View source for Târgoviște

{{For|other places with a similar name|Targoviste (disambiguation){{!}}Targoviste}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox Romanian subdivision
|type               = municipality
|county             = Dâmbovița
|official_name      = Târgoviște
|subdivisions       =
|image_shield       = Coat of arms of Târgoviște, Romania.svg
|image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border            = infobox
| total_width       = 300
| image_style       = 
| perrow            = 1/2/2/2
| image1 = Biserica Domnească Adormirea Maicii Domnului (2).jpg
| image2 = Primaria municipiului Targoviste.jpg
| image3 = Mitropolia.jpg
| image4 = RO DB - Muzeul de Artă Targoviste.jpg
| image5 = Targoviste - Turnul Chindiei 10.jpg
| image6 = Stelea.jpg
| image7 = Muzeul de Istorie Targoviste.jpg
}}
|image_alt          = 
|image_caption      = ''Left to right, top to bottom'': [[Târgoviște Princely Court]], {{ill|Târgoviște City Hall|lt=City Hall|ro|Primăria orașului Târgoviște}}, {{ill|Ascension Metropolitan Church, Târgoviște|lt=Ascension Metropolitan Church|ro|Catedrala arhiepiscopală din Târgoviște}}, [[Târgoviște Art Museum|Art Museum]], [[Chindia Tower]], {{ill|Stelea Monastery|ro|Mănăstirea Stelea}}, {{ill|Târgoviște History Museum|lt=History Museum|ro|Muzeul de Istorie din Târgoviște}}
|image_map          = Targoviste jud Dambovita.png
|map_caption        = Location in Dâmbovița County
|leader_name        = Cristian Stan<ref>{{cite web |url=https://prezenta.roaep.ro/locale27092020/romania-pv-final |title=Results of the 2020 local elections |publisher=Central Electoral Bureau |access-date=8 June 2021 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|leader_party       = PSD
|term               = 2024&ndash;2028
|coordinates        = {{coord|44|55|28|N|25|27|26|E|region:RO|display=inline,title}}
|elevation          = 292
|elevation_min      = 
|elevation_max      = 
|area_total         = 50.4
|population_total   = auto
|population_as_of   = 
|population_footnotes = 
|postal_code        = 130002–130169
|area_code          = (+40) 02 45
|website            = {{URL|http://www.pmtgv.ro/}}
}}

'''Târgoviște''' ({{IPA|ro|tɨrˈɡoviʃte}}, alternatively spelled ''Tîrgoviște'') is a [[Municipiu|city]] and [[county seat]] in [[Dâmbovița County]], [[Romania]]. It is situated {{convert|80|km|0|abbr=off}} north-west of [[Bucharest]], on the right bank of the [[Ialomița (river)|Ialomița River]].

Târgoviște was one of the most important cities in the history of [[Wallachia]], as it was its capital from 1418 to 1659. At the [[2021 Romanian census|2021 census]], the city had a population of 66,965 people, making it the 27th largest in the country.

==Etymology==
The name ''Târgoviște'' is a Slavic name which the city acquired in the [[Middle Ages]]. It is derived from the old Slavonic word for "[[marketplace]]", referring to the place rather than the market itself.

The name is found in placenames not only in South Slavic areas (Bulgarian {{lang|bg|[[Targovishte|Търговище]]}}, Serbian {{Lang|sr-Cyrl|[[Trgovište|Трговиште]]}} and Croatian ''{{Lang|hr|[[Veliko Trgovišće]]}}''), but also in West Slavic such as Slovak ''[[Trhovište]]'', Czech ''[[Trhoviště]]'' or Polish ''[[Targowica, Lower Silesian Voivodeship|Targowica]]''. Additionally, places with the same name are found in Romania, in the regions of [[Oltenia]], [[Banat]], and [[Moldavia]].{{sfn|Rădvan|p=295}}

The Romanian and Bulgarian towns with the same name are also [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]].

==History==
===Early history===
The area of Târgoviște which was first inhabited is located where the [[Saint Nicholas-Geartoglu Church]] and [[Stelea Veche Church]] stand today. It was in this place that the first fortifications were built: a small stone building surrounded by a brick [[wall]] and a [[moat]], probably belonging to a local ruler.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=295}} However, archaeological evidence is scarce and it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when it was erected.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=295}}

===Saxon colony===
Another nucleus of the city was built by [[Transylvanian Saxons|Saxon colonists]] from [[Transylvania]], in the area where the Catholic [[Saint Mary Church (Târgoviște)|Saint Mary Church]] is located, a church that was built during the early years of the colony.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=296}} A local tradition says that the church was built in 1300.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=296}} The colonists came around the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th century, the same period that [[Câmpulung]] was colonized.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=296}} There is archeological evidence that the land occupied by the new colonists had been previously inhabited by locals, which leads to the conclusion that it had been approved by the local ruler.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=296}}

The colonists influenced the local administration, as Târgoviște was the only town in Wallachia that had Transylvanian organization features, having official titles such as ''[[birău]]'' and ''[[folnog]]'', which are found in documents together with local officials, like ''[[vornic]]'' and ''[[pristav]]''.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=297}} The town had a [[Watchman (law enforcement)|night watch]] which was also known by a Latin term (''viglu'' < ''vigilia'') instead of the local terms such ''pază'' or ''strajă''.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=297}} Under [[Mircea the Elder]] (1383–1419), Târgoviște became the third capital of Wallachia.<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Tîrgovishtea|volume=26|pages=1009–1010}}</ref>

After 1400, the town began to grow and become denser. In both the Saxon part (around the stronghold) and the Romanian part, there were several large dwellings with [[Basement|cellar]]s and [[cocklestove]]s similar to those found in Central Europe. The wealth is also known based on the number of [[treasure trove]]s discovered, the largest being a [[hoard]] of 6,284 silver coins, found in the Saxon part of the town.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=297}} The town gravitated around the Saxon part, this being valid until the Saxon community began its decline during the 16th century.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=298}}

===Capital of Wallachia===
[[File:Flickr - fusion-of-horizons - Mitropolia Veche a Țării Românești.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of the Ascension Cathedral]]
[[File:RO DB Targoviste - Buzau and Braila gate 2.jpg|thumb|left|Bucharest Gate]]
{{Medieval capitals of Romania}}
In the 15th century, the capital of Wallachia was [[Curtea de Argeș]], however, due to Târgoviște's economic growth, toward the end of the century, it became a secondary residence of the Wallachian hospodar. In 1396, Bavarian traveler [[Johann Schiltberger]] mentions both Curtea de Argeș and Târgoviște as capitals of Wallachia.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=298}} While [[Mircea I of Wallachia|Mircea I]] lived in Curtea de Argeș, [[Michael I of Wallachia|Michael I]], Mircea's son and co-prince lived in Târgoviște, where he continued to live even as a single ruler. [[Dan II of Wallachia|Dan II]] preferred Curtea de Argeș and he was the last hospodar to rule from that city, the court being finally moved to Târgoviște by [[Alexander I Aldea|Alexandru Aldea]] in 1431.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=298}}

Throughout the period it was the capital of Wallachia, the [[Târgoviște Princely Court]] (''Curtea Domnească din Târgoviște'') had been constantly refurbished and extended. The compound was surrounded by [[stone wall]]s and a [[moat]] and a new church and a tower had been built.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=298}} [[Vlad III Dracula]] ("the Impaler") later added the [[Chindia Tower]], now a symbol of the city.

Starting with 1565, for the next two centuries, the rulers alternated the capital between [[Târgoviște]] and [[Bucharest]], often on political reasons, as the former was preferred by the rulers who were more friendly toward [[Transylvania]] and the [[King of Hungary]].{{sfn|Rădvan|p=299}} Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, Târgoviște was a major trade hub, especially with [[Poland]], [[Brașov]], and [[Sibiu]].{{sfn|Rădvan|p=299-300}}

By the 16th century, the [[Romanians]] became majority in the city, as some Saxons left for Transylvania and others were assimilated. Greek merchants began to settle in the city, especially after 1500, while Greek monks settled in the nearby [[Dealu Monastery|Dealu]] and [[Panaghia Monastery|Panaghia]] monasteries.{{sfn|Rădvan|p=300}}

As the capital of Wallachia, Târgoviște faced numerous sieges and invasions. In 1395, it was sieged and set on fire by [[Bayezid I]].{{sfn|Rădvan|p=302}} In 1457, the townsfolk of Târgoviște were punished by Vlad III Dracula for their involvement in the assassination of his brother: the elite of the city were killed, while the young were sent to work at his [[Poenari Castle]].{{sfn|Rădvan|p=302}}

The Ottoman invasion of 1462 did not reach the city, being prevented by [[Vlad the Impaler|Vlad III]] through the [[night attack at Târgoviște]]. In 1476, the city was taken by [[Stephen V Báthory]] following a fifteen-day siege intended to restore Vlad to the throne. Several other battles were fought near the city during the rules of [[Neagoe Basarab]] and [[Radu of Afumați]].{{sfn|Rădvan|p=302}}

In 1597, the [[Hajduk|Hajduks]] of [[Mihai Viteazul]] and [[Starina Novak]] fought and won a decisive battle{{which|date=October 2019}} against the [[Ottoman Empire]] in Târgoviște.<ref name="EB1911"/>

===Decline===
After the capital was finally moved to [[Bucharest]] during the rule of [[Constantin Brâncoveanu]] (1688–1714), Târgoviște lost its importance, decaying economically as its population decreased.

===Modern history===
[[File:Strada Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Târgoviște.JPG|thumb|[[Alexandru Ioan Cuza]] Street]]
Târgoviște was the site of the [[Tudor Vladimirescu#Arrest and assassination|torture and execution of Tudor Vladimirescu]] on 7 June 1821 during the [[Wallachian uprising]].

Târgoviște was the site of the [[Trial of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu|trial and execution of Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena]] on 25 December 1989 during the [[Romanian Revolution]]. In 2025, the military unit where the execution was held opened to the public as the ''Museum of Military Tradition''.

==Geography==
One village, Priseaca, is administered by the city.

==Population==
In 2021, there were 66,965 inhabitants. According to the 2002 census, 96.6% of the inhabitants were [[Romanians]] and 2.84% [[Romani people in Romania|Roma]] people.
{{Historical populations 
|align = none
|source = Census data
|1900 |9400
|1912 |13041
|1930 |22298
|1948 |26038
|1956 |24360
|1966 |29763
|1977 |61254
|1992 |98117
|2002 |89930
|2011 |79610
|2021 |66965
}}
{{clr}}

== Transportation ==

===Railway===
[[File:Gara Targoviste1930.jpg|thumb|right |Târgoviște rail station in 1930. The building was inaugurated in 1884.]]
Târgoviște is a [[railway node]], with branches serving [[Titu]] (joining there the [[Ploiești]] and [[Pietroșița]] lines).{{citation needed span|The railway station building was inaugurated on 2 January 1884, served by the then new line from [[Titu]] to Târgoviște. This first line was built by the VIIth Rail Company of the Ist Engineering Regiment of the [[Romanian Land Forces|Romanian Army]]. On 27 May 1894, an extension of this line to Pucioasa was inaugurated. The ''Ploiești–Târgoviște'' branch construction was started in 1929, but officially inaugurated only on 29 June 1946.|date=November 2017}}

[[File:Gara Targoviste.jpg|thumb|right | The building of railway station was renovated in 2000–2004.]]
Today, the city is served by multiple stations:
*Târgoviște (south-west of the town).
*Romlux halt (north-west).
*Teiș halt (former Târgoviște-Vest) (north).
*Târgoviște Nord station (north-east).
*Valea Voievozilor halt (east).

The railway station is open for both passenger traffic - with sales/reservation office and electronic ticketing machine - and merchandise traffic. Local halts serves the large industrial operators of the city - [[Mechel]], {{ill|Oțelinox|ro}}, {{ill|Upet|ro}}, [[Erdemir]], {{ill|Romlux|ro}}, {{ill|Rondocarton|ro}}.

===Roads===
Located at a crossroads of ancient trade routes, the city can be easily approached from all sides. Târgoviște Municipality is located approximatively {{convert|80|km|0|abbr=off}} north-west of Bucharest, with a convenient access to [[Henri Coandă International Airport]], located in [[Otopeni]], to the north of Bucharest. 
{| class="wikitable"
! bgcolor="lightgrey" | 
! bgcolor="lightgrey" | Road number
! bgcolor="lightgrey" | Cities
|---
|[[File:RO Roadsign 71.svg|22px]]
|[[DN 71]]
|align="center"|[[Tărtășești]] — Târgoviște — [[Pucioasa]] — [[Sinaia]]
|---
|[[File:RO Roadsign 72.svg|22px]]
|[[DN 72]]
|align="center"|[[Găești]] — Târgoviște — [[Ploiești]]
|---
|[[File:RO Roadsign 72A.svg|22px]]
|[[DN 72A]]
|align="center"|Târgoviște — [[Câmpulung]]
|---
|}

Also, a number of county roads pass the city:
* DJ 711 Târgoviște — [[Bujoreanca]]
* DJ 712 Târgoviște — [[Șotânga]] — [[Vulcana-Pandele]] — [[Brănești, Dâmbovița|Brănești]] — [[Pucioasa]]
* DJ 718A Târgoviște — [[Dealu Monastery]]
* DJ 719 Târgoviște — [[Valea Voievozilor]]
* DJ 721 Târgoviște — [[Colanu]] — [[Văcărești, Dâmbovița|Văcărești]] — [[Perșinari]] — [[Gura Șuții]] — [[Produlești]] —[[Conțești, Dâmbovița|Costești Deal]]

===Public transport===
In the city, [[public transport]] is provided by [[Public Transport Târgoviște|Public Transport]] and include bus and maxi-taxi. From 1995 until 2005, [[trolleybus]]es operated in the city. In 2005 public transport was developed and modernized, Public Transport becoming a passenger transport company in public-private partnership.{{dubious||date=November 2017}}

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Romania}}
Târgoviște is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Relațiile de cooperare/înfrățire cu Municipiul Târgoviște|url=http://www.pmtgv.ro/infratiri.html|website=www.pmtgv.ro|publisher=Târgoviște City Hall|language=ro|access-date=2021-12-09}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Castellón de la Plana]], Spain
*{{flagicon|MDA}} [[Căușeni]], Moldova
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Corbetta, Lombardy|Corbetta]], Italy
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Ciudad Real]], Spain
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Gioia del Colle]], Italy
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guilin]], China
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Karadeniz Ereğli]], Turkey
*{{flagicon|BUL}} [[Kazanlak]], Bulgaria
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Nefteyugansk]], Russia
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Santarém, Portugal|Santarém]], Portugal
*{{flagicon|BUL}} [[Targovishte Municipality|Targovishte]], Bulgaria
* {{flagicon|Hungary}} [[2nd district of Budapest]], Hungary
<!--rest – not twinning or twinning ended-->
{{div col end}}

== Sport ==
The city has one football club, [[FC Chindia Târgoviște]] which plays in the second tier of Romanian football, the [[Liga II]].

Târgovişte is also home to [[Municipal MCM Târgovişte]] basketball club which competes in the [[Divizia A (Baschet Feminin)|Romanian League]] and the [[EuroCup Women|EuroCup]].

==Notable people==
*[[Grigore Alexandrescu]] (1810–1885), poet
*[[Vasile Atanasiu]] (1886–1964), general
*{{ill|Tony Bulandra|ro}} (1881–1943), actor
*[[Ioan Alexandru Brătescu-Voinești]] (1868–1946), writer
*[[Sorana Cîrstea]] (born 1990), tennis player
*[[Cornel Dinu]] (born 1948), football player
*[[Florin Pripu]] (born 1980), professional football player
*[[Ion Heliade Rădulescu]] (1802–1872), writer, philologist, politician
*{{ill|Laurențiu Ion|ro}} (born 1991), poet
*[[Theodor Stolojan]] (born 1943), economist, politician
*[[Matei Vlădescu]] (1835–1901), general and politician
{{Panorama
|image      = File:Panorama of Targoviste City.JPG
|fullwidth  = 7370
|fullheight = 1010
|caption    = Panorama of Târgoviște as seen from [[Chindia Tower]]
|height     = 230
}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Târgoviște - Curtea Domnească 5.jpg|Princely Church
File:TurnulChindiei.jpg|Chindia Tower
File:Targoviste Catholic church 2.jpg|Roman Catholic Church
File:RO DB - Muzeul de Artă Targoviste (fosta Prefectura județeană).jpg|Art Museum (former County Prefecture)
File:Targoviste city hall 2.jpg|City Hall
File:Muzeul de istorie Dâmbovița.JPG|History Museum
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{Cite book|last=Rădvan|first=Laurențiu|title=At Europe's borders: medieval towns in the Romanian principalities|year=2010|url=https://brill.com/view/title/17869|publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]]|isbn=978-90-474-4460-2|location=Leiden|oclc=704277726|ref={{harvid|Rădvan}}}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Târgoviște}}
{{EB1911 Poster|Tîrgovishtea}}
* [http://www.patzinakia.com/index2.html A presentation of the Medieval Princely Court of Târgovişte]{{snd}}includes 25 contemporary photos, 3 ancient images, 2 layouts, a reconstruction of the Court, bibliography and many other info (in Romanian and in English).
* [http://www.muzee-dambovitene.ro/index.php Museums of Targoviste and of Dambovita county (in Romanian)] 
* [http://www.primariatargoviste.ro City Hall site]
* [https://www.targoviste.ro Local Community Social Network]

{{Dâmboviţa County}}
{{RoJudCapitals}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Targoviste}}
[[Category:Târgoviște| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Romania]]
[[Category:Capitals of Romanian counties]]
[[Category:Former capitals of Romania]]
[[Category:Populated places in Dâmbovița County]]
[[Category:Localities in Muntenia]]
[[Category:Market towns in Wallachia]]
[[Category:Place names of Slavic origin in Romania]]