Merișani

Humans have inhabited the area that now belongs to the commune since the Neolithic.^[2] In the Middle Ages, the oldest written evidence is from 1428.^[3] The church in Vărzaru village was built around 1620.^[4]

The commune is situated in the centre of Argeș County, at about 15 km (9.3 mi) from the county seat, Pitești, and 25 km (16 mi) to Curtea de Argeș.^[5]

The commune is on the valley of the Argeș River, in a hilly region called Platforma Argeșului (the Argeș Platform), part of the Getic Plateau.^[6] The climate is temperate, with frequent rains. Winters are usually cold, with plenty of snow, while summers have a moderate heat.

The official data from the 2002 Census^[7] shows that the total population is of 4,428 persons. The majority are Romanians (4,252 or 96%). The second ethnic group are the Roma (171 or 4%). There are 5 people with other nationalities. However, the representants of the Romani community^[8] say that the Romani population is over 1,200 persons.

The main way to get to Merișani is by car. There are a national road and several county roads.^[9] The railway is the other access way, but trains are very rare.^[10]

There are local resources, like oil,^[11] forests,^[12] and large lakes.^[13] There is also a camp that could help tourist development.^[14]

Merișani is considered, however, the poorest commune in the county.^[15]