Galati Information
General info
Geographical situation
It is situated in the eastern part of Romania, on the lower course of the Danube, Siret (in the west) and Prut (in the east).
Neighbours
In the north: Vaslui County, in the west: Vrancea County, in the south: Tulcea and Brăila Counties, in the east: the Prut and Republic of Moldovia.
Surface
4,466 square km (respectively 1,9% of the country’s territory).
Population
643,000 inhabitants. Towns Galaţi, capital of the county, with 328,000 inhabitants, the town among waters, situated on the left bank of the Danube, sea-river harbour, industrial, comercial and cultural centre, it grew as a town of fishermen and sailors. Other towns: Beresti, Târgu Bujor, Tecuci.
Relief
It is mainly a plain (the Covurlui Plain, with heights between 60 - 200 m, on levels, decreasing southwards, the Tecuci Plain, the Lower Siret Plain, with a low and wet meadow) and a plateau (in north, the prolongation of the Moldavian Plateau - the Covurlui Plateau, parallel hills, with altitudes of 600 m, the Tutova Hills).
Climate
It is temperate continental specific to the plain in the south and to the plateau in the north, with very hot summers and cold winters (strong snowfalls).
Watercourses
Rivers flowing into the Danube: the Prut, with its tributaries the Chineja, Covurlui, Geru Suhurlui, in the east, and the Siret, with its tributary the Bârlad, in the west, the county is a real „confluence of waters”.
Touristic Atractions
Preserves and Monuments of Nature
The River Dunes from Hanu Conchi (50 km north of Galaţi), complex preserve stretching on the sands from the Tecuci Plain, south of the Liesti village. It is important because of its great number of floristic and faunistic elements unique in Moldavia and very rare in our country. The Gârboavele Garden-Park, forest preserve (17 km north-west of Galaţi), with secular oaks, acacia. The Breana Forest, oak forest preserve, with wild peonies.
Historical Vestiges
Tirighina Roman Camp in Barbosi, strong fortress built during the reign of Emperor Trajan, with the purpose of defending the borders. It was part of the protection military system built by the Romans at the Empire frontier where the Roman Danube fleet gathered. Other Historical Vestiges: Getic-Dacian Settlement Priboridava at Poiana, important economical and strategical centre in the 4th century B.C. - 1st century A.D., Getic-Dacian Settlement in Brăhăsesti (4th - 3rd centuries B.C.).
Religious Buildings
„Precista” Church-Fortress in Galaţi, it was built in 1647 by ruler Vasile Lupu, the valuable monument of Medieval architecture was for centuries a safe shelter for people in difficult moments. „Movromol” Church in Galaţi, it was built in 1669 by Gheorghe Duca and repaired by his son in 1700 - 1703. The first schools in Galaţi were opened in the church cells. Vovidenia Church in Galaţi, art monument hosting the grave of Smaranda Cuza, mother of ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza. Other Religious Buildings: „Saint George” Church in Galaţi (1664 - 1665), „ Sfântu Dumitru” Church in Galaţi, it was built by Vasile Lupu in 1649, „Saint Nicholas” Orthodox Cathedral in Galaţi, today, the Bishopric of the Lower Danube church.
Cultural Buildings
Memorial House „Costache Negri“ in Costache Negri, in the former mansion of the Negri family, an important objective for visitors. The documents presented here render the atmosphere of the revolution of 1848 and the activity of the scholar and democrat Costache Negri.
