Rădăuți

Sister cities

• Ragusa
• Briceni
• Drochia
• Caminha
• Pontault-Combault
• Beilstein
• Kyrenia
• Gliwice

History

The mention of "Radomir's village" (as part of a review of boyar property in the area) in a 1392 document (uric) is generally believed to be the town's first mention, and indication of the origin of the name Rădăuți (other theories state that the settlement had its origins in earlier periods, and that the name is a Slavic-influenced derivative of the Latin word Rottacenum, as allegedly used by soldiers in the Roman garrison in Siret). The oldest mention of Rădăuți as such dates from 1413, in a document issued by Moldavian Prince Alexandru cel Bun. By the middle of the 14th century, Rădăuți was already a flourishing settlement, the seat of a prominent Eastern Orthodox church during the times of Bogdan I (1359–1365), and subsequently a bishopric. Around the St. Nicholas church (Bogdana Monastery), archaeologists have uncovered a habitation layer preceding Bogdan's period of rule, one which could point to the existence of a local center prior to the foundation of Moldavia. Awarded the privilege of organizing fairs, Rădăuți evolved due to its favorable location midway between the Carpathian Mountains and the tableland area (with traders from both regions establishing contact in the local market). The fairs at Rădăuți have been dated to the time of Stephen the Great (a document from 1481; however, since the mention includes details of Stephen's intervention in solving a commercial dispute, it is possible that the fairs were well established by then). Rădăuți has a cathedral, built in 1402, with the tombs of several Moldavian princes. Rădăuți was also the seat of a Greek bishopric, moved to Chernivtsi in 1786. Rădăuți was one of the largest cities of the Duchy of Bukovina during the period of Habsburg administration (1775–1918). During that time it saw a high level of…

Geography

Rădăuți is situated in Bukovina, on a plain between the Suceava and Sucevița rivers, northwest from Suceava, the county capital. The city is located in the depression with the same name, at altitude. It is one of the oldest settlements in Moldavia, known since the 15th century. The towns of Siret, Solca, Milișăuți, and Vicovu de Sus are located relatively close to the city, in the Rădăuți urban area of influence. The climate is temperate-continental with Baltic influences. The predominant sector of climatic influence is continental, with the crivăț occurring frequently during the winter period. The Scandinavian-Baltic climatic influences are felt across the municipality of Rădăuți, bringing the circulation of polar air masses during the cold season.

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Jay

  Garrulus glandarius (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  28
• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  25
• White Stork

  Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  23
• Black Redstart

  Phoenicurus ochruros (S.G.Gmelin, 1774) · Aves
  22
• Rook

  Corvus frugilegus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  21
• Barn Swallow

  Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  21
• Fieldfare

  Turdus pilaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  20
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  19

Most recent

• M 4.4 — 2011-06-24
  3 km SE of Ostra, Romania
• M 4.1 — 2005-02-13
  2 km N of Or??eni-Deal, Romania