Walking on Brâncuși’s route in Gorj County
World-famous sculptor Constantin Brancusi and his impressive work in Romania
Daniel Onea, 31.10.2024, 14:00
UNESCO included on its world heritage list, in 2024, the Heroes’ Path, a sculptural ensemble in Târgu Jiu made by Constantin Brâncuși. The ensemble includes four major works: The Table of Silence, the Alley of Chairs, The Gate of the Kiss and the Endless Column. They were created and sculpted by the great Romanian sculptor between 1937 and 1938. The four works have been included in a cultural and tourist route, whose theme is culture, history, religion and monumental art. The route is called “The Peasant Genius Constantin Brâncuși and Gorj County’s cultural heritage.”
Laura Dragu Popescu is the president of Gorjul Professional Tourism Employers’ Association. She told us that the objectives included in the route are the works of the great sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, to be found outdoors, in the city of Târgu Jiu. The route also includes the Saint Apostles Peter and Paul’s Church, the Sohodol Gorges, a traditional architecture museum, two famous monasteries, as well as memorial houses.
So here we are travelling on Brâncuși’s route with our guide Laura Dragu Popescu: “If we were to interpret this monumental ensemble, we can say that, at the Table of Silence, the hero has the last supper with his family, before the battle. He then walks along the Alley of Chairs, where the chairs symbolize the persons who do not participate in the war. At the Gate of the Kiss, he gives one last embrace to his loved ones. After or during the battle, the hero’s soul travels to God. Man’s soul travels to God passing through Saint Apostles Peter and Paul’s Church. We then carry on along The Heroes’ Path with the road taking us to the Endless Column. This is how we can interpret this axis, which is part of the Cultural and Artistic Route called ‘The Peasant Genius Constantin Brâncuși and Gorj County’s cultural heritage’. This route includes visits to the Constantin Brâncuși Memorial House in Hobița, to Polovragi Monastery, to Tismana Monastery along the Sohodol Gorges to the Memorial House of Maria Apostol, a local and very popular traditional music vocalist, to Lainici Monastery, to the Traditional Architecture Museum in Gorj, inCurtișoara, where a manor that belonged to Tătărăscu family can be visited.“
Then in the city of Târgu Jiu, the Ecaterina Teodoroiu Memorial House and Mausoleum can be visited. Along this route, full of culture, history, religion and monumental art,a beautiful part of the historical and picturesque Gorj is presented: “It is a delight even for the most demanding tourist who goes to Gorj County and chooses to cover this route. Tourists who visited Gorj in the past return in very large numbers. This happens in the case of both individuals and groups, who opt for spending three nights and four days as part of this tourist program, in Gorj County.If tourists from abroad choose to come to the historic and picturesque Gorj county, they can land at Bucharest airport. There are many travel options from Bucharest to Târgu Jiu, from regular buses, which have daily departures from the Militari Bus Station to trains that leave Bucharest and pass through Târgu Jiu.”
About 30 km from the county seat, Târgu Jiu, following this route, you will reach the Tismana Monastery, a place full of spirituality, a place recommended by Laura Dragu Popescu, president of the Gorjul ProfessionalTourism Employers’ Association: “The monastery was founded by Saint Nicodemus the Holy, from Tismana. Next to the monastery, there is the Gold Museum, a historical objective, made with the help of the National Bank. It is a return into history, it is the place where the Treasure of Romania once rested (during the Second World War) during years laden with pain for the Romanian people. Around the Tismana Monastery, there are very beautiful trails, up to three hours long. The longest route is three hours long and is done on the top of the mountain that leads to Cioclovina de Sus. This route is wonderful and can be covered by people with normal physical resistance. On the way to the Tismana Monastery, tourists can see the memorial house of the great artist from Gorj, Constantin Brâncuși. Tismana Monastery is a success story among the unique places in beautiful Romania. Lovers seek to see the moonrise at Tismana. They say that the most spectacular moonrise is on the mountains around Tismana locality. Gastronomy in Tismana is special, the locality hosting the Trout Festival, which is always celebrated on Annunciation Day, on March 25.”
On the other hand, in the Curtișoara Village Museum, tourists can see the traditional architecture specific to the area. The oldest house exhibited here was built over 200 years ago and dates back to 1802. The museum also exhibits two churches, one of which was established in 1821. Laura Dragu Popescu gives us more details: “There are many elements that appeal to lovers of traditional houses. Both themed tours and many musical productions take place here. Inside the museum, there is a house called Casa Gheorghe Zamfir. In the house, you can see objects that belonged to the panpipe player Gheorghe Zamfir. As a curiosity, one will find, within the premises of this museum, a traditional house with interesting architecture from the Gilort area. Inside, there are personal items of other popular artists known in our area. So, the new and the old are valued in this museum of traditional folk architecture in Gorj County. It is located quite close about ten km from Târgu Jiu.”
The cultural-tourist route ‘The Peasant Genius Constantin Brâncuși and the Gorj county’s cultural heritage’ can be covered by tourists who love originality in every season of the year. Moreover, the statistical data confirm that Gorj county is doing very well in terms of the number of accommodation places. Hotels and guesthouses will give you the opportunity to stay in a safe destination from three to seven days, basically a good part of a vacation. And whoever comes to the historic and picturesque Gorj once, will surely return. (EN, LS)
