General Information

Historical Summary

The Jiu Valley depression is an old Romanian territory, placed through two old Romanian regions, very populated (Tara Hategului, in North and Gorjana under the mountain Depression, in south Lupeni is the most important settlement in the West Jiu Valley. It lies on the banks of the West Jiu river, in the Petrosani Depression, at a height varying between 630 m (in the east) and 760 m. The distance from Lupeni to Petrosani is 18 km (DN66A), and to Deva (the capital of Hunedoara County) is 114 km.

Establishments in Lupeni were first documented in 1770, but recent archiological findings prove that life in this are goes back to the Stone Age. During the Roman occupation, gold deposits in the Jiu Valley, bearing alluvia, were exploited sporadically. In the earth deposits of the river, archaeologists found a bust of the Roman god Ares (the son of the Jupiter and Juno, one of the Rome's protectors).

During the Middle Ages, the population of the Jiu Valley was far from flourishing. The native inhabitants were shepherds and lived in huts spread along the mountains. Some villages were centered near the river, but according to the documents, the entire population of the valley merely reached 400 people.Lupeni was founded as a consequence of the intense migration by people from the Strei Valley in Tara Hategului, drawn by the rich pastures and hay fields of the region. The settlers from Valea Lupului village are said to have founded Lupeni, while the villagers of Rau Barbat formed Barbateni.

After 1840, as the mining exploitations began, the social landscape changed dramatically. The foreign mining companies brought Polish, Czech, Slovak, Austrian, Hungarian and Romanian miners to the Jiu Valley. The miners were brought from Baia Mare or The Apuseni Mountains.Mining activity began in the Southern area of Lupeni, above the present - day residential districts Vascoza III and IV, East of which lies The Elisabeta shaft pit and drift (the first mining exploitation of the town). The drift entrance is well preserved and it represents a potential tourist sight, as it marked the beginnings of mining in the region.After the industrial exploitation of the pit coal deposits was started in 1881, working colonies appeared besides the old neighborhoods.

They grew steadily, keeping up with the growing mining exploitation. At the start of the last century, the building of a railroad connecting Lupeni to Petrosani (and consequently to Simeria) led to unprecedented development in the area. Within half a century, the population of the town exploded, multiplying by 10. This was an unparalleled time of thriving for Lupeni. The Sfantul Stefan, Nord, Victoria, Sud, Putul Sud mines were opened, and, simultaneously, colonies were built for the workers who were to work in the strong mining center coming to life in the Jiu Valley. Stefan, Braia, Lobstein, "Culonia Oficiantilor", "Filimon Sarbu," were the names of these colonies where the ethnically, religiously and culturally varied population made a model of tolerance and co-habitation.

The industrial development of the area was severely affected by the inter-war economic depression (dramatica social conflicts between the 5th and 9th of August 1929). The economic breakdown led to the government's drastic suppression of a strike in Lupeni, resulting in the tragedy; 22 dead and 58 wounded.Lupeni was officially pronounced to be a town in 1941, when it had 12,000 inhabitants.

The native inhabitants of the Jiu Valley (known as "momarlani") lived an ancient and quite rustic form of life, mostly extinct in other parts of the country. Its recent one hundred years of industrialism had changed it drastically no doubt, however to this day, centuries-old customs and traditions are still preserved.The economic development and the permanent increase of population imposed changes on the city's urban aspect.

The old colonies had been replaced by residential districts, parks, commercial zones and recreation and children's area.Lupeni quickly become the country's most important coal producer. It had a mono - industrial development, as 80% of the population lived on mining or related industries/activities. Agriculture, which previously was the main occupation in the area, became insignificant. Economic growth, as well as the transition from the agricultural way of life to the industrial one had an important effect on the urbanization. After the country became communist, most of the buildings dating back to the Austro-Hungarian era were torn down and apartment complexes were built.Today, Lupeni is one of the oldest cities in the Jiu Valley, with a population of 32,827 people.

After 1990 the mines started closing, which had significant repercussions on the socio-economic situation of the city. Many miners were now unemployed, most of the town's economic agents were affected. Nowadays, within the administrative territory of Lupeni, there are two mines, Lupeni and Barbateni, and the Lupeni Coal Preparation Plant, which provides for the mines needs.

The town is looking for a new identity after the dominating mining industry under went a dramatic change triggered by Romania's new political and economic realities. Simultaneously with the bankruptcy of the some mine-related firms, privately owned businesses appeared in Lupeni, and are now an important presence in the town's economy. During the last few years, there have appeared businesses in tourism, the timber industry, bakery, trade etc.Coal remains, however, the main natural resource of the area. Although they have been exploited for more than 130 years, the pit coal deposits are the largest in the country.

Relief

The city's relief is generally varied because of the great number of valleys that come down from the surrounding mountains.
A range of hills dominate the Valley from 150 - 200 m, connecting the mountains to the lower areas. Lupeni is located in an area of remarkable beauty, with the peaks of Straja, Mutu and Negri to the south, and the Retezat Mountains to the north (Zanoaga, Dupa Piatra, Oboroca, Scorusu, Dealu Mare). The "Dupa Piatra" peak in particular has excellent potential for rock climbing. Also here you can find dafodil glades.

Straja peak, the second heighest in Vulcan Mountains at 1868 m, is more than 300 m higher than the other peaks in the vicinity. The summit in the case of the Mutu Peak is rather high, going down gradually to "La Paru de Fier" (1468 m), then up again towards Siglaul Mic and expecially Siglaul Mare (1682 m). This peak offers an excellent view of the Retezat and starts the southwards journey of the summit.

The Negri Peak lies on the southern side of the Valcan Mountains at a height of 1700 m, between Straja and Siglaul Mic Peaks. It has an excellent slope degree for skiing, and also a reserved slope. The hydrographic network of the area is represented especially by Jiul de Vest River (which springs from the mouth of the Soarbele), together with its tributaries: Valea Vacii, Rosia, Sohodol, Tusu, Lazaru, Mierleasa, Mierlasu, Boncii, Braita.

Flora and fauna
The vegetation is characteristic of the Southern Carphatians, with some exceptions due to relief, elevation, climate and the nature of the rocks and soil. The difference in altitude, higher in the West (Oslea 1946 m) and East (Straja 1868 m) and lower in the center, as well as the exposure and the slanting of the slopes, leads to a vertical and compositional differentiation of flora. On the southern slope, the beech trees grow separately or in combination with the common oak or (rarely) with the fir tree.

The spruce fir appears sporadically. On the margin , the beeches are sometimes bordered by a narrow chain of fir trees on the lower and middle sides of the northern slope. The beech tree and subordinately, the spruce fir and fir tree, can be found succeeded by a narrow strip of mixed forests and then pure fir groups with a variable extension. The forest shelter consists of brush and vividly colored herbaceous plants - snowdrops, cowslips.

The meadows lie on the higher border of the forest. The juniper tree appears only on Oslea. The meadows are full of blackberry bushes, rowan trees, gooseberries, currant, and juniper.
The fauna is very rich and varied. The following birds can be found: the grosbeak, the eagle owl, the martin, the eagle, the hawk, and the wagtail. The fish are well represented in the mountain waters. Especially abundant are trout, miller's thumb, and moioaga. The viper lives both on the southern limestones and in some places on the Scocul Jiului. Mammals live mostly in the forests (wild cats, foxes, wolves, squirrels, wild bears, hinds, deers, polecats, lynxes). The bear holds an important place amoung the fauna of these mountanins. The chamois migrated spontaneously in Oslea from the Retezat Mountains.

Climate
Thanks to its position, Lupeni has a cooler climate, being protected by the mountains against strong winds.
The city of Lupeni is one of the mountain towns in Hunedoara county, with an annual average temperature of 8 - 10°C.
The Petrosani area has an annual rainfall of 700 mm. The average amount is 56 mm in February and 100 mm in July.
The Straja and Negri peaks are covered by snow both winter and spring, from November until April or May, each year.
The winds have no single direction, their variety being determined by the general location of the valleys and by the lower parts of the mountain slopes. Strong winds coming off these slopes allow for the potential practicing of extreme sports such as paragliding.

Total population number: - 32,827
Activ Population (unemployees + employees): 14.985
The total number of employees: - 6.765

Genres:
Males: - 16.797
Females: - 16.030

Population density: - 0.01 inhabitants/m?

Nationality Structure:
Romanian: - 27,965
Hungarian: - 3,804
German: - 182
Ukrainian: - 14
Polish: - 104
Carpatho-Russian: - 15
Saxon: - 40
Slovenian: - 5
Czech: - 3
Romi/Gypsy: - 713

Religious Structure:
Orthodox: - 25,065
Roman-Catholic: - 2,862
Greek-Catholic: - 2,032
Reformed/Lutheran: - 1,429
Other: - 1,432

Natural Increase: - 630

Migration Increase: - 125

Total Increase: - 755

Source: DEEP