Nicolae Romanescu Park

About Nicolae Romanescu Park

At a glance: Parks and gardens in Craiova, Dolj County. Ticket: Free. The visit takes 2 – 2½ hours. Information verified on 10 October 2026.

Nicolae Romanescu Park is the largest urban park in Romania and the symbol of Craiova. It covers almost 100 hectares (sources give between 90 and 100) on the site of the former Bibescu family garden, where the people of Craiova had been strolling since the 19th century. The idea came from the mayor, Nicolae P. Romanescu, who entrusted the project to the French landscape architect Édouard Redont. The plans won a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900, the works ran from 1901 to 1903, and the park was inaugurated in 1903. Redont drew on the Buttes-Chaumont park in Paris: a lake with islands, cascades, cement "rocks", a gloriette and a suspension bridge. The ensemble is a category A historic monument (LMI code DJ-II-a-A-07924).

What you can see

At the heart of the park is the lake of over 4 hectares, with water lilies, islands, stone bridges and a boat landing where boats can be hired. The suspension bridge, built at the start of the 20th century, links two hills above the lake and rests on crenellated stone towers. At its end, on the hill, stands the Enchanted Castle, a building in a Gothic Romantic style, with towers, now used as a restaurant with a terrace. There are also the Glorieta near the main entrance, the bandstand, the cascades, the Bibescu House and the Summer Theatre. More than 35 km of paths wind among old trees. The park also holds the Craiova Zoo, open since 1906, a separate attraction with free admission according to its operator.

Good to know before you go

Getting there

By car: the park is in the south of Craiova, on Nicolae Romanescu boulevard, a few kilometres from the centre; the main entrance is at no. 1A. Craiova is ~230 km from Bucharest, along DN6/A1 (check the current route).

Public transport: I found that the park is served by RAT Craiova lines, but could not confirm the numbers; look up the route in the local transport app. From the station or the centre a taxi takes ~10 minutes, and on foot from the centre it is about 25–30 minutes.

Where to park

You can park on Nicolae Romanescu boulevard near the entrances, with no fee as far as I could find out; spaces are few at weekends and during events.

Fees & discounts

Entry to the park is free, and the zoo has free admission according to its operator. Boats at the landing and meals at the restaurants are paid; I found no official boat tariff, so ask at the landing.

Rules

A public park: follow the signs, do not pick the flowers, do not walk on the beds and do not throw anything into the lake. Pets only on a lead. On the suspension bridge cross with care, without jumping or swaying it, and respect any posted limits on the number of people.

Facilities

paved paths · benches · boat landing · restaurants and terraces · Summer Theatre · zoo · cycle track