Breaza

Breaza is a town in Prahova County, Romania, with a population of 18,863.

Name
The town's name is derived from a Slavic word, breza, meaning "birch tree".

History
The town was first documented in an act of 1503, mentioning a certain trader of Breaza called "Neagoe". In 1622 the land of Breaza was divided between four boyars and in 1717, the new ruler of Wallachia, Nicolae Mavrocordat gave the Breaza estate to boyar Iordache Creţulescu. The land was divided by the agrarian reform of 1921 and in 1935 it was declared a spa.

Geography
It consists of at least two villages, Podu Vadului and Breaza de Sus, which merged. Today, ten villages are administratively part of the town: Breaza de Jos, Breaza de Sus, Frăsinet, Gura Beliei, Irimești, Nistorești, Podu Corbului, Podu Vadului, Surdești and Valea Târsei. One of the main occupations is farming, and traditional needlework, but many inhabitants also commute to work in the neighboring towns of Comarnic and Câmpina. Tourism is also important for the local economy, and many locals rent out rooms in the summer months.

Due to its naturally beautiful surroundings, being located among rolling hills, the town has long been popular with inhabitants of Bucharest, who tend to have vacation homes here. Among the people who are rumored to have second residences in Breaza are Adrian Păunescu and Valentin Ceaușescu.

It is also the site of a folk art museum and a military high school.