Oltenița

Oltenița
Municipality
City center

Location of Oltenița within Călărași County
Coordinates: 44°05′12″N 26°38′12″E / 44.08667°N 26.63667°E / 44.08667; 26.63667Coordinates: 44°05′12″N 26°38′12″E / 44.08667°N 26.63667°E / 44.08667; 26.63667
Country  Romania
County Călărași County
Status Municipality
Government
 • Mayor Țone Petre (Social Democratic Party)
Population (2011)
 • Total 24,822
Time zone UTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+3 (EEST)

Oltenița (Romanian pronunciation: [olˈtenit͡sa]) is a city in Romania in the Călărași County on the left bank of the Argeş River where its waters flows into the Danube.

Oltenița stands across the Danube from the Bulgarian city of Tutrakan.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1900 5,801—    
1912 6,574+13.3%
1930 10,389+58.0%
1948 10,284−1.0%
1956 14,111+37.2%
1966 18,623+32.0%
1977 24,414+31.1%
1992 31,821+30.3%
2002 31,434−1.2%
2011 24,822−21.0%
Source: Census data

History

Excavations on Gumelnița hill near the city revealed a Neolithic settlement dating from the 4th millennium BC.

The first mention of a town bearing the name Oltenița appears in 1515 during the reign of Neagoe Basarab.

During the Crimean War the Ottomans attempted to cross the river at this point and inflicted heavy losses on the Russians.

In the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878, Oltenița was an important crossing point into Bulgaria for Romanian troops called to aid the Russian Army during the siege of the Pleven (Plevna) stronghold.

During World War I, the garrisons of Oltenița and Turtucaia engaged in numerous artillery skirmishes. The spot was also chosen by allied German and Bulgarian troops for their invasion of Romania. The subsequent Battle of Turtucaia ended in a significant defeat for the Romanian Army.

Notable residents


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