Băile Govora

Băile Govora (or just Govora) is a Romanian spa town in Vâlcea County, about 20 km (12 mi) south-west of Râmnicu Vâlcea and west of the Olt River, in the historical region of Oltenia. Notable features of the town (beside its mineral springs, recommended for a variety of ailments) include the Govora Abbey (built in the 15th century and consolidated by Matei Basarab and later by Constantin Brâncoveanu) and the nearby Dintr-un lemn Monastery (16th or 17th century; the legend of its origin was recorded by Paul of Aleppo).

Băile Govora
Town
Coat of arms
Location in Vâlcea County
Băile Govora Location in Romania
Coordinates: 45°4′48″N 24°10′47″E
Country	Romania
County	Vâlcea
Government
• Mayor (2020–2024)	Mihai Mateescu[1] (PNL)
Area	13.79 km2 (5.32 sq mi)
Elevation	300 m (1,000 ft)
Population  (2021-12-01)[2]	2,158
• Density	160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Time zone	EET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)
Postal code	245200
Area code	(+40) 02 50
Vehicle reg.	VL
Website	www.primaria-baile-govora.ro

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1930	910	—
1948	1,156	+27.0%
1956	1,590	+37.5%
1966	2,189	+37.7%
1977	2,749	+25.6%
1992	3,023	+10.0%
2002	3,147	+4.1%
2011	2,353	−25.2%
2021	2,158	−8.3%
Source: Census data

Govora Abbey was the site where Matei Basarab introduced the first printing press in Wallachia – where the first written code of laws in Romanian was published, Pravila de la Govora [ro], in 1640.

The town administers three villages: Curăturile, Gătejești, and Prajila.

Notable people

• Mihai Constantinescu (1932–2019), film director and screenwriter
• Alexander Marmureanu (born 1962), surgeon