A former Roman settlement, the town of Târgu Jiu is located at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, on the banks of the Jiu River. Inhabited since the Paleolithic, the western region of Oltenia had a strategic importance for the Romanians. The area offered direct access, through one of the most spectacular passes in the Carpathians, to today's Transylvania, the heart of the former Dacian Kingdom.

Constantin Brâncuși, one of the most influential modern sculptors of the 20th century, was born near Targu Jiu, in Hobita. Although he lived and worked most of his life in Paris, his legacy is also preserved in Romania, in the city of Târgu Jiu.

The Jiu River Valley was the scene of heavy fighting during World War I and World War II. Here, in a monumental ensemble, Brâncusi created three sculptures in memory of the 8,500 Romanian soldiers who died defending the Jiului Valley from the advance of the German army. The three sculptures, Masa Tăcerii (Table of Silence), Poarta Sarutului (Kissing Gate) and Coloana Neserută (Column of Infinity), are placed on the one-mile (1.5 km) east-west axis that runs through the heart of the city. .

The Table of Silence, made of limestone, has twelve chairs, originally placed much closer to the table and arranged in pairs.

The Kissing Gate, made of marble, features a kissing motif on the gateposts. The entire structure rests on a steel axle, set in a five square meter concrete foundation.

The Endless Column stacks 17 rhomboid cast iron modules into a 30 meter high column. The modules, completed in 1938, were made in the central workshop in Petroşani. The column was restored in 1964.

Târgu Jiu is also the capital of Gorj County, a region of rolling meadows, grassy hills and mountainous landscapes with plenty of natural and cultural attractions to explore. Tiny towns and villages dot the county and contain wonderful traditional architecture. Several spa towns and monasteries high in the mountains make for popular day trips.

Nearby airports:

Târgu Jiu has no local airport. The nearest airports are located in:

Craiova (CRA) - http://www.aeroportcraiova.ro/ 110 km away

Sibiu (SBZ) – www.sibiuairport.ro / 210 km away
Bucharest Otopeni - Henri Coanda (OTP) - www.otp-airport.ro / 290 km distance