There are 33 towns with more than 100,000 inhabitants in Romania. The towns of Cluj, Brasov, Timisoara, Iasi, Craiova, Galati, Targu Mures, Sibiu, Oradea, and Constanta are the largest demographic, economic and cultural centres of Romania. The citiesΓÇÖ oldness and geographical location favoured their exceptional development. Settlings that have been inhabited since antiquity, they developed trade links during the Middle Age and became well-established fortified towns in the XIII and XIV centuries.
Six of these towns were the capitals of the historical regions. Iasi was the capital of Moldavia, Cluj that of Transylvania, Timisoara of Banat, Craiova of Oltenia, Oradea of Crisana, and Constanta of Dobrudgea.
The geographical position of Brasov, near the Rucar - Bran pass, that crosses the Southern Carpathians, influenced its economical development.
The proximity of the Danube River contributed to the trade flourishing of the town of Craiova. Cluj and Iasi, situated at the crossroad of important commercial routes, set up a solid economy and a special cultural tradition, the towns being old university centres. Timisoara and Oradea took advantage of their privileged position in the extreme west of Transylvania to carry on exchanges with the countries in the Balkans and Central Europe. Galati is the most important port on the Danube, and Constanta fully benefited by its position as the largest port at the Black Sea.
Beginning with the XV century, all these towns had to face, in various degrees, the Ottoman occupation. Timisoara was the capital of a Turkish pashalik, Craiova and Iasi succeeded in retaining certain autonomy, and Brasov and Cluj met less with Turks invasions.
The towns in Transylvania have in common their belonging, for two centuries, to the Austrian Empire and hence, their ethnic diversity enriched with the Hungarian and German ethnic minorities. From their long history they preserved interestingly built edifices and museums full of priceless objects. Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara and Medias are medieval fortified towns par excellence, Timisoara and Targu Mures are baroque towns, Iasi is the city of churches, Craiova that of rich merchants of the XVIII and XIX century, who raised imposing buildings. The beauty of their natural surroundings enhances the value of these towns.
