Măgura: Sculptures, History and the Buzău Valley

Near Măgura lies the Măgura Sculpture Camp, in the clearings near Ciolanu Monastery, within the territory of Tisău Municipality. The site is therefore part of a landscape in which works of art are arranged in clearings rather than in an enclosed museum building.

The sculpture camp comprises 256 groups of sculptures and individual statues. They were created by 153 Romanian sculptors. The sculptors donated the results of their work to Buzău County. The collection thus brings together a large number of individual works with a clearly identified group of Romanian creators.

Culture and History

Schitul Sfântul Nifon was founded in 1811. It was reactivated in 1990. Its history therefore encompasses both its founding period and its later revival.

Fântâna lui Mihai Viteazul marks the place where the prince and his army spent a night in October 1599.

The Fântâna lui Mihai Viteazul monument is located at a viewpoint offering a wide view over the Buzău Valley. The memorial site is therefore connected both to the course of the valley and to an elevated viewpoint.

The church “Intrarea în Biserică a Maicii Domnului” stands in the village of Ciuta. It was built in 1762. It is listed as an architectural historic monument of Buzău County.

Stoneworking and pottery are local craft traditions associated with Măgura. The village of Măgura is known as a significant growing area for Ionatan apples.

Landscape and Springs

Măgura Municipality lies in the Carpathian Bend Subcarpathians. It is situated on the right bank of the Buzău River, in its middle section. The corridor of the Buzău River begins in the area of Măgura Municipality, at Ciuta.

There, it forms a gorge-like, narrow valley 300 to 500 metres wide. To the south, this valley is flanked by the steep slope of Dealul Ciolanu. The width of the valley area therefore varies within a clearly defined range, while its southern boundary is formed by the steep slope.

Forests cover 62.37% of the territory of Măgura Municipality. Deciduous forests predominate in the municipality’s wooded areas.

Vârful Cetățuia reaches an elevation of 631.7 metres above Ciuta. The summit is therefore geographically associated with the area above the village of Ciuta.

There are two mineral springs within the territory of Măgura Municipality. One of the two mineral springs is considered to contain sodium, magnesium and calcium and has a mineralisation of 1.449 g/l.

Connections through the Buzău Valley

The settlements of Măgura Municipality are located along the DN 10 national road. DN 10 runs from Buzău via Nehoiu to Brașov and follows the Buzău River valley. The settlements mentioned are thus part of a supraregional road connection along the river valley.

The road infrastructure of Măgura Municipality is complemented by the DJ 203G county road. DJ 203G runs from DN 10 to the Măgura Sculpture Camp and into the Nișcov Valley. It therefore connects the main road with the named sculpture camp and another valley area.

The settlements of Măgura Municipality are connected by the Buzău–Nehoiu railway line. The municipality’s administrative centre has a railway station, while Ciuta has a railway halt. The rail connection thus identifies the administrative centre and Ciuta as two separate points within the municipality.

Find more travel destinations here: Nehoiu, Buzău, Cozieni, Mierea, Chiojdu, Ciuta, Cislău, C. A. Rosetti

To the higher-level travel overview: Buzau.