The Carol I National College () is a high school located in central Craiova, Romania, on Ioan Maiorescu Street. It is one of the most prestigious secondary education institutions in Romania. Between 1947 and 1997 it operated under the name of Nicolae Bălcescu High School. History The Central High School was officially established on 20 May 1826, although it was actually built 7 years later in 1833. After suffering heavy damage from the earthquake of 11 January 1838, the school was rebuilt in November 1842 and it had some 400 students. Craiova's Central High School was renamed "Carol I Liceum" on 11 November 1885 by a Royal decree of King Carol I. It was re-built a second time after the 1977 earthquake that demolished a major part of its buildings. Alumni The following is a short list of the most notable alumni of the Carol I National College. Theodor Aman, painter and graphic artist , chemist Corneliu Baba, painter , philologist, literary critic , agronomist Al. C. Calotescu-Neicu, columnist Radu Ciuceanu, historian and politician George Constantinescu, engineer Traian Demetrescu, poet, novelist, and literary critic , jurist Dimitrie Gerota, anatomist, physician, radiologist, and urologist Tudor Gheorghe, musician, poet, and actor Radu Gyr, poet, essayist, playwright, and journalist Eugène Ionesco, playwright and dramatist Traian Lalescu, mathematician Alexandru Macedonski, poet, novelist, dramatist, and literary critic Titu Maiorescu, philologist, literary critic, politician , jurist Gib Mihăescu, writer Alexandru Mironov, science-fiction writer, journalist, and politician Jean Negulescu, film director, screenwriter, and a pioneer in cinemascope Constantin S. Nicolăescu-Plopșor, historian, archeologist, and folklorist Mihai Pătrașcu, computer scientist Adrian Păunescu, poet Amza Pellea, actor Nicolae Popescu, mathematician Ioan Nicolae Romanescu, pilot and aviation pioneer Eraclie Sterian, physician, writer, and political activist Simion Stoilow, mathematician Eugen Taru, graphic artist Gheorghe Tătărescu, politician who served twice as Prime Minister of Romania and three times as Minister of Foreign Affairs Gheorghe Țițeica, mathematician Nicolae Titulescu, diplomat, politician Ion Țuculescu, painter Nicolae Vasilescu-Karpen, engineer and physicist Pan M. Vizirescu, poet and essayist Ștefan Voitec, communist politician who served as President of the Great National Assembly References External links Carol I High School Web Site Schools in Dolj County Educational institutions established in 1826 1826 establishments in Wallachia Neoclassical architecture in Romania Buildings and structures in Craiova National Colleges in Romania