Breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, monasteries, historical monuments and architectural gems are only some of the attractions of Gorj County.
Situated in south-western Romania, on the bank of the Jiu river, Gorj County has an appealing tourist offer. In addition to the adventure tourism in the Parang Mountains, the monasteries, the historical and architectural monuments are other attractions. Many tourists start their holiday in the town of Targu Jiu to admire the works of Constantin Brancusi, the Romanian-born sculptor who revolutionized the modern art of the first half of the 20th century.
Adrian Tudor, deputy mayor of Targu Jiu says that not only do tourists see the sculptor’s works, but they also understand the great artist’s source of inspiration: “Any tourist coming to Gorj County has the chance to see the places and traditions that inspired Brancusi and thus realize why the sculptor said that all new works he created stemmed from something very old. Tourists are amazed to see Brancusi’s sculptural ensemble. They can also visit the sculptor’s memorial house in Hobita. Actually, we have a wide range of offers. Tourists fond of adventure can visit such famous caves as Polovragi or the Woman’s Cave. They can follow mountain trails or practice rafting on the Jiu river or escalade in various parts of our county. As an alternative, tourists can visit the monasteries, where they can also enjoy our traditional cuisine.”
The most visited monasteries in Gorj County are Tismana, Polovragi and Lainici. The best-known of them is Tismana, lying about 30 km away from the town of Tg. Jiu. Built over 1375-1378, the Tismana Monastery is considered one of the most representative Romanian historical and feudal architectural monuments. But you can get more information about the monasteries at the National Tourist Information Centre in Tg. Jiu.
Deputy mayor Adrian Tudor: “It is a project run by the town hall. There is a team of young people there, coming from various travel agencies. In addition to the information tourists need, they can also get a guidebook in English or French for free. The center also provides materials in various foreign languages, especially about Constantin Brancusi and the sculptural ensemble in Tg. Jiu. We also have partners we are proud of, for instance the Gorj Mountain Rescue Service with well-trained employees.”
If you’re keen on old traditions, then you were right to choose Gorj County. The county boasts professional folk ensembles and even a village museum as the deputy mayor of Tg. Jiu.
Adrian Tudor: “There is a village museum in Curtisoara, that is well-organized and preserved by the County History Museum. The museum can feature a typical wedding of Gorj County. We’ve just started implementing a project providing for a shop within the tourist information center. There they will sell their authentic, craftsman’s products. We will make this space available for them for free. Their products are traditional weaves, authentic folk costumes and wooden sculptures. Carvers make replicas of house pillars in various sizes or even at a 1:1 scale. They are very appreciated and I can see that more and more corporations want for their offices such authentic, carved pillars typical of a Gorj house. There are also producers of various natural syrups made with honey. At the same time, the potter’s wheel is a constant presence at various tourist promotion fairs and at various events. Along the years we have organized various fairs for craftsmen which were well received by the tourists who visited the area at the time.”
If you are looking for a balneal resort, you’ll find it in Gorj county. There you will benefit from treatments for locomotive disorders, peripheral nervous system disorders, disorders of the central nervous system, of the respiratory tract, digestive disorders and so on.
An interesting phenomenon that tourists will discover in the area is that the water in the pools in Săcelu changes its color according to season. Expert studies highlighted the fact that the microorganisms living in these pools and their dynamics along the year are the main causes for the changing color of water from dark green to pink.
Oana Paloş, spokeswoman for the Gorj County Council has further details: ”This is the only resort in Gorj county where people can find their peace of mind and also treat their ailments. Săcelu was first attested in documents as early as the Roman occupation. At local level it is very popular with tourists. It is indeed worth a visit. Its specificity is given by the Roman baths that make the resort compete with other balneal resorts in Romania.”
According to the deputy mayor of Targu Jiu, Adrian Tudor, many events are organized in Gorj county: “Almost every month something special takes place in Gorj county. Through partnerships with Radio Romania and the public television we manage to promote various cultural events, conferences devoted to Brancusi, traditional craftsmen’s fairs and festivals such as the International Traditional Music Festival, the Romanian Blouse Festival and the Transalpina Bike Fest. In August we will try to organize the first edition of the Brancusi Art Festival, which is meant to promote the authentic Gorj spirit. The festival will include various sections devoted to film, jazz and classical music, which will feature prominent artists. In the same period we will organize in Targu Jiu, starting this year, the Brancusi workshops on painting, sculpture and ceramics. “
Last week the deputy mayor of Targu Jiu, Adrian Tudor, welcomed a group of young people from the Reunion Islands. They left Gorj bearing wonderful memories of what they saw.(Translated by L. Simion, edited by D. Vijeu)
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