Carol I National College

About

The Carol I National College (Romanian: Colegiul Național Carol I din Craiova) is a high school located in central Craiova, Romania, on Ioan Maiorescu Street. It is one of the most prestigious secondary education institutions in Romania. Between 1947 and 1997 it operated under the name of Nicolae Bălcescu High School.

The Central High School was officially established on 20 May 1826, although it was actually built 7 years later in 1833. After suffering heavy damage from the earthquake of 11 January 1838, the school was rebuilt in November 1842 and it had some 400 students.

Craiova's Central High School was renamed "Carol I Liceum" on 11 November 1885 by a Royal decree of King Carol I.

It was re-built a second time after the 1977 earthquake that demolished a major part of its buildings.

The following is a short list of the most notable alumni of the Carol I National College.

- Theodor Aman, painter and graphic artist

- Alexandru Balaci [ ro ], philologist, literary critic

- Radu Ciuceanu, historian and politician

- Traian Demetrescu, poet, novelist, and literary critic

- Dimitrie Gerota, anatomist, physician, radiologist, and urologist

- Tudor Gheorghe, musician, poet, and actor

- Radu Gyr, poet, essayist, playwright, and journalist

- Eugène Ionesco, playwright and dramatist

- Alexandru Macedonski, poet, novelist, dramatist, and literary critic

- Titu Maiorescu, philologist, literary critic, politician

- Alexandru Mironov, science-fiction writer, journalist, and politician

- Jean Negulescu, film director, screenwriter, and a pioneer in cinemascope

- Constantin S. Nicolăescu-Plopșor, historian, archeologist, and folklorist

- Dionisie M. Pippidi [ ro ], archaeologist and historian

- Ioan Nicolae Romanescu, pilot and aviation pioneer