Fălticeni (; ''; ;'' ) is a
town
A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city.
The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
in
Suceava County
Suceava County () is a county (') of Romania. Most of its territory lies in the southern part of the Historical regions of Romania, historical region of Bukovina, while the remainder forms part of Western Moldavia proper. The county seat and the ...
, northeastern
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
. It is situated in the historical region of
Western Moldavia
Western Moldavia (, ''Moldova de Apus'', or , also known as Moldavia, is the core historic and geographical part of the former Principality of Moldavia situated in eastern and north-eastern Romania. Until its union with Wallachia in 1878, the P ...
. According to the
2021 census, Fălticeni is the third largest urban settlement in the county. It was declared a municipality in 1995, along with two other cities in Suceava County:
Rădăuți and
Câmpulung Moldovenesc
Câmpulung Moldovenesc (; formerly spelled ''Cîmpulung Moldovenesc'') is a municipiu, city in Suceava County, northeastern Romania. It is situated in the historical region of Bukovina.
Câmpulung Moldovenesc is the fourth largest urban settleme ...
.
Fălticeni covers an area of , of which 25% are orchards and lakes, and it administers two villages: Șoldănești and Țarna Mare. It was the capital of former
Baia County (1929–1950). The town is known for the high number of Romanian writers, artists, and scientists who were born, lived, studied, or have created here.
Geography
Fălticeni is located in the southern part of Suceava County, away from
Suceava
Suceava () is a Municipiu, city in northeastern Romania. The seat of Suceava County, it is situated in the Historical regions of Romania, historical regions of Bukovina and Western Moldavia, Moldavia, northeastern Romania. It is the largest urban ...
, the county seat. The
European route E85 crosses the city. Fălticeni is connected to the Romanian national railway system, through
Dolhasca train station (24 km away). The city of
Roman is to the south, on the E85 road.
Administration and local politics
Town council
The town's current local council has the following political composition, according to the results of the
2020 Romanian local elections
Local elections were held in Romania on 27 September 2020. Initially planned for June 2020, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led the Government of Romania to postpone the elections to a date no later than 31 December 2020, and extending al ...
:
History
The earliest written mention of the village ''Folticeni'' is from March 1490, and the second from March 1554, when
Moldavia
Moldavia (, or ; in Romanian Cyrillic alphabet, Romanian Cyrillic: or ) is a historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester River. An initially in ...
n
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...
Alexandru Lăpuşneanu
Alexandru is the Romanian form of the name Alexander. Common diminutives are Alecu, Alex, and Sandu.
Origin
Etymologically, the name is derived from the Greek "Αλέξανδρος" (Aléxandros), meaning "defending men" or "protector of men" ...
awarded the estate and the village bearing the aforesaid name to
Moldovița Monastery.
Fălticeni was first mentioned as an urban settlement in August 1780 as Târgul Șoldănești (''Șoldănești Market''), after the name of a local
boyar
A boyar or bolyar was a member of the highest rank of the feudal nobility in many Eastern European states, including Bulgaria, Kievan Rus' (and later Russia), Moldavia and Wallachia (and later Romania), Lithuania and among Baltic Germans. C ...
's estate, in a document issued by the chancellery of Prince
Constantin Moruzi. In March 1826, an edict issued by Prince
Ioan Sturdza changed the name of the town to Fălticeni.
Fălticeni was bombed by the
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, were a radical Faction (political), faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) which split with the Mensheviks at the 2nd Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, ...
s during
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
.
Before World War I, Fălticeni was the capital of the
Romanian Old Kingdom’s Suceava County. After the
Union of Bukovina with Romania The union of Duchy of Bukovina, Bukovina with Kingdom of Romania, Romania was declared in 28 November 1918, being officially recognized by the international community in 1919 and 1920.
Timeline of events 1918
*22 October - Constantin Isopescu-Grecu ...
and an administrative reform from 1925, Fălticeni became the capital of
Baia County, remaining as such until 1950. Since the revival of counties in 1968, the city has been part of Suceava County.
In 1921 the
Faltishan (Yiddish for Fălticeni)
Hasidic dynasty was founded in Fălticeni, by Rabbi
Eluzar Twersky, a scion of the
Skver Hasidic sect, and part of the prestigious royal Hasidic
Twersky family. Today they are Jewish communities in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
,
New York carrying on the name Faltishan, led by Rabbi Twersky's descendants.
Demographics
Fălticeni reached its peak population in 1992, when almost 33,000 people were living within the city limits. As of 2016, the town of Fălticeni was the third largest urban settlement in
Suceava County
Suceava County () is a county (') of Romania. Most of its territory lies in the southern part of the Historical regions of Romania, historical region of Bukovina, while the remainder forms part of Western Moldavia proper. The county seat and the ...
, after the county capital,
Suceava
Suceava () is a Municipiu, city in northeastern Romania. The seat of Suceava County, it is situated in the Historical regions of Romania, historical regions of Bukovina and Western Moldavia, Moldavia, northeastern Romania. It is the largest urban ...
, and the town of
Rădăuți.
According to the
2011 census data, 24,619 inhabitants lived in Fălticeni, a decrease from the figure recorded at the 2002 census, when the city had a population of 29,787 inhabitants. In 2011, of the city total population, 98.15% were
ethnic Romanians, 0.76%
Roma, 0.75%
Russians
Russians ( ) are an East Slavs, East Slavic ethnic group native to Eastern Europe. Their mother tongue is Russian language, Russian, the most spoken Slavic languages, Slavic language. The majority of Russians adhere to Eastern Orthodox Church ...
(including
Lipovans
The Lipovans or Lippovans are ethnic Russians, Russian Old Believers living in Romania, Ukraine, Moldova and Bulgaria who settled in the Principality of Moldavia, in the east of the Principality of Wallachia (Muntenia), and in the regions of D ...
), 0.07%
Hungarians
Hungarians, also known as Magyars, are an Ethnicity, ethnic group native to Hungary (), who share a common Culture of Hungary, culture, Hungarian language, language and History of Hungary, history. They also have a notable presence in former pa ...
, 0.04%
Germans
Germans (, ) are the natives or inhabitants of Germany, or sometimes more broadly any people who are of German descent or native speakers of the German language. The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, constitution of Germany, imple ...
(namely,
Regat Germans), 0.02%
Ukrainians
Ukrainians (, ) are an East Slavs, East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine. Their native tongue is Ukrainian language, Ukrainian, and the majority adhere to Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, forming the List of contemporary eth ...
, and 0.01%
Poles
Pole or poles may refer to:
People
*Poles (people), another term for Polish people, from the country of Poland
* Pole (surname), including a list of people with the name
* Pole (musician) (Stefan Betke, born 1967), German electronic music artist
...
.
At the
2021 census, the city had a population of 23,902; of those, 85.26% were Romanians and 1.51% Roma.
Culture
There are four museums in Fălticeni. ''Ion Irimescu'' Art Museum (''Muzeul de Artă "Ion Irimescu"'') houses the largest collection of works of art by a single artist,
Ion Irimescu, one of Romania's greatest sculptors and sketchers, as well as a
member of the Romanian Academy. The museum building is a historic monument, dating from the middle of the 19th century and had various destinations until 1974, when it was given to the art museum. In 1974 Ion Irimescu took the initiative to establish the museum, at first as a department of the Town Museum and made some donations. Later the value of the collection grew, currently being the richest author collection, and in 1991 an independent museum emerged. It comprises the most representative works by the sculptor Ion Irimescu: 313 sculptures and 1000 drawings: portraits, compositions, monument project carried out in the rondebosse or alterorelief technique, in gypsum, wood, terracotta, marble, bronze works of graphics especially donated to the museum by the author. The museum also includes the artist's personal library (1500 volumes).
[Romanian Museums Guide - Ion Irimescu Art Museum, Fălticeni]
(in Romanian). Retrieved January 30, 2013.
''Mihai Băcescu'' Water Museum (''Muzeul Apelor "Mihai Băcescu"'') was founded in 1982 by the Romanian zoologist
Mihai Băcescu, who was also a member of the Romanian Academy. This museum of natural sciences represents the enhancement and the development of the first museum established in Fălticeni, in 1914, by the professor Vasile Ciurea.
[Romanian Museums Guide - Mihai Băcescu Water Museum, Fălticeni]
(in Romanian). Retrieved January 30, 2013.
Fălticeni is the hometown of the Lovinescu family, which gave Romania four of its most distinguished men of letters of the 20th century: literary critic
Eugen Lovinescu
Eugen Lovinescu (; 31 October 1881 – 16 July 1943) was a Romanian modernist literary historian, literary critic, academic, and novelist, who in 1919 established the ''Sburătorul'' literary club. He was the father of Monica Lovinescu, and the ...
, playwright Horia Lovinescu, esoterist Vasile Lovinescu and novelist
Anton Holban. The Lovinescu family contributed to founding a memorial museum in Fălticeni, House of Notable People (''Galeria Oamenilor de Seamă''). The museum was opened in 1972 and represents a synthesis of the city's cultural and intellectual life.
[Lovinescu Family - Notable People House, Fălticeni]
(in Romanian). Retrieved January 30, 2013.
Classics of
Romanian literature, such as
Ion Creangă,
Mihail Sadoveanu
Mihail Sadoveanu (; occasionally referred to as Mihai Sadoveanu; 5 November 1880 – 19 October 1961) was a Romanian novelist, short story writer, journalist and political figure, who twice served as acting President of Romania, head of st ...
,
Vasile Alecsandri, or
Nicolae Labiș, at some point in their life linked their name with that of the city by both studying and living in Fălticeni. ''Mihail Sadoveanu'' Memorial House (''Casa memorială "Mihail Sadoveanu"'') is a museum founded in 1987 in Fălticeni, in the house where Mihail Sadoveanu lived and created between 1909 and 1918.
[Romanian Museums Guide - Mihail Sadoveanu Memorial House, Fălticeni]
(in Romanian). Retrieved January 30, 2013.
Economy
The main industries of the city are chemical manufacture, hand-made glass, manufacturing soft drinks, clothing, and wood products. Also the fishing industry is one of the oldest base industry in the city. Most of these industries have died down after the Communist era.
Notable people
* Costin Anton – painter
*
Ionuț Atodiresei – kickboxer
*
Adrian Avrămia – footballer
*
Aurel Băeșu – painter
*
J. J. Benjamin – historian and traveler
*
Grigore Vasiliu Birlic – actor
*
Jules Cazaban – actor, director
*
Sofia Cocea – essayist, journalist, and poet
*
Ion Dragoslav – writer
*
Nicu Gane – writer, politician
*
Arthur Gorovei – writer, folklorist, ethnographer
* Ștefan S. Gorovei – historian
*
Sofia Ionescu – neurosurgeon
*
Ion Irimescu – sculptor, sketcher
*
Alexandru Lambrior – folklorist
*
Dimitrie Leonida – engineer, scientist
*
Eugen Lovinescu
Eugen Lovinescu (; 31 October 1881 – 16 July 1943) was a Romanian modernist literary historian, literary critic, academic, and novelist, who in 1919 established the ''Sburătorul'' literary club. He was the father of Monica Lovinescu, and the ...
– literary historian, literary critic, novelist
* Vasile Lovinescu – esoterist
*
Vasile Maftei – footballer
*
Maria Olaru – gymnast
*
Mayer Schorr
Mayer Schorr (11 October 1856 — 24 December 1913) was a cantor in Vienna.
Biography
Mayer Schorr was born in Fălticeni, Romania.
For years he held the title of Oberkantor. He was cantor of the Polish Synagogue in Vienna.He was the father of ...
– hazzan
*
Constantin Schumacher – footballer
*
Gilles Ségal – actor, playwright
* Rabbi Mordechai Stein –
Faltishaner Rabbe
* Teodor Tatos – painter, writer, lawyer
Not born in Fălticeni, but artistically active there was also:
*
Reuven Rubin – painter
Gallery
File:Falticeni - Ansamblul urban Strada Republicii.jpg, ''Republicii'' pedestrian street
File:Falticeni - Primaria (1).jpg, The city hall
File:Falticeni - Muzeul de Arta Ion Irimescu (1).jpg, ''Ion Irimescu'' Art Museum
File:Falticeni - Muzeul Apelor Mihai Bacescu (5).jpg, ''Mihai Băcescu'' Water Museum
File:Falticeni - Galeria Oamenilor de Seama (1).jpg, House of Notable People
File:Falticeni - Casa Eugen Lovinescu.jpg, ''Eugen Lovinescu'' House
File:Falticeni - Casa Gane-Gorovei.jpg, ''Gane-Gorovei'' House
File:Falticeni - Biblioteca Municipala Eugen Lovinescu (Casa Cantacuzino-Pascanu).jpg, ''Eugen Lovinescu'' Public Library
File:Falticeni - Parchetul.jpg, The courthouse
File:Falticeni - Spitalul Municipal.jpg, The hospital
File:Falticeni - Oficiul Postal.jpg, The post office
File:Falticeni - Complexul Comercial Nada Florilor.jpg, ''Nada Florilor'' Shopping Center
File:Falticeni - Statuia Granicerului (1).jpg, Statue of the border guard
File:Biserica romano-catolica din Falticeni14.jpg, Roman Catholic church
File:Biserica Gradini din Falticeni.jpg, ''Grădini'' Orthodox church
File:Biserica de lemn din Falticeni.jpg, Wooden Orthodox church
File:Sinagoga Mare din Falticeni.jpg, Great Synagogue
File:La ville de Falticheni.jpg, View taken between 1901 and 1904
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Falticeni
Cities in Romania
Jewish communities in Romania
Capitals of former Romanian counties
Localities in Western Moldavia
Populated places in Suceava County
Market towns in Moldavia