Targu - Jiu

Targu Jiu Information

Fast Facts

A former Roman settlement, the city of Targu Jiu lies at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, on the banks of the river Jiu. Inhabited since Paleolithic times, the region of western Oltenia was of strategic importance to the Romans. The area provided direct access, through one of the most spectacular passes in the Carpathians, to present-day Transylvania, the heart of the former Dacian Kingdom.
Constantin Brancusi, one of the most influential modern sculptors of the 20th century, was born in a small village (Hobita) 15 miles west of Targu Jiu, . Although he lived and worked for most of his life in Paris, his legacy is also preserved in Romania, in the city of Targu Jiu.

The Jiu River valley was the scene of heavy fighting during World War I and World War II. Here, in a monumental ensemble, Brancusi created three sculptures as a memorial to the 8,500 Romanian soldiers who died defending the Jiu Valley from the advancing German army. The three sculptures, the Table of Silence (Masa Tacerii), the Gate of the Kiss (Poarta Sarutului) and the Endless Column (Coloana Infinitului), are placed on mile-long east-west axis that runs through the heart of the city.
Table of Silence, made from limestone, features twelve chairs, originally placed much closer to the table and arranged in pairs.
The gate of the Kiss, made out of marble, features a kiss motif on the gate pillars. The entire structure is supported on a steel axle.
The Endless Column, completed in 1938, stacks 17 rhomboidal cast iron modules in a 100-feet high column.

Targu Jiu is the capital of Gorj County, a region of rolling meadows, grassy hills and mountain scenery with plenty of natural and cultural attractions to explore. Tiny towns and villages dot the county, and contain some marvelous traditional architecture. Several spa towns and monasteries high in the mountains make for popular excursions.

Museums

Târgu Jiu Art Museum

Muzeul de Artă Târgu Jiu
Address: Str. Stadion
Telephone: (+4) 0253 214.156
Open: Tue. – Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission charge
Website
Artworks Romanian modern artists and photographs of Brancusi's life are among the items exhibited.

Gorj County Museum

Muzeul Judetean de Istorie Alexandru Stefulescu
Address: Str. Geneva 8
Telephone: (+4) 0253 212.044
Open: Tue. – Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission charge
Website
Set up in 1894, it is considered to be the first county museum in Romania. On display are colorful examples folk art characteristic to the region of Oltenia - southern Romania.

Ecaterina Teodoroiu Memorial House

Casa memoriala Ecaterina Teodoroiu
Address: Blvd. Ecaterina Teodoriu 270
Website
Teodoroiu family house (built in 1884) is dedicated to the memory of the young Ecaterina Teodoroiu, the Romanian World War I heroine who disguised herself as a man so she could fight alongside her fellow soldiers.
Born in 1894, Ecaterina Teodoroiu graduated from the Girls' School in Bucharest and was soon to become a teacher at the time when Romania entered World War I. In October 1916, Ecaterina joined the Romanian Army and fought the River Jiu battle in which Romania's 1st Army resisted the 9th German Army offensive.
Ecaterina initially worked as a nurse but subsequently decided to become a front-line soldier, after the death of her brother Nicolae (Sergeant in the Romanian Army). It was an unusual decision for a woman to be fighting in battles and she was sent to the front reluctantly. However, soon she proved her worthiness as a soldier. By November she was taken prisoner but managed to escape. After hospitalization, she came back to the front where she was soon decorated, advanced in rank to Sublocotenent (Second Lieutenant) and given the command of a 25-man platoon. She was later awarded the Military Virtue Medal for bravery.
On September 3, 1917, she was killed in the Battle of Marasesti. According to some accounts, her last words before dying were: "Don't give up lads, keep advancing, I'm still with you!"

Topi New Glass Design Studio

Studioul de Design in Sticla - Mihai Topescu
Address: Str. Unirii 92 C
Telephone: (+4) 0253 219 179
Mihai Topescu, a gifted glass artist, listed in the Who's Who in Contemporary Glass Art guide, welcomes visitors to his workshop to watch him and his team create artistic and decorative glassware.

Attractions not far from Targu Jiu

Gorj County Folk Art Museum - Curtisoara

Muzeul Arhitecturii Populare din Gorj

Location: Curtisoara - 6 miles north of Targu Jiu
Access: car
Open: Tue. – Sun. 8 a.m – 5 p.m.
Admission charge
Website
Curtisoara is home to an interesting open-air museum, featuring a collection of barns, wine stores, mills and houses enclosing an 18th Century cula - a traditional manor house with a one-story design popular in this area, and a church dating from 1820.

Cartianu Manor

Cula Cartianu or Casa Cartienilor

Location: Cartiu, Turcinesti - 8 miles north of Targu Jiu
Access: car
Open: Mon. – Sun. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission charge
Website
Built in 1760 the Cartianu Manor (Cula Cartianu) is a fine example of traditional southern Romania architecture that combines stone and brick masonry with large wood beams. The manor is also home to a unique exhibit of traditional costumes, textiles and accessories.

Constantin Brancusi Memorial House

Location: Hobita 16 miles north of Targu Jiu
Access: car,
Open: Mon. – Sun. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission charge
Website
The house in which sculptor Constantin Brancusi was born, in 1876, and spent his childhood now welcomes visitors.
It preserves the original architecture, furniture and other household items. Influences of the aesthetics of peasant life in south-western Romania (Oltenia) can be identified in some of artist's works.

Monastery Tismana

Manastirea Tismana
Location: 22 miles west of Targu Jiu
Access: car
Open: Mon. – Sun. 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Admission charge
Dating from 1375, Tismana is one of the oldest monasteries in Romania. Today the monks are continuing the Oltenian carpet weaving and glass icon painting traditions.

Sohodolului Gorges

Cheile Sohodolului
Location: 14 miles north of Targu Jiu
Access: car
Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the area's gorges, caves, springs and spectacular columns carved in the steep walls of the mountain.

Day Trips

Hurezi Monastery & Horezu Pottery Centre

Manastirea Hurezi
Where: 45 miles east of targu Jiu
Access: car, bus
Telephone: (+4) 0250 860.071
Website
Located on the road leading from Targu Jiu to Curtea de Arges Horezu Monastery, founded in 1690 by Prince Constantine Brancoveanu, is the largest monastic settlement in Walachia,. A masterpiece of the Brancovenesti style and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Horezu is renowned for the richness of its sculptural detail, the treatment of its religious compositions and its painted decorative works. The monastery houses precious collections of frescoes and icons dating from the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century.
The nearby village of Horezu is home to one of the biggest pottery centres in Romania. Nearly a century ago, local nuns taught the villagers how to make and paint pottery, and ever since, people have come from far and wide to get their hands on Horezu's ceramic.
Note: Overnight accommodation is available at Hurezi Monastery.

Town of Curtea de Arges

Location: 90 miles east of Targu Jiu
Access: car
In Curtea de Arges, visit the 14th-century Princely Court and the Princely Church, with its unique - early 1300s - interior frescoes. Curtea de Arges was founded in the early 14th century by Prince Radu Negru. The town succeeded Campulung as the capital of Walachia, hence its name Curtea (The Court). Another stunning architectural gem in Curtea de Arges is, the 16th century, Curtea de Arges Monastery (Manastirea Curtea de Arges), toppled with two towers spiraling in opposite directions. Behold the sad legend of Manole as you take in its beauty. Romania's kings and queens are buried in the monastery.

Corvinilor Castle

Castelul Corvinilor
Location: 85 miles northwest of Targu Jiu
Access: car
Corvin Castle info

Domogled - Cerna National Park

Parcul National Domoghed -- Valea Cernei
Location: 45 miles west of Targu Jiu
Access: car, train
Domogled - Cerna National Park more info

Retezat Mountains National Park

Parcul National Retezat
Location: 58 miles northwest of Targu Jiu
Access: car, train
Retezat National Park more info

TARGU JIU TRIP PLANING INFO

Transportation

Targu Jiu Air travel

Nearest airports to Târgu Jiu:

Craiova (CRA) - 70 miles south
Sibiu (SBZ) - 125 miles north east
Bucharest Otopeni - Henri Coanda (OTP) - 160 miles south east

Travel to Targu Jiu by train

Targu Jiu Train Station (Gara Targu Jiu)
Address: Blvd .Nicolae Titulescu
Telephone: (+4) 0253 812.967

There are daily trains connecting Targu Jiu with:
Bucharest (journey time: 4 3/4 hours)
Arad(journey time: 4 3/4 hours)
Cluj Napoca (journey time: 6 hours)
Craiova (journey time: 2 1/2 hours)
Deva (journey time: 3 1/4 hours)
Subcetate (journey time: 2 1/2 hours)

To check schedules for domestic routes please visit our Domestic Transportationsection.
Note:
For Targu Jiu please enter Tirgu Jiu.
For departures from/to Bucharest please enter Bucuresti Nord.

For a list of international trains with service to/from Romania please visit: International Transportation section

Targu Jiu inter-city Bus

Targu Jiu Bus Station

Autogara Express - Targu Jiu
Address: Str. Nicolae Titulescu 5
Telephone: (+4) 0754 096.294

Autogara Est
Address: Calea București 9 A
Telephone: (+4) 0755 107.554

Daily domestic bus service from/to:
Alba Iulia, Arad, Baile Herculane, Bucharest, Cluj Napoca, Deva, Hateg, Horezu, Orastie, Sibiu, Timisoara, Turda

By car

The recommended route from Bucharest to Targu Jiu is:
Bucharest – Pitesti – Horezu – Targu Jiu
(A1 / E 81 – DN 73 C - DN 67)

Distance from Targu Jiu to:
Bucharest — 160 miles km miles
Arad — 172 miles miles
Baia Mare — 254 miles miles
Brasov — 160 miles miles
Constanta — 289 miles miles
Iasi — 336 miles miles
Oradea — 181 miles miles
Satu Mare — 257 miles miles
Sibiu — 126 miles miles
Sighetu Marmatiei — 281 miles miles
Sighisoara — 178 miles miles
Suceava — 345 miles miles
Timisoara — 163 miles miles
Tulcea — 320 miles

Public Transportation

Nine bus routes connect Targu Jiu neighborhoods and tourist attractions.
Info on routes and fares are available at Targu Jiu local transport authority website

Targu Jiu Taxi

Targu Jiu Taxi Companies
Name	Phone #
Taxi Number One	(+4) 0253 206.060
Taxi Dismolex	(+4) 0253 212.121
Taxi InterCity	(+4) 0253 206.011

Targu Jiu Hotels

Targu Jiu Hotels

Accommodations in Targu Jiu include:

Hotel Name	Class	Location
Ramada	four-star/ midscale	town centre
Europa	three-star/ midscale	town centre
Anna	three-star/ midscale	0.4 miles southeast of town centre
Art Boutique Central	boutique / midscale	town centre
Goya Boutique	boutique / midscale	2.5 miles east of town centre
YmY	three-star/ midscale	0.5 miles southwest of town centre
Aqua	three-star/ midscale	0.8 miles southeast of town centre
Story	three-star/ midscale	0.5 miles north of town centre

...

Tourist Info

Targu Jiu Tourist Info Centre
Centrul Național de Informare și Promovare Turistică Târgu Jiu
Bd. Constantin Brâncuși 29
Phone: (+4) 0253 223.261
Website

Postal services

Main Post Office
Address: Str. Eroilor, Bl. 17
Telephone: (+4) 0253 219.476
Open: Mon. – Fri. 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Post offices display a postal horn symbol and the word Posta.

Telephoning Targu Jiu from Abroad
International Access Code (011 for US and Canada) + 4 (country code) + 0253 or 0353 (area code) + six-digit telephone number

Pharmacies & Hospitals

Targu Jiu pharmacies open non-stop:

Farmacia Optifarm
Address: Strada Unirii, bloc 16 parter
Telephone: 0767 124 776

Targu Jiu Emergency Hospital
Spitalul Judetean de Urgenta Targu Jiu
Address: Str. Progresului 18
Telephone: (+4) 0253 243.315 or 210.432
Website

Targu Jiu Local Authorities

Gorj County Archives
Arhivele Județene Gorj
Address: Str. I.C. Popilian 32
Telephone: (+4) 0253 212.315
Website

Targu Jiu Town Hall
Primaria Targu Jiu
Telephone: (+4) 0253 213.317
Address: Blvd.Constantin Brancusi 19
Website

Gorj County Consumer Proptection Agency
Comisariatul Judeţean pentru Protecţia Consumatorilor Gorj
Address: Str. Victoriei
Telephone: (+4) 0253 212.521
Website

Maps

Targu Jiu City Map (Harta Orasului Targu-Jiu)
Romania Physical Map (Romania - Harta Fizica)
Romania Detailed Road Map (Romania - Harta Detaliata)
Romania Road Map (Romania - Harta Drumurilor, Sosele)
Romania Rail Map (Romania - Harta Cailor Ferate)