Runcu, Gorj

For other uses, see Runcu (disambiguation).

Runcu is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is situated at the foot of the Vâlcan Mountains, 16 km (10 mi) northwest of Târgu Jiu. The commune is composed of seven villages: Bâlta, Bâltișoara, Dobrița, Răchiți, Runcu, Suseni, and Valea Mare.

Runcu
Commune
Runcu seen from atop of Cornetul Mountain
Coat of arms
Runcu Location in Romania
Coordinates: 45°07′N 23°08′E
Country	Romania
County	Gorj
Subdivisions	Bâlta, Bâltișoara, Dobrița, Răchiți, Runcu, Suseni, Valea Mare
Government
• Mayor (2020–2024)	Grigore-Adi Câmpeanu[1] (PSD)
Area	272.2 km2 (105.1 sq mi)
Elevation	289 m (948 ft)
Population  (2021-12-01)[2]	5,324
• Density	20/km2 (51/sq mi)
Time zone	EET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)
Postal code	217390
Area code	+(40) 253
Vehicle reg.	GJ
Website	runcugorj.ro

The name Runcu derives from medio-Latin "runcari" which means to deforest.^[3] A village on the Jaleș River named Dăbăcești (now disappeared) mentioned in a document of Dan I dated 3 Octombrie 1385 was the precursor of Runcu.^[3] Runcu village was first mentioned in a document issued in 1486 by Vlad Călugărul.^[4] The dominant class of Wallachia maintained interests in the area during most of the Middle Ages. According to some sources, the local church was founded in the early 17th century by Domnița Florica [ro], daughter of Michael the Brave, who sought refuge in Runcu after the death of her father.^[5]

Stone and Bronze Age archaeological finds, as well as artifacts from before the Roman conquest, indicate that Runcu and the surrounding areas were inhabited much earlier.^[6][7]

Runcu is the birthplace of folk music singers Ioana Zlătaru and Maria Apostol (1954–1993).

Scenes from the Romanian films Bătălia din umbră (1986), Iancu Jianu, haiducul (1981), Iancu Jianu, zapciul (1980) and Ecaterina Teodoroiu (1979) were shot in Runcu village and on the nearby Sohodol Gorge.

Photo gallery

• 
  Runcu and the Jaleș River on a 1717 map
• 
  Palta (Bâlta), now part of Runcu commune on a Josephine Map (1769–1772)
• 
  Runcu old church right before its demolition in 1897
• 
  Runcu Church built between 1897–1907
• 
  Memorial to World War I local heroes
• 
  Wine cellar on a hillside near Runcu c. 1980
• 
  Runcu town hall
• 
  Runcu town hall
• 
  Winter time in Runcu
• 
  Cornfield near Runcu with the Tufoaia Mountain in the background
• 
  Pleșa peak seen from Cornetul Mountain.

References

1. "Results of the 2020 local elections". Central Electoral Bureau. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
2. "Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (XLS). National Institute of Statistics.
3. "Data" (PDF). sas.unibuc.ro. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
4. V. Marinoiu, "O brățară medievală aflată în colecția Muzeului Județean Gorj", Gorjeanul, 20 Sept., 2013
5. Calotoiu, Dr Gheorghe (2010-05-25). "Cercetările arheologice de la Runcu-Gorj". Vertical. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
6. D. Mustățea, "Repertoriul Descoperirilor Arhelogice din Județul Gorj" Targu Jiu, 2012
7. "National Archaeological Record of Romania". ran.cimec.ro. Retrieved 2020-01-14.

External links

• Runcu and Sohodol Valley on Panoramio
• Runcu and Sohodol Valley - photos and text in German
• Map of the Vâlcan Mountain showing Runcu commune