the army joined the protesters. On December 21, Bucharest workers loudly protested against Ceausescu during a mass rally and street clashes between protesters, police and army. The next day, the Ceausescu family tried to escape from Romania, but were arrested, convicted by an anonymous court and shot on Christmas Day.

Members of the National Salvation Front, who seized power after Ceausescu's death, are now believed to have planned his overthrow months before December 1989, but premature rallies forced them to act earlier. A provisional government came to power, headed by Ion Iliescu.

In 1992, Iliescu and the National Salvation Front were re-elected, but uncontrolled inflation, unemployment, and suspicion of government corruption led to Iliescu being replaced in 1996 by Emil Constantinescu, leader of the Democratic Convention of Romania. Iliescu returned to power as president in December 2000. Romanians probably thought that Iliescu was the best of two evils compared to the extremist Cornelius Vadim Tudor of the right-wing Romanian Party.

Economy

One of the largest sectors of the economy is oil production, Rompetrol occupies a significant market share, but oil reserves are insignificant and its production is constantly decreasing.

Since the mid-2000s, Romania's oil consumption has been approximately twice its own production, and this ratio also applies to oil imports and exports.

Romania has natural gas reserves and production, but in recent years the country has been forced to import gas to meet its needs.

Labor distribution is about 30% in agriculture, 23% in industry, 47% in the service sector (2006).

The main foreign trade partners are Germany, Italy, France (2006).

Policy

The bicameral parliament consists of the Senate (Senat, 137 seats) and the Chamber of Deputies (Camera Deputaţilor, 332 seats).

Senators are elected according to a proportional system.

The 314 members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected according to a proportional system with a five percent threshold for political parties and an eight percent threshold for blocs, with the remaining seats reserved for representatives of national minorities.

The term of office of parliament members is 4 years.

According to the constitution adopted by Parliament in November 1991 and approved in December of the same year by a popular referendum, Romania is a national, unitary, legal, democratic and social state with a republican form of government. The head of state is the president, elected by the population for a term of 4 years. He has broad powers in political matters, comparable to those of the President of the French Republic.

Every year, Romania attracts more and more attention among residents of the CIS - it is a European country that is part of the EU, for those who are interested in stunning natural landscapes that harmoniously combine with civilization.

Panoramic view of one of the residential areas of Bucharest

The industrial-agrarian system, combined with an abundance of mineral resources, allows the country's economy to remain in a more or less stable position.

Romania is located in the eastern part of the Balkan Gulf, and among the countries of southeastern Europe, Romania is the largest.

Thanks to its favorable location on the Black Sea coast, Romania has a continental climate - it is quite cool in winter, snow falls every winter, and heat reigns in summer.

Official state language

The official language is Romanian, but German and Hungarian are also widely spoken here, and English and French are used in the tourism sector.

We can say that the local population speaks few foreign languages, and foreign citizens have to learn Romanian, or use a phrasebook.

Life in Romania

The current standard of living in Romania in 2019-2020 can hardly be called very high; rather, it can be described as average.

The population of Romania is more than 22 million people, and about 90% of this number are Romanians themselves, followed by Hungarians and Roma - 5%. Ukrainians, Germans, Lipovians and Russians are found in approximately equal numbers (less than 0.5%).

Ethnic population map of Romania

The standard of living, as is known, consists of various indicators. If we are talking about Western Europe, then we can speak specifically, but in relation to Eastern Europe it is difficult to adhere to absolute facts - it is much easier to consider the local standard of living in comparison with different countries.

This is what Romanian health insurance looks like

Salaries in Romania

The minimum salary in Romania in 2019-2020 is about 2,500 lei, which is equivalent to 500 euros (after taxes). This is what service personnel, seasonal workers, students, etc. usually receive. Professionals in their field have the opportunity to earn more. Here is a list of professions and average monthly salaries:

Doctor - 1,100 euros.
Teacher - 950 euros.
Bank employees - 1,250 euros.
Managers in high positions - 2,200 euros.
Engineers - 2,100 euros.

Although wages are not as high as in other European countries, this does not frighten visitors to the country for the purpose of employment. And it gives the right to travel to all Schengen countries.

Sample Romanian resident card

European integration has increased economic growth in the country, the influx of foreign investment has increased, which has a positive impact on exports and GDP, but, on the other hand, there is still an upward trend. The growth of the Romanian economy over the six months increased by 4.8% - this was facilitated by an increase in purchasing power in Eastern Europe. However, the low inflation rate and low taxes in Romania cannot be denied.

Cost of living in Romania

Romania differs from most European countries in its low prices. This is why many tourists and migrants choose this country. Food costs usually range from 200 to 400 euros per month, depending on taste preferences. Average grocery prices in Romanian supermarkets in 2020 are as follows:

If you eat in cafes and restaurants, your monthly costs will be slightly higher. Street fast food in Romania can be bought from 2 euros, for example, a burger or shawarma. The average bill in a budget cafe for two will be about 5-10 euros, but dinner in a restaurant can cost 20-25 euros.

Prices for clothes and shoes in Romania are no different from other European countries. Well-known brands can only be bought cheaper during sales.

Internet in Romania is much cheaper than in other European countries. A month at a speed of 60 Mbit/sec will cost approximately 7 euros. As for mobile communications, for 5 euros you can activate a package of services with calls and SMS for a whole month.

Real estate prices

The price of rental housing, as elsewhere, depends on its size, condition and location. An apartment for a family can be rented from 200 to 350 euros in a residential area of the city. But rental prices in the center are slightly higher, ranging from 300 to 500 euros.

Sometimes utilities are not included in the rent. Then you will have to pay about 100 euros every month for electricity, water and heating.

As for buying real estate, one square meter on the outskirts will cost approximately 900-1000 euros, and in the center - from 1,200 euros.

Entertainment and relaxation

The cost of tickets to museums and castles varies from $1.5 to about $6 - by the way, students and group excursions can enjoy certain benefits.

The cost of a cinema ticket in Romania is approximately 5 euros.

Transport in Romania

Of course, the country has transport links, and they are quite extensive. But in general, you can always use a taxi - it is not too expensive (although the local population thinks otherwise).

Public transport in Bucharest

Taxis, like in any other EU country, operate on a meter. The cost of the trip consists of the tariff (about 40 cents) and another 40 cents for each kilometer. Thus, a trip of 60 km will cost 24-25 euros.

Renting a car in Romania is relatively cheap. Renting a car for one day costs approximately 15-30 euros. And if you rent a car for several days, you can get a discount. There are also a large number of services where you can rent a car in advance and pick it up at a certain place, for example, right at the exit from the airport.

A public transport ticket in Romania for one trip costs about 40 cents. A pass for one week costs 5-7 euros, for one month - 14 euros.

Level of economic development

When talking about Romania, it is difficult to talk only about the urban environment - most of the country is occupied by agriculture. The lifestyle here is different from the city. In rural areas it is difficult to call the population hardworking - the local houses are small, the horses look well-groomed.

One of the most profitable sectors of the economy in 2020 can be called tourism, and a very significant part of the local population works in this area.

Peles Castle located in the Romanian Carpathians

The Romanian Carpathians are called the future Alps, and given the active growth of foreign investment after Romania joined the EU, this may well become a reality.

The country is not included in the Schengen zone at the moment and. for tourism purposes for a period of less than 90 days is not needed.

The economic sector is firmly based on mining - the gas and oil industries are well developed here. The cost of gasoline is very affordable, there are enough gas reserves. In addition to oil and gas, manganese ores, bauxite and coal are being developed here.
The mining industry practically cannot function without the processing industry, which is also abundant here. There are two ports on the Black Sea coast and the Danube, and in addition to processing plants there are also shipbuilding plants.

The unemployment rate here is very, very high, around 48%, so finding a job can be difficult.

The agricultural sector is represented by arable land (two thirds are corn and wheat). Widespread crops are sunflowers, beets, and potatoes. In the Carpathian region and Transylvania there are orchards and vineyards, and cattle breeding is also well developed here, with priority given to pigs and sheep.

The economic structure of Romania makes it possible to maintain a strict balance, on the one hand, combining developed industry with agriculture, and on the other hand, attracting bonuses and investments from the rest of the European Union.

Medicine

Building of a modern private clinic in Bucharest

Spa treatment is popular here, as well as various types of healing and rejuvenating therapies. The aesthetic surgery sector is at a good level.

The cost of medical services (including complex operations) is 50-70% lower compared to Western European countries, which attracts a large number of foreigners here.

2. Its appearance on the political map of the world dates back to the second half of the 19th century.

3. Romania is the 9th largest country in Europe by territory and the 7th largest by population.

4. The country's area is 238,391 km2, and the population density of Romania is more than 90 people/km2

5. Along with Romanian, Hungarian and German are very popular. Just over 90% of the population (19 million people) speak their mother tongue, 7% speak Hungarian (mostly Transylvania), and more than 2% of the population speak German as their mother tongue.

Bucharest - the capital of Romania

6.Bucharest is the capital of Romania. It is the main cultural and economic center of the country. The area of the capital is 228 km2. Bucharest is also the most populated city in Southeastern Europe.

7. The population of Bucharest is 1.9 million people. It is the 6th most populous city in Europe.

Peles Palace in Romania

8. The capital of Romania is often called the “Little Paris of the East”, as it is famous for its attractions and its culture.

9.There are 21 universities in Bucharest, with more than 100 thousand students studying.

10. The country has many large historical areas with their own specifics, since each of them was part of different states for quite a long time. These include Transylvania, Dobruja, Oltenia, Muntenia, Banat, Crisana and Maramures.

11. Romania is famous for its unique balneo-mud and climatic resorts located on the Black Sea and in the cradle of Romania - Transylvania, as well as ski resorts.

12. Scarisoara Glacier, located in the Bihor Mountains - which is 90 miles southwest of the city of Cluj-Napoca reaches 75,000 cubic meters. Its age is approximately 3500 years. In terms of size among underground glaciers in Europe, it is second only to the underground ice cave “Eisriesenwelt” in Austria.

13. Transylvania was first mentioned in a medieval Latin document dated 1075 and called "Ultra Silvam". "Ultra" means "beyond" or "on the far side", and "Silvam" means "tree" or "forest", i.e. "The country beyond the forest."

14. Romania has become an official member of the UN since 1955, NATO since 2004, and the EU since 2007.

15. The main religion of Romania is Orthodoxy, which is professed by 87% of the population. More than 7% are Protestants, 4.5% are Roman Catholics, and the remaining 1.5% are Muslims and atheists.

Humor Monastery in Romania

16. Romania has 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Among them there is only one natural one - the Danube Delta (the large area where the Danube River meets the ocean). This attraction is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Romania and is deservedly recognized as one of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe.

17. The Bridge of Liars, which is located in Vlad the Impaler’s favorite city - Sibiu, carries an element of mysticism. One of the legends says that there is no place for liars on this bridge, as it may collapse under them. However, it is believed that there is no confirmation of this legend, since the bridge has existed for centuries or there are no liars at all.

18. The town of Tirgu-Okna is famous for the largest sanatorium not only in Europe, but perhaps in the whole world, located in the oldest underground salt mine.

Voronet Monastery in Romania

19. Voronet Monastery, located in northeastern Romania, is also known as the “Sistine Chapel of the East”.

20. The most famous novels written under the impression of what they saw in Romania belong to Jules Verne (“Castle in the Carpathians”) and Bram Stoker (“Dracula”).

Palace of Parliament in Bucharest

21. The Palace of Parliament, located in Bucharest, is the largest building of its kind in all of Europe. It ranks second in the world and is second only to the Pentagon in the United States.

Sibiu - the cultural center of Romania

23. The city of Sibiu, together with Luxembourg, was chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2007.

24. Romania is an industrial-agrarian country, and its leading industry is metallurgy, both ferrous and non-ferrous.

25.The chemical industry, which has a fairly strong raw material base, is also considered a promising area.

"Black Church" in Romania

26. In the city of Brasov (in Transylvania), there is the largest church, made in the Gothic style. There is no equal to it from Vienna to Istanbul. This is the most famous Gothic Church in Romania. It was built between 1385 and 1477, and it received its nickname, the “Black Church,” in 1689 after the Great Fire, when its walls were black with soot.

27. In 1694, the Academy of St. Sava, the first higher education institution, was opened in Romania.

28. In the Southern Carpathians there is the Bucegi mountain range, on the surface of which there are numerous very bizarre sculptures. Their authors are the heavenly elements: wind and rain. The most famous sculptures are those of the sphinx, harp and old man.

29. There are a huge number of national holidays in Romania. Among them, the holiday with the “plugoshor” ritual, which the Romanian people celebrate on the first day after the New Year, stands out especially. This ritual is dedicated to the future harvest and is performed by young men dressed in goat skins.

30. Timisoara was the first European city to introduce horse-drawn trams in 1869, and street lighting appeared in 1889.

31. The Astra Museum Complex in Sibiu includes more than 300 buildings, windmills, giant wine and oil presses, hydraulic forges and much more. They all represent different architectural styles from different parts of Romania.

32. Because of its unusualness, tourists love to visit Romania. However, tourists need to remember that Romania is very unfavorable in sanitary and epidemiological terms. Diseases such as viral meningitis, rabies and even typhus are found here.

33. According to the European Commission, the Romanian economy shows stable growth rates. The largest sector of the economy is agriculture, which employs more than 30% of the Romanian population.

34. The cemetery, located in the county of the historical region of Maramures, is perhaps the most unusual European cemetery, which is called unusually - cheerful. Its unusualness lies in the fact that each tombstone has a witty, cheerful poem engraved on it.

35. This area is also famous for its very beautiful wooden churches, built in the 17th and 18th centuries in the Gothic style and wooden gates, which almost all residents of this area have.

Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci

36. Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci was the first in the history of gymnastics to receive 10 out of 10 points at a competition in Montreal in 1976.

37. The most popular sport in Romania is football. Throughout its history, the national team has qualified for the finals of the World Championship 7 times.

38. Their greatest achievement was the quarterfinals of the 1994 tournament.

39. The Romanian club Steaua in 1986 became the first winner of the Champions League (European Cup) in Eastern Europe. In the same season, the Steaua club won the UEFA Super Cup against Dynamo Kyiv.

40. The oldest city in Romania, Cluj-Napaka, where a Dacian settlement once settled, is mentioned in the works of the ancient Greek scientist Claudius Ptolemy.

Romanian inventor Henry Coanda

41. Romanian inventor and founder of aerodynamics, Henry Coanda, designed and built the world's first jet-powered aircraft in 1910, known as the Coanda 1910. His creation was demonstrated to the general public at the second International Aviation Show in Paris.

42.This aircraft existed until November 25, 1972, when it was dismantled in Bucharest in 1986. The main Romanian International Airport still bears the name of the great inventor - Henry Coanda.

43. Romania is famous for its scientists. Bucharest Faculty of Medicine professor Gheorghe Marinescu was the first in the world to see nerve cells under a microscope. This was a big breakthrough in the history of mankind!

44. In this country, pancrein was discovered, which later received the name insulin. Its discovery belongs to the outstanding scientist and politician Paunescu.

45.The outstanding psychologist of Romania Odoblezha was the forerunner of such a science as cybernetics.

Danube Delta

46. The Great Danube, 1788 miles long, carries its waters to the Black Sea. The power of this river is so great that over tens of thousands of years it has formed a delta that is the second largest in all of Europe. The delta includes 2,200 square miles of rivers, canals, swamps, forested washes and reed islands.

47.The Danube Delta is simply a paradise for wildlife lovers (especially bird watchers). But most importantly, the Danube Delta continues to grow every year thanks to approximately 67 tons of deposited formations.

48. Romania is a country with well-developed arts and crafts. For example, the production of leather and ceramics or weaving from straw and twigs is well developed, as well as decorative sewing and embroidery, especially multi-colored and carpet weaving, which is mainly dominated by ancient geometric patterns.

49. The Romanians replace bread with corn hominy, and their favorite national dish is considered to be similar to kebab - mititei and sarma, in other words, cabbage rolls, which are made with pork filling. The filling is wrapped in grape leaves or in sauerkraut leaves, which are prepared for future use using the pickling method.

50. Among strong drinks, plum vodka - tsuika and grape wine are common. Moreover, in the cold winter, it is customary to drink vodka with spices and warmed up.

Dracula's Palace in Romania

photo from the Internet

There are often times when excessive nervousness makes it impossible to think and reason sensibly. To protect yourself from unnecessary worries, you need to learn to remain calm in any situation. Some people have the innate ability to remain calm in critical moments, while others need experience and time to do this.

Sometimes life teaches us lessons that are difficult to find in manuals and textbooks. Life experience does not depend on what kind of education we have or what kind of scientific dissertation we write.

The author of the world bestseller “The Richest Man in Babylon,” Clayson George, revealed the secrets that anyone who wants to realize their most ambitious plans needs to know. They are the key to success and wealth. According to the author, and it is difficult for us to disagree with him, it is money that is the measure of a person’s success.

There are people who constantly stay late at work, wanting to complete a project ahead of schedule. Of course, hard work is commendable, but often passion goes beyond the scope of adequate activity. In some cases, this is due to the character of the person.

Did you know that peace and quiet are essential for mental health? Learn some useful rules for maintaining health and managing emotions.

How to regain peace of mind? 10 simple methods

No matter who a person is in modern society, no matter what benefits he has, sooner or later he has to face the main problem of our society - stress. A person’s physical health directly depends on their mental state. In addition to depression and depression, stress also provokes more serious problems. To avoid diseases, you need to pay special attention to your emotional state and promptly put your nervous system in order.

Why are we afraid to refuse? How to overcome your fear?

“No” is such a short word, but for some reason instead of it we still more often say phrases such as: “maybe”, “I’ll think about it”, “perhaps”, “maybe you’re right”, “yes”... Anything, but not cherished and so simple - “no”. Why?

All the habits that we introduce into our lives, consciously or not, sometimes change and control it to a greater extent than we ourselves. That is why many researchers and scientists conduct all kinds of experiments, observing different habits of different people in order to understand which of these habits are “correct” and will change life for the better, and which ones are better to get rid of. Every person wants to improve themselves, and this article can help you with this.

Some of us, when we lose something valuable, say: “God gave, God took away.” Others complain about fate, that there are unknown forces that have been taken away and which we cannot influence. They regret the loss. Others blame only themselves for inattention and lack of foresight. In any case, we all know that losing is unpleasant. Without even saying what exactly, but losing what belonged to us is always sad. Isn’t it sad when you accidentally drop an expensive mobile phone into a rural toilet? Fate? Or inattention?

It might be useful to read: