Breaza

Main	Births etc

Breaza
Town
Breaza railway station
Coat of arms
Position of Breaza in Prahova County
Country	Romania
County	Prahova
Town	Breaza
First mentioned	1503
Subordinated settlements	List Breaza de Jos Breaza de Sus Frăsinet Gura Beliei Irimești Nistorești Podu Corbului Podu Vadului Surdești Valea Târsei
Government
• Mayor	Gheorghe Richea (PSD)
Area
• Total	50.69 km2 (19.57 sq mi)

Breaza (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈbre̯aza]) is a town in Prahova County, Romania, with a population of 15,928. Today, ten villages are administratively part of the town: Breaza de Jos (reședința), Breaza de Sus, Frăsinet, Gura Beliei, Irimești, Nistorești, Podu Corbului, Podu Vadului, Surdești and Valea Târsei.

Name

The town's name is derived from a Slavic word, breza, meaning "birch tree".

History

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1956	11,122	—
1966	12,733	+14.5%
1977	17,583	+38.1%
1992	19,329	+9.9%
2002	18,863	−2.4%
2011	15,558	−17.5%
Source: Census data

The town was first documented in an act of 1503, mentioning a certain trader of Breaza called "Neagoe". In 1622 the land of Breaza was divided between four boyars and in 1717, the new ruler of Wallachia, Nicolae Mavrocordat gave the Breaza estate to boyar Iordache Creţulescu. The land was divided by the agrarian reform of 1921 and in 1935 it was declared a spa.

Geography

One of the main occupations is farming, and traditional needlework, but many inhabitants also commute to work in the neighboring towns of Comarnic and Câmpina. Tourism is also important for the local economy, and many locals rent out rooms in the summer months.

Due to its naturally beautiful surroundings, being located among rolling hills, the town has long been popular with inhabitants of Bucharest, who tend to have vacation homes here.

It is also the site of a folk art museum and a military high school.

References

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Breaza