City (pop., 2002: 302,622), southwestern Romania.
Situated near the Jiu River, the area has long been settled; the remains of a Roman fort built under Trajan have been excavated nearby. From the late 15th to the 18th century it was the residence of the region's military governors. It prospered as a regional trading centre despite an earthquake in 1790 and a Turkish assault in 1802 during which it was burned. It has a university (1966) and other cultural amenities.