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Breaza
Town
Breaza railway station
Breaza railway station
Coat of arms of Breaza
Position of Breaza in Prahova County
Position of Breaza in Prahova County
Country  Romania
County Prahova
Town Breaza
First mentioned 1503
Subordinated settlements
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".[1]

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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  1. ^ Iordan, Iorgu (1963). Toponimia romînească. Bucharest: Editura Academiei Republicii Populare Romîne. p. 80. OCLC 460710897.