With top spa resorts, Vâlcea county is a suitable destination for any season. In a special landscape, with gentle hills and mountain peaks, we find craftsmen, old monasteries, a salt mine that has been declared a real “health center”, but also wineries with interesting tourist programs. There are also trails for all mountain lovers.
On the eve of the Easter holidays, the tourist offer of the city and the county of Vâlcea is a diverse one for those who want to discover the beauty of this beautiful land, says Monica Gheorghiu, director of the Vâlcea National Center for Tourist Information and Promotion.
“By way of radio waves, we invite them to come and visit the muses of our city. Among these, the Bujoreni Village Museum is very beautiful, and brings us closer to the customs and traditions of the area. It is located in a very beautiful area, at the foot of the forest, and the atmosphere is very peaceful. It is also very close to the city and reminds you of your grandparents’ house. It is an extremely important tourist objective for the municipality of Râmnicu Vâlcea, because it is nearby, and tourists can stop for a few minutes to relive the old story of our childhood. Also, even though the weather is a bit cold now, I think that a walk in the parks of the Râmnicu Vâlcea municipality would be auspicious during the holidays and the mini-vacation, which can be enjoyed not only by Romanian tourists, but also by those who visit home, friends and relatives.”
Very close to Râmnicu Vâlcea lies the Govora spa resort. A unique form of aerotherapy can be done here. This will create special comfort for those who come for both treatment and relaxation. Then, mineral waters contribute to the relief and even cure of bronchial asthma. From this point of view, the Băile Govora resort ranks first in Europe. And it is not the only resort whose therapeutic factors have created a reputation.
“Vâlcea has a good offer from this point of view. We have spa resorts and I can mention Călimănești-Căciulata, Băile Olănești and Ocnele Mari, which also have quite a good offer during this period. Tourists can come to spend precious time in the area. In addition to the hikes they can go on, they also have access to a number of swimming pools. Leisure is highly sought after, not only by those of a certain age, but also by young people.”
Vâlcea is known as the county with the most monasteries in Romania included in the national cultural heritage. Thus, monastic tourism is very well developed, as we learn from Monica Gheorghiu, director of the Vâlcea National Tourist Information and Promotion Center.
“It is an extremely sought-after tourist niche, especially in this period, when we know very well that, for Romanians, customs, traditions and holy holidays are not only an opportunity to travel, to spend a vacation, but also to make merry – to be close to holy light, to be close to faith. Then, obviously, these points on the cultural map of Romania, first of all, have a lot of visitors during this period. I would not be able to make a specific recommendation, because all the monasteries are extremely beautiful, and are visited by many. I love the Hurezi monastery, if I had to be subjective, but the most visited in the county is Cozia Monastery. Due to its location, due to the fact that it is located on the hiking path, more than any other, it is very much visited. The nearby Călimănești-Căciulata resort is obviously an important tourist hub for Vâlcea County, as it attracts more and more tourists.”
Horezu is a brand name for Vâlcea county, through the ceramics that the craftsmen make. Horezu ceramics are included in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage, and the beautifully decorated plates with traditional motifs have always been in great demand, as we learn from Monica Gheorghiu, the director of the Vâlcea National Tourist Information and Promotion Center.
“If a tourist arriving in a certain area wants to buy a souvenir or get in touch with folk craftsmen, the Horezu Valley is the cornerstone. Horezu is the area where the story of Hurezi ceramics started. In the village of Olari, where the clay takes shape, you can meet skilled craftsmen who transform their clay into ceramic objects, highly sought after by tourists, and appreciated all over the world. We also have white ceramics in Vâlcea, which started from Vlădești, from an equally special place, and very close to the town of Râmnicu Vâlcea. I also have to mention a pottery center in Lungești, where we still have a family that still practices this beautiful craft. Here are some pointers for those who want to get to the area and buy a souvenir while on vacation.”
On the other hand, in Vâlcea county there are two certified tourist routes, continues Monica Gheorghiu.
“It is a wine route that includes all the wineries in the south of the county, with a visit to the tourist attractions in that area, including the Ocnele Mari Saltworks. We also have a certified cultural route that ends at Vaideeni. This is the Horezu Valley. This presents to tourists silk making. In Vâlcea, there is a laboratory where the secret of growing silkworms and processing silk thread is still kept alive. The route starts with the silk laboratory and ends in Vaideeni with the inclusion of all the tourist attractions: the Trovanți Museum, Bistrița Monastery, Arnota, Hurezi Monastery, Bistriței Gorges, Olari village, the Transhumance Museum. This is another route certified by the Ministry of Tourism. Based on these routes, we tried to work with some travel agencies and we come up with a proposal, starting on May 1st, with a circuit that will bring tourists close to the customs and traditions of the area.”
Prestigious events will soon begin in Vâlcea county. On May 17, Râmnic Days will follow, dedicated to 636 years of documentary attestation of the Râmnicu Vâlcea municipality. In summer, the Brezoi Festival, the Open Air Blues Festival and Deep Forest are scheduled. There are festivals aimed at the young audience, and not only. Festivals of popular traditions are also scheduled in the summer, such as the Round Dance of Longing, the Festival of Chainsaw Sculptors, or the Songs of Olt.