Pleşcuţa

For the village in Alba County, see Vidra, Alba.

Pleşcuţa
—  Commune  —
Country	Romania
County	Arad County
Population (2002)	1,498
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)

Pleşcuţa is a commune in Arad County, Romania, is situated in the Hălmagiu Basin, at the foot of Codru-Moma Mountains and Metaliferi Mountains, along the upper course of the Crişul Alb River. It is connected with the Gurahonţ Basin by the epigenetic defile of the Crişul Alb existing between Pleșcuţa and Gurahonţ. The commune stretches over 7000 hectares and is composed of seven villages: Aciuţa, Budeşti, Dumbrava, Gura Văii, Pleşcuţa (situated at 116 km from Arad), Rostoci and Tălagiu.

Population

According to the last census the population of the commune counts 1498 inhabitants, out of which 96.0% are Romanians, 3.9% Roma and 0.1% are of other or undeclared nationalities.

The first documentary records of Pleșcuţa, Rostoci and Tălagiu date back to 1439. Aciuţa was attested documentarily in 1366, Budești in 1441-1445, Dumbrava in 1553 and Gura Văii in 1553-1561.

Economy

The commune's present-day economy can be characterized by a powerful dynamic force with significant developments in all the sectors. The secondary economic sector is represented by the exploitation of andesite, lumbering and conversion of timber.

Tourism

The traditional architecture, the ethno-folkloric fond of the zone, the picturesque landscapes from the Văratecul peak and Măgura Ciunganilor, the defile of the Crişul Alb River, the castle built in the 18th century in neoclassic style in Aciuţa and the wooden church called "Înălţarea Domnului" in Budești - a historical and architectural monument built in 1772 and painted in 1860 are some of the commune's tourist sites.