Tourist Attractions in Valcea County

In today's edition of our feature we stop over in Valcea, in order to discover some of the tourist attractions in a county that offers all forms of tourism

Daniel Onea, 30.03.2023, 14:00

We start off in county seat Ramnicu Valcea, and head out to the main tourist attractions. We will be talking about local crafts, as well as the event calendar for 2023. We will be accompanied on our journey by Monica Gheorghiu, director of the National Center for Tourism Information and Promotion.

Situated 175 km away from Bucharest, the city of Ramnicu Valcea is easy to access by train or by automobile. You will discover a stylish mountain city, with a few unmissable tourist objectives:

“Ramnicu Valcea, the seat of Valcea County, has a wide tourist offer for anyone who wants to experience the life of the community here. Starting off from the County Library, which has a beautiful tinted window, which is in the book of records, all paths lead to various tourist objectives, such as the County History Museum, the Anton Pann Memorial House, or the Art Museum. These are just some of the cultural landmarks of our city. For a spiritual journey, tourists are invited to visit the Ramnic Archibishopric, and other tourist points such as Antim Monastery, or the Cetatuia Skete, which has behind it a beautiful history and legend. Also, you have to have a stroll through the city’s parks. This is the place where Romania’s national anthem was sung for the first time. I recommend Zavoi Park, in the center of the city, but also Mircea the Old Park, these are true oases of relaxation and tranquility in the middle of the city. We can also have a stroll on Tudor Vladimirescu Boulevard, where we have old houses, houses that preserve the bohemian atmosphere of Ramnic.

If you have more time on your hands, it is worth exploring the entire county. One of the representative monasteries here, only 22 km away from the city, is Govora. The entryway into the monastery is underneath the belfry, which has four levels, with a height of around 15 m, and walls that are 2 m thick. The paintings in the church are frescoes, in the famous Brancovenesc style, done between 1712 and 1715, by painters of the Hurez school. In the courtyard of the monastery you will notice an old stone bell, donated in 1770. The monastery also boasts a printing press, with the first prints emerging in 1636.

Equally close to Ramnicu Valcea, about 18 or 20 km away, you will find a chain of spas. Monica Gheorghiu recommends them for treating various ailments, as well as a destination for people who want prophylactic treatment, or just relaxation.

“Around Ramnicu Valcea we have spas which are true oases of tranquility, great for leisure. We have the spas Călimănești-Căciulata, Băile Olănești, Ocnele Mari, Băile Govora, which are very welcoming, and as soon as spring arrives, tourists are invited to spend some time in these spas. The Ocnele Mari salt mine is a major point of attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists, who want to discover a different kind of place underground, both for its curative effects, and for relaxation and entertainment.

In the town of Horezu, at the foot of the Carpathians, there is a special scenery, along with tradition, spirituality, and modernity. They go together harmoniously, as the developed infrastructure there and in the surroundings offers easy access to many points of interest for tourists in the area. In fact, the Horezu valley is now a European destination of excellence.

“Horezu is a brand of Valcea County, with the ceramics that local craftsmen make. The decorated plates here are part of UNESCO’s immaterial heritage. Right as we go into the city, there is a place where tourists can get souvenirs representative of Valcea, of Horezu, and of the entire region of Oltenia. At the same time, event tourism has developed lately in the city of Ramnicu Valcea and in Valcea County, with large scale events. We have to mention for the listeners the Open Air Blues Festival, which attracts many tourists. It is held in Brezoi in July. Also in the summer, tourists are invited to open air concerts, and more. In Ramnicu Valcea and other areas in the county they hold some great events. I can mention the Be Cool in Cule, or the Chainsaw Sculptor Festival, another original event, held in Vaideeni each year in July. We also have the famous Rooster of Horezu, an event with tradition, representative of our county, along with the Songs of Olt Festival. Here you have a series of events which we hope would attract as many people as possible each year, and would create greater visibility for Valcea as a tourist destination.

Any visit should start at the tourist information center. Here, Monica Gheorghiu welcomes you with all the information you may need to put together a great journey around Valcea County.

“After opening the center, we have greater demand, and many people interested in what they can visit in Valcea. We offer them promotional materials, information, we help them discover the circuits in the lesser known areas. Foreign tourists who come here are mainly interested in our mountain areas. We got feedback from them meeting with them in the mountains, and we saw they were pleased and happy that they have discovered a virgin area, which is very picturesque. The mountain area in Valcea is rich in things to see, and we hope that soon we will be able to pitch to your listeners a trip to this area rich in natural treasures. I can mention the national parks, very beautiful areas which await the tourists. We gladly invite everyone to discover Valcea as a tourist destination. We want them to come here to experience and enjoy these great places, it is all worth it.

Here are some of the reasons that make it worth visiting and spending a vacation in Valcea County. The tourists attractions abound, the cultural offer is rich, and you can spend a few relaxing days in the spas that have high quality thermal water.