The city of Târgu Jiu, 10 years after the award ceremony of the "Golden Apple" trophy
► Tijani Haddad, president of FIJET World: "We believe that Romania is now a very good destination not only for tourists from Europe, but also from many other countries"
► In 2023, more than 150 thousand tourists came to "Home to Brâncuşi", a number almost double that recorded in 2020. Also, in the same period of time, the number of foreign tourists increased 5 times
Târgu Jiu, the seat of Gorj County, recently marked 10 years since it received the prestigious "Golden Apple" trophy from the International Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers (FIJET). This distinction has been awarded since 1970 to an organization, a city or a personality, in recognition of efforts to promote and develop tourism.
Târgu Jiu received the "Golden Apple" trophy in 2014. The FIJET jury considered that Târgu Jiu represents a unique destination due to the outdoor works of the famous sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi, works that constitute a great tourist attraction. Settled in Paris in 1909, Constantin Brâncuşi was already a celebrity when, in 1937, he returned to his native country to create the works admired today by visitors to the city of Târgu Jiu. At the request of the "National League of Women from Gorj", Constantin Brâncuşi created, within a year, several monumental works, located on a road, today called "Calea Heroes". On this road, also called "Brâncuşi Axis", was the bridge where, on October 14, 1916, there were heavy battles, the population of the city succeeded to stop for a while the German troops that were trying to advance to South. In the Public Garden, near the Jiu River, is the Table of Silence - surrounded by twelve round, hourglass-shaped stone chairs. Next, on the alley, 30 square stone chairs, also in the shape of an hourglass, can be seen on both sides. At the entrance to the Public Garden is the "Kissing Gate", a work made of porous stone, with a height of over 5 meters. On the two columns you can see the symbol of the kiss, two halves of a circle, a characteristic symbol of the sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi. At the end of the "Brâncuşi Axis", at a distance of about 1.2 km, is the "Column of Infinity". It has a height of 29 meters and is made up of bronze modules, in the shape of an hourglass, fixed on a metal axis. Located in a park, surrounded by not very tall buildings, the Brancusian masterpiece can be seen from a long distance.
The festivities organized at the "Table of Silence", in the Public Garden in Târgu Jiu, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the awarding of the "Golden Apple" trophy, were also attended by the members of the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Journalists and Travel Writers, who had the opportunity to see other attractions from Gorj county. After the celebration, the president of FIJET, Tijani Haddad, referred to Romania as a tourist destination and to the way in which the city of Târgu Jiu values, Brâncuşi's works: "We believe that Romania is now a very good destination not only for tourists from Europe, but also from many other countries because it has mountains, it has rivers, it has this hospitality of the population. I hope that this event will be beneficial for Romania and I hope that we will have other opportunities to promote this country on the international tourism scene. I was here specifically to celebrate the conferment of the Golden Apple given to the city of Târgu Jiu, 10 years ago. The residents celebrated this moment, we came on this occasion, and there was an impressive participation, with many folklore groups, many made up of children. It was a fantastic ceremony with many people from the city in attendance. We were impressed by the organization of the ceremony. I hope that in the future our federation will do everything possible to promote what we saw on the occasion of this visit, the destination and the tourism product Romania", said the president of FIJET, Tijani Haddad.
The ceremony in the Public Garden was also attended by the former president of the County Council, Ion Călinoiu, who 10 years ago was present at the "Golden Apple" caward ceremony, as well as the general secretary of FIJET World, Marijana Rebic. The current vice president of the County Council, Gheorghe Nichifor, said: "It's been 10 years since we were here, in this place. Many of us fondly remember that moment. I'm also thinking about what Mr. President at the time, Ion Călinoiu, said (I quote): "Thank you for receiving this Golden Apple, being aware that these thanks must go, first of all, to Constantin Brancusi." Now, because we have the FIJET board with us, I can only assure you of the full readiness of the County Council to continue what started 10 years ago. We believe that together we will be able to pass on the awareness of the value of the beauties that exist here, in Gorj, of the traditions that must be respected and promoted."
During the 4 days spent in Gorj county, FIJET World Executive Committee Members visited the Rânca resort, the Constantin Brâncuşi Memorial House from Hobita, the Oltet Canyons, the Polovragi commune and monastery, the Popular Architecture Museum from Curtisoara and, of course, the town of Targu Jiu, where they had the opportunity to admire Brancușian works. The foreign journalists from the FIJET management had the opportunity to listen to and watch the members of the Professional Artistic Ensemble "Doina Gorjului" and the groups of children from the Constantin Brancusi Popular Art School. The FIJET World board program in Gorj county was ensured with the support of the Gorj County Council, the Ranca Ski guesthouse in the Ranca resort and the Danielescu House in Târgu Jiu.
"I think that Târgu Jiu is the only city in the world that benefits from the open-air works of a world-renowned artist, Constantin Brâncusi. That's why FIJET awarded the "Golden Apple" trophy for a unique destination. This "Golden Apple" is a reward and, at the same time, a motivation for local authorities to continue developing and promoting tourism. And we, the journalists from the International Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers, will be there to promote this destination, both nationally and internationally. I am glad that the members of the FIJET Executive Committee are back here, in Târgu Jiu, "At Home to Brancusi!", stressed, on the same occasion, Ștefan Baciu, president of the Tourism Press Club - FIJET Romania.
Thanks to the promotion of recent years, the city of Târgu Jiu and the county of Gorj have increased in domestic and international visibility. In 2023, more than 150 thousand tourists came "At Home to Brancusi", a number almost double that recorded in 2020. Also, in the same period of time, the number of foreign tourists increased 5 times. "At home to Brancusi" is also the name of the association whose objective is the tourism promotion of the city of Târgu Jiu and the county of Gorj.
(Photos: Ionel SCAUNASU and Stefan BACIU)
