Ploiesti, located within the Romanian region of Wallachia, is the capital city of the Prahova County and one of the most interesting places visitors can meet when they are in that area of the country during their vacation in Romania. This city has a population of approximately 232,500 inhabitants and is considered to be the ninth largest in the country.
The origins of Ploiesti as a city can be traced back to the 16th century, when it was founded by Mihai Viteazul, known as Michael the Brave. During its first centuries of existence, this city didn’t show any special characteristic or attract much attention, but towards the 19th century, it became widely known as one of the main oil extraction places of not only Romania and Europe but the entire world as well.
One of the most important moments in the history of Ploiesti took place in 1940, when an earthquake caused great damages and part of the city had to be rebuilt. During World War II, Ploiesti became one of the main oil sources of the Nazi army, which caused the city to be attacked by the Allied forces in several occasions. After World War II, the oil sources of Ploiesti passed from being owned by private companies to being nationalized, becoming the main source of income for the reconstruction of the city.
Since the Romanian Revolution of 1989, and especially within the last decade, the economy of this city has showed a very rapid growth. This growth is explained by an important amount of foreign investments made by important major companies, which have brought not only resources but also widened the work offer, turning this city into one of the most wealthy ones in Romania.
Tourists who wish to visit Ploiesti after other Romanian spots would probably be able to easily do so due to the fact that this city is one of the main railway centers of the country. From this city, visitors can easily travel to many other cities and spots, as well as to the major ones such as Bucharest, Moldavia, and Transylvania. There are buses, trams, and trolleybuses and connecting Ploiesti with a wide amount of other destination on a constant basis.