Rucăr: Fortress, Mountains and Regional Traditions

Rucăr lies at an altitude of around 750 m on the southern slopes of the Piatra-Craiului Mountains and on the southern foothills of the Făgăraș Massif in the Iezer–Păpușa mountain range. The Râușor is a tributary of the Dâmbovița and flows through Rucăr. Rucăr lies on the historic trade and diplomatic route that connected Brașov with Câmpulung, Târgoviște and later Bucharest.

History and Architectural Heritage

The Roman fort of Rucăr–Scărișoara is a military settlement in the Râușor floodplain north of present-day Rucăr and dates from the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The Church of the Holy Martyrs Gheorghe and Dumitru in Suseni is a historic monument in Rucăr and dates from 1780. The “Dârstă cu pivă” fulling mill on Strada Dârstei in Rucăr is a historic monument dating from the mid-19th century. The “Țuluca Năstase” wooden house at Strada Râuşor 141 in Rucăr is a historic monument and dates from before 1955.

In the centre of Rucăr, on a small square at the fork of the roads to Câmpulung and Bran, stands the monument to the heroes who fell in the First World War. The monument consists of a statue of a resting Romanian infantry soldier. The inscription on the monument states that it was erected in 1924 in memory of 214 men who fell in the First World War between 1916 and 1919. The Church of the “Dormition of the Mother of God” and “Saint Hierarch Nicholas” stands in the centre of Rucăr and is the main church of the Rucărul de Jos parish. Traditional crafts in Rucăr include spinning, weaving and woodworking.

Those travelling around Rucăr can distinguish the historic sites by their specific locations: the fort lies north of the present-day town in the Râușor floodplain; the fulling mill is on Strada Dârstei, and the wooden house is at Strada Râuşor 141. In the centre, the small square at the fork towards Câmpulung and Bran and the church of the Rucărul de Jos parish provide further fixed reference points. These sites distribute the history of the town across the river area, the roads leading out of town and the town centre. The dates range from the beginning of the 2nd century to 1780, the mid-19th century, the period before 1955 and the year 1924.

Nature

The Rucăr–Vf. Păpușa cycling route and return begins in Rucăr and leads into the heights of the Iezer–Păpușa Mountains. It reaches Vf. Păpușa at 2,391 m and offers panoramic views of the Făgăraș Mountains and the Piatra-Craiului Mountains.

Regional Traditions

Cașcavalul de Rucăr is a cheese named after Rucăr. At the Expo Pastoralis Festival in Rucăr, bulz ciobănesc, brânză de burduf and pastramă are offered. In Rucăr, “Răvășitul oilor” is part of the Expo Pastoralis Festival in September.

Other Places

Other places in the wider destination area include Sălătrucu, Valea Uleiului, Corbeni, Valea Hotarului, Linteşti, Bălilești, Rogojina and Oeștii Pământeni.

To the overview of the wider destination: Argeş.