Discover Costești: Culture, Tradition and Landscape

Costești lies in the south of Argeș County, in the Pitești Plain and on the banks of the Teleorman River. Those who enjoy exploring on foot or by bicycle will find a destination whose surroundings are suitable for walks, hikes and cycling tours.

Holiday apartment in Costești between nature and culture

When planning your trip, you can discover Costești according to your preferred daily rhythm. If outdoor activity is your main focus, the hills and floodplain provide the landscape for walks, hikes and cycling tours. When choosing your holiday apartment or holiday home, you can take these priorities into account without reducing Costești to just one type of travel experience.

Traditions that remain visible in Costești

The local tradition of Costești is shaped by singing, dancing, folk costumes and the ancient Căluș ritual. The “Mugurelul” folk ensemble of the Costești Cultural Centre brings this heritage directly to the stage through folk dancing, folk costumes, music and the local Căluș tradition. In this way, the city’s cultural side takes on concrete forms that are also of interest to travellers who want to experience regional customs not merely as a backdrop, but as an important part of their stay.

The Ethnographic Museum of the City of Costești was established in 2013 and was the first ethnographic museum in the south of Argeș County. It was created as part of the project “Valorificarea tradiţiilor culturale şi spirituale locale” with the involvement of volunteer school pupils, students and teachers. The museum is located in the city’s Cultural Centre, at 44 Strada Victoriei, on the first floor.

Churches with their own histories

Costești’s religious and historical attractions include the “Sfântul Prooroc Ilie” Cathedral. It is a historical monument of national interest. The wooden church “Sfântul Mare Mucenic Pantelimon” has a different story: it stands on the grounds of Costești City Hospital and was moved there from Lereni in the commune of Bârla. It stands in a secluded, peaceful location surrounded by trees and vegetation.

The wooden church’s more recent building history is also precisely dated. It was reconstructed between 1997 and 1998 and reconsecrated for worship on 27 July 2001. Together with the cathedral, it forms another cultural and religious focal point for exploring Costești.

A regular date in the annual calendar

The “Sfântul Ilie” Annual Traditional Fair takes place every year on 20 July at the city stadium in Costești. The fair includes numerous cultural performances in honour of the spiritual patron saint of the city of Costești. The fixed date of 20 July connects a stay in Costești with a specific cultural occasion.

For further regional orientation, you can also explore Piteşti, Valea Hotarului, Bradu, Schitu Golești, Valea Uleiului, Oarja, Ștefănești and Băiculeşti.

For the broader travel overview: Argeş.