"A little history on Ploiesti" a Ploiesti Travel Page by DSwede

Ploiesti is one of the larger cities of Romania, and can claim among other things to be the birth place of gasoline/petrol industry for Europe. Ploeisti is not as developed as Bucharesti, but is not far behind.

Part of the reason that Ploeisti still requires improvements, besides the local economic situation, is because the city was nearly destroyed in WWII. The town of Campina, which is just to the north, has the world’s oldest commercial petroleum refinery, and Ploiesti took suit and became one of the worlds largest and advanced refinery areas. The Germans sought to control this area in order to have fuel to drive their army. The Allies knew this and therefore relentlessly bombed and air-raided the city. It was the furthest south bombing run that the Allies performed because this city was the longest run the planes could make from their bases without running out of fuel.

I lived here in Ploiesti for several months, and used this a base camp to explore the areas. Brasov, Bran, Sinaia, Busteni and Bucharesti are relatively close. I made a few longer road trips to go out and see Constansta, Hunedoara, Sighisoara and Slanic.

Take a look at some of my general observations of Romania.

(for more pictures, feel free to visit my Romania Gallery. If you enjoy the pictures, please leave a comment.)