The Buila-Vanturarita National Park

Today we are going to discover the smallest national park in Romania

Daniel Onea, 24.03.2022, 03:24

Today we are going to discover the smallest national park in Romania — the Buila-Vanturarita National Park. In spite of its small surface, here we find the greatest density of tourist trails, namely 19. To these add three thematic trails: Nature and Spirituality, Junior Rangers — Tales from Nature, and Memory Trails — the Arnota Armed Resistance, the latter commemorating the anti-communist mountain fighters. Our guide is Iorgulan Ica, from the park administration:

“The Buila-Vanturarita National Park has a surface of 45 sq km. It is in the center north park of Valcea County, and, being so small, it covers the radius of only three localities: Baile Olanesti, Barbatesti, and Costesti. If I were to sum it up in a sentence, I would say it is a park about nature and spirituality. It may seem incredible considering its surface, but we have the greatest density of tourist trails. The park is criss-crossed by 19 trails. Basically, every corner of the park has a tourist trail. In addition to tourist trails, we also have three thematic trails.”

Iorgulan Ica, from the park administration, is first to recommend the beautiful scenery between the two massifs, Buila and Vanturita.

“Tourists will see how wild this trail is, so it is not recommended to children. However, they will also see how isolated it is, preserving natural beauties and the wild aspect, which impresses mostly the city dwellers. In addition to the special beauty of nature, the park is crossed by four rivers, which cut beautiful gorges. We have the Bistrita Gorges, one of the most narrow in Romania. Then we have the Cheii Gorges, probably the most wild and spectacular. The other two, also beautiful, are the Olanesti Gorges and the Costesti Gorges.”

In addition to this nature objectives, the administration of the Buila-Vanturarita National Park recommends a visit to the monasteries close to the park. Here is Iorgulan Ica once again:

“I am referring to Bistrita Monastery and to Arnota Monastery, both very old and very beautiful. They have undergone several renovations. For instance, in the case of Bistrita Monastery, all that is left of it is the Belfry Church. Right within the park you can visit the Patrunsa Monastery. It is right at the foot of the Buila Massif, it is isolated, and known in Romania as the Small Romanian Athos. Descending to Cheia, we have the Little Church Under the Rock. Going towards the interior of the Cheii Gorges, right next to the park we also have two tiny wooden churches: the Prislopel, and the Hadarau.”

The park administration works closely with the Tulcea County National Tourism Information and Promotion Center, and with the town of Horezus Center for Tourist Information. Here you can find out anything about the objectives and trails in the park, you can find maps, information fliers, but also guides to accompany you. Here is Iorgulan Ica:

“As a peculiarity, I have to mention that our park is crossed by a tunnel that basically links two worlds. In order to get to Cheia Cabin, in the main area of attraction of the park, which is well known among people who love trekking and climbing, you have to go through a tunnel. This is the Cheia Tunnel. After crossing through the tunnel, you reach the climbing areas, where there are beautiful trails. These trails, and the Buila caves, are superb. They are created in a period when in Romania there was a flowering of spelunking clubs, and climbing clubs. They created, back in the day, many of the trails in our nature park.”

The park administration is active and open to collaboration, and that can be seen by the plans for the near or far future. Here is Iorgulan Ica:

“Together with the National Organization Scouts of Romania, we applied this year for a project. We wanted to create a thematic trails towards Cheia, at the exit of the tunnel. It is going to be called the Scouts Trail. In the climbing trail area, the scouts have been having a climbing camp for years. In addition to this trail, this year, on the occasion of running a mountain crossing competition in the park, which will start in the village of Barbatesti, we want to renovate the mountain refuge.”

Tourists are impressed after visiting the park. The only slightly negative impressions refer to the state of the roads in the park. The administration of the park discourages vehicles in the park, to preserve the wilderness, as we were told by Iorgulan Ica:

“We hand out questionnaires, because we are very interested in the opinion of tourists. At the same time, they are delighted to see the traditions preserved in the area. On our pastures we still have sheepfolds and shepherds, from springn to autumn. Also, people are really welcoming. Tourists are delighted by the scenery and the friendly atmosphere at Cheia Cabin. If tourists want to find a relaxing place, and get away from daily stress, in believe the Buila-Vanturarita National Park is the best place. You are basically thrown in a time loop. You have the impression that time stands still in terms of scenery, spiritual life, and the fact that you can come face to face with mountain goats or curious does. I recommend a visit to our park, but also the entirety of Valcea County, which is beautiful. And if they get to us, they should also know that 60 km away from us there is another beautiful national park, Cozia.”