Spa, Monastic and Mountain Tourism
“Govora Spa has been described as a genuine healing oasis
Daniel Onea, 16.07.2015, 14:17
Well go back in the Govora spa to get to know the special tourist attractions of the area. Today well talk about three of its most important forms of tourism that make the area attractive for all age categories: spa, monastic and mountain tourism. These can blend perfectly, according to Mihai Mateescu, mayor of the town of Baile Govora: “We have introduced the concept of medical tourism, which brings in foreign tourists to get better here with us. We have already found two town halls in Italy and Switzerland. I want things to come to fruition quickly, because the visit of the 45 ambassadors to Govora spa and so many consuls have assured people that Govora spa is special. It is a place not only for treatment, but also for entertainment. When we go somewhere, we are determined to rest, to get treatment and get to know a bit of the history of the place, visit the places worth visiting. We have an extraordinary museum in town, the Spa Museum, Palace Hotel, the pride of the resort, which is a model of architecture and has been recently restored. We will also start restoration for the movie theater, which was designed by the first European woman architect, Virginia Haret Andreescu in 1929. We are extending an invitation to everyone to come here and enjoy this microclimate, unique in Europe, whether you are healthy or want to get treatment. Add to that the benefits of treatment, the spa circuits, the alleys, the strolls, the monasteries. All these create an extraordinary atmosphere, and tourists have to come here and see Govora spa. Come on over!
Andreea Sarbu, travel consultant and manager of a Bucharest hotel, has recently come back from Govora spa. She recalls happily this trip to the place where shes been going since childhood with her great-grandparents.
Now she looked at it with the eye of an expert: “That park I remembered, full of deer and squirrels, is still there, and I was very much impressed by this hotel they renovated, Palace Hotel. It is a historic monument renovated with European funds, and its awaiting tourists as we speak. The building impressed me most, it is superb, and the inside arrangement now is a dream. I invite everyone to visit it, even if you dont stay in the resort and just go visit the surroundings. We have there the Ocnele Mari salt mine, the town of Ramnicu Valcea, which is fairly big. At the Palace we can really talk about quality of service, people are very hospitable. Even though I didnt go in season, everyone was delighted to give us explanations. I didnt get to see the treatment complex, but I am told it offers the best cardio treatment, services for respiratory problems, for both children and adults. Therefore, whether you go there on vacation, to see the surroundings, or go there for treatment, Palace Hotel is a wise choice.
The Ocnele Mari salt mine, only 17 km away from Govora spa, is the ideal destination if you want to spend time out of the scorching sun of summer, as well as for treatment of respiratory conditions. It is 170 meters deep, and tourists flock here from all over Europe and even America. They have plenty of reasons. In addition to having healthy air, you can find here a souvenir shop, a movie theater, areas for relaxation, and even a church. But that is not all.
The list goes on, according to Anca Maria Pert, the tourist guide of the salt mine: “The movie theater has 40 seats. You can watch movies and cartoons. Usually you find there mostly children. The relaxation area is set up especially for this purpose. You can watch a movie, have some hot tea, and of course breathe in the healthy air, which is recommended for the treatment of many respiratory conditions. This is a great place, where you can see the alternating layers of salt, reflecting the climate conditions when the salt bed formed. It is a unique sight for Romania. The Ocnele Mari is a great place to spend time, it has a souvenir shop, a restaurant, a movie theater, a relaxation area, and a place of worship – the largest underground church in our country, we also have an entertainment area that has venues for practicing all sorts of sports, as well as a fitness club. In the middle of the restaurant, which serves Romanian cuisine, we have a beautiful fountain built out of salt. You can also spend time here purely for treatment. Speleotherapy, as this is known, is scientifically proven, and relies on measured physical effort, stimulating the respiratory apparatus. There is also a calming anti-inflammatory effect, dilation of the bronchia, caused by the ions in the air, which are great for treating things like chronic coughs.
Close to Baile Govora spa you can find Horezu, famous for its pottery masters who make black ceramic marvels. However, Horezu is also famous among mountain tourism lovers. Several famous, marked trails originate there.
Racheru Stefan, a tourism consultant, told us that no matter which direction you go, leaving Horezu, youll hit any number of great tourism sites: “No more than 5 or 6 km away you have superb monasteries like Arnota, built by prince Matei Basarab, who was laid to rest there. 5 km downstream you find another monastery, Bistrita, in Gothic style. In Romania, Bistrita is one of the very few whose murals were done by the great Romanian painter Gheorghe Tatarescu. In the Horezu area, behind Bistrita monastery, you can find the narrowest gorge carved by running water. It is 4.6 meters wide. The Trovanti Museum features these unique growing stones. Horezu ceramics is the most beautiful in Europe. The mastery of this craft has been handed down for many generations in the area. I call artists the people who shape and decorate clay here. You will marvel at the precision of decorations made with cow horn and goose quill.
Here you have plenty of reasons to seek out a trip to Baile Govora spa. In addition to the treatment that you can get in the resort, you have loads of tourist spots all around the area.
