The Picturesque Gorj County
Today we invite you to one of Romania's most beautiful places, Gorj
Daniel Onea, 29.01.2026, 14:00
Gorj county is a fascinating destination, where spirituality, modern art and wild nature are blending in a perfect balance. Our story today begins in the county seat, Târgu Jiu, which lies at the foot of the mountains, almost 18 kilometers far from them and it is a genuine tourist attraction in south-western Romania. Its name comes from the first role the city played in its history, when it served as a market. Today’s zone represents a trade area of common interest on the route of goods transportation between Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Transylvania and the Danube.
The fair on the Jiu River or Târgu-Jiu was first documented around 1406 under the name of “Jiul”, which was actually the name of the river that crosses it and was later recognized for its strong trade influence.
In 2026, we cannot speak about the tourist and picturesque Gorj County without mentioning a travel route known as “the Peasant Genius Constantin Brâncusi and the cultural heritage of Gorj County”. This has been established by Laura Dragu Popescu, chair of the Professional Travel Employers Association in Gorj, a person who knows the local resources very well and an active promoter of high-quality tourism. The aforementioned travel route proposes a vision, which overcomes every cliché known today, inviting us to discover the area through a series of elements, which blend history, spirituality and art in a new fashion.
Laura Dragu Popescu: “The objectives included in this travel package are grouped into what we call the Brancusi Axis, with the famous Table of Silence, the Gate of Kiss, the Endless Column, the Saint Apostles Peter and Paul Church. The package includes visits to the Constantin Brancusi memorial house in the village of Hobita, to the Monastery of Polovragi, to the Tismana Monastery, to the Sohodol Gorges as well as the Maria Apostol Memorial House; Maria Apostol used to be a very gifted traditional music vocalist of this region. There are also visits to the Lainici Monastery and also to the Museum of Traditional Architecture in Curtisoara, which has on display a fortified defence tower, which belonged to the Tătărăscu family and has been brought here with the Mogoș House from Poiana, which is a village close to Rovinari. Then we have also visits to the Memorial House and Mausoleum devoted to the local WWI hero, Ecaterina Teodoroiu.”
A special chapter in this travel package is represented by the Tismana Monastery a place, which is very attractive not only through its old age, but also through its special link to Romania’s financial history. Here visitors can find the place where the National Bank’s Treasure during WWll was hidden, a success story in the process of preserving the national treasure. Here is Laura Dragu Popescu with details:
LAURA DRAGU POPESCU:” The Tismana Monastery, a place laden with spirituality was built by the St. Nicodemus the Holy of Tismana. Close to the monastery there lies the Museum of Gold, an objective built with support from the National Bank. This place is taking you back in history, to the time when Romania’s Treasure was hidden at a time of hardships and sorrow for the Romanians. The Tismana monastery is the starting point of several trekking routes of breathtaking views, some of them very long, which can take tourists up to three hours to cover. The longest of them is three hours long and is winding through the mountains up to the Cioclovina Peak. On their way to the Tismana monastery, tourists can admire the Memorial House of our greatest figure, Constantin Bracusi.”
The picturesque experience that Gorj offers is completed by the local specificity of the Tismana area, where nature and cuisine are creating an almost story-like atmosphere. For the tourists who want to try the authentic country life, the local festivals and mountainous landscapes are offering enough reasons for a prolonged holiday. Here is again at the microphone, Laura Dragu Popescu, chair of the Professional Travel Employers Association in Gorj, describing the special uniqueness of this place, where the traditional cuisine is a major point of attraction.
Laura Dragu Popescu:” In many pieces of literature, lovers are trying to see the moonrise in Tismana. They say this is the most beautiful moonrise as the Earth’s natural satellite rises from behind the mountains surrounding Tismana. The cuisine in the area is a special one. There are many festivals, such as the Trout Festival, which is held here on March 25th, when Christians celebrate the Annunciation. I highly recommend the Tismana Monastery with its trekking routes, which lead to the “Constantin Brâncuși”, Memorial House.”
Another major reference point to understand the spirit of the place is the Museum of Traditional Architecture in Curtișoara, which welcomes visitors to a real universe of wooden and stone structures where traditional architecture is meeting the cultural heritage of the great artists. The museum is not only an outdoor exhibition, but a lively space where the history of the boyar families of yore is blending with the musical echoes of the present providing a wide prospect over the built patrimony
Laura Dragu Popescu: “At the Village Museum in Curtișoara, tourists can see the traditional architecture of the area and there are many elements who may attract those interested in traditional houses. Here we have included many theme trips as well as many musical productions. The Museum also includes a house known as Casa Gheorghe Zamfir, which has on view many objects, which belonged to this internationally famous panpipe virtuoso. The Museum also includes a traditional house from the Gilortului area, which has on display personal items belonging to famous traditional music instrumentalists and vocalists from our region. New and old items are elements very appreciated in this museum of traditional architecture, which is very close to Targu Jiu, only a ten kilometers drive. Most of the tourists who got accommodation in Targu Jiu are visiting it. Furthermore, on their way to the museum, on the right side, there lies the Memorial House of the local WWI hero, Ecaterina Teodoroiu. And also 18-20 km from the museum there lies what we call here the ‘Gorges’ Bride’, which is one of the most beautiful monasteries in Gorj County, the Lainici Monastery.”
2026 has been declared in Romania ‘The Constantin Brancusi Year’ to celebrate 150 years since the birth of the famous sculptor. Numerous exhibitions, conferences, educational programmes and public campaigns are to be staged on this occasion. And the county of Gorj remains an open invitation extended to all those willing to explore it, a place where the genius of Romania’s greatest sculptor is actually the entrance gate towards a wider cultural universe.
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