Polovragi
{{Infobox Romanian subdivision
|type = commune
|county = Gorj
|name = Polovragi
|subdivisions = Polovragi, Racovița
|image_flag =
|image_shield = ROU GJ Polovragi CoA.png
|image_skyline = Biserica manastirii Polovragi.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_alt =
|image_caption = Polovragi Monastery
|image_map =
|map_caption = Location in Gorj County
|leader_name = Gheorghe Epure{{cite web |url=https://prezenta.roaep.ro/locale27092020/romania-pv-final |title=Results of the 2020 local elections |publisher=Central Electoral Bureau |access-date=14 June 2021 |df=dmy-all}}
|leader_party = PSD
|leader_term = 2020–2024
|coordinates = {{coord|45|11|N|23|48|E|type:city|display=inline,title}}
|established_date =
|elevation = 546
|elevation_min =
|elevation_max =
|area_total = 84.95
|area_footnotes =
|population_as_of =
|population_total = auto
|population_footnotes =
|postal_code = 217365
|area_code = +(40) 253
|website = {{URL|https://comunapolovragi.ro/}}
|footnotes =
}}
Polovragi is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Polovragi and Racovița.
The commune is located in the northeastern part of Gorj County, {{cvt|54|km}} from the county seat, Târgu Jiu, on the border with Vâlcea County. National road {{ill|DN67|ro}} connects it to Târgu Jiu and Drobeta-Turnu Severin to the west and to Râmnicu Vâlcea to the east.
Polovragi is situated in a hilly area at the foot of the Southern Carpathians, at an altitude of {{cvt|546|m}}. It lies on the banks of the river Olteț, which has its source in the {{ill|Căpățână Mountains|ro|Munții Căpățânii}}, and carves a {{cvt|3|km}}-long gorge just to the north of Polovragi village. In the gorge, some {{cvt|20|m}} above the river, is the {{ill|Polovragi Cave|ro|Peștera Polovragi}}, where about 300 horseshoe bats roost. The cave is said to have been home to Zalmoxis, a divinity of the Getae and Dacians; the "Dacian Oven" and "Zalmoxis' Throne" are among the rock formations that can be found here.{{cite web|url=https://pesterapolovragi.ro/|title=Peștera Polovragi|lang=ro|website=pesterapolovragi.ro|access-date=June 24, 2024}}
The {{ill|Polovragi Monastery|ro|Mănăstirea Polovragi}} was built in 1505 by ktitors Radu Comisul and Pătru Spătaru, the sons of boyar Danciu Zamona.{{cite web|url=https://www.crestinortodox.ro/biserici-manastiri/mitropolia-olteniei/manastirea-polovragi-68217.html|title=Mănăstirea Polovragi|lang=ro|website=www.crestinortodox.ro|access-date=June 24, 2024}}
Andruță Ceaușescu (1886–1969), Nicolae Ceaușescu's father, was the descendant of a family of shepherds from Polovragi.{{cite news|author=Toma Roman, Jr|url=https://jurnalul.ro/special-jurnalul/la-taifas-nepotul-lui-ceausescu-povesteste-15151.html |title=La taifas – Nepotul lui Ceaușescu povestește|lang=ro|newspaper=Jurnalul Național|date=August 7, 2006|access-date=June 24, 2024}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Gallery
|File:000 027 369 - 26-07-2010 - Manastirea Polovragi.jpg|Entrance to the Polovragi Monastery
|File:Bolnița Sf. Nicolae a mănăstirii Polovragi.JPG|Saint Nicholas Church within the monastery
|File:Cheile Oltețului.JPG|The Olteț Gorge, near Polovragi
}}
{{Gorj County}}
Category:Communes in Gorj County
Category:Localities in Oltenia
{{Gorj-geo-stub}}