Uricani

Uricani is a town in Hunedoara County, Romania, in the western part of the Jiu Valley. It lies in a mountainous setting near the upper course of the Western Jiu. It is also one of the mining settlements of the Valea Jiului, and its history was long shaped by coal mining. The settlement currently has town status. Because of its location, it serves as an important starting point toward the Retezat area and other nearby mountain landscapes. Natural surroundings are especially important to the town’s character. At the same time, traces of its industrial past remain visible in its structure and historical development. Uricani can be understood as one of the western gateway settlements of the Jiu Valley. After the decline of mining, it too experienced economic and social transformation. Its regional links are directed mainly toward the other towns of the valley. Present-day Uricani combines a mountain setting with mining heritage. It is one of the small towns in the southwestern part of Hunedoara County.