Podari: Traditions, Churches and Nature on the Jiu

The area of Podari commune belongs to the protected area “Culoarul Jiului”, the Natura 2000 site of community importance designated as ROSCI0045, which stretches along the lower Jiu.

Culture

In the village of Podari stands the Biserica “Sf. Grigorie Decapolitul”; it is listed as a historic monument. The date assigned to this monument is 1817.

The “Păzitul fântânilor” tradition is observed in Podari every year on the night of 6–7 January. During the observance, local wells are guarded with fires, giving the tradition its explicitly stated nocturnal character.

The Căluș dance tradition in Podari begins on Whit Sunday and continues throughout the following week. The traditional period therefore includes the start on the feast day and the subsequent days of the following week.

The Mănăstirea Jitianu monastery is located in the village of Braniște, which belongs to Podari commune. Mănăstirea Jitianu is dedicated to Saint Demetrius the Great Martyr and the Prophet Elijah.

Transport

The regular passenger transport route CRAIOVA–PODARI–GURA VĂII has the designation 022. The “Podari – Magazin Vrăjitoru” stop is part of this connection.

Surroundings

The wider regional surroundings of Podari include the churches Biserica Booveni, Biserica Cerăt and Biserica Drănic. The Dealul Robăneşti hill is also located in this wider regional area.

The Dealul Gârnicioara hill is also part of the wider regional surroundings of Podari. The Dealul Predeşti hill is likewise located in this wider regional area, as is the Măgura Ţepeluş hill.

For further exploration, you can find: Afumați, Vârtop, Pielești, Călăraşi, Coţofenii Din Faţă, Bechet, Calafat and Craiova.

Nature

The area of Podari commune contains extensive forest areas both on the slopes of the hills and in the Jiu floodplain.

The Craiova–Bucovăț–Palilula–Podari–Bucovăț route passes through Valea Ulmului. The section there is almost four kilometres long and bordered by forests. The route later reaches the Jiu River.

On the Craiova–Braniște–Podari–Pădurea Ciumați–Pădurea Măturici–Pădurea Bucovăț route, most of the way runs through the Natura 2000 site ROSCI0045 “Coridorul Jiului”. There, travel is limited to forest roads and paths.

The forest areas of Podari therefore lie in two explicitly mentioned landscape settings: on the slopes of the hills and in the Jiu floodplain. The routes also pass through named sub-areas. On the connection via Craiova, Bucovăț, Palilula and Podari, the almost four-kilometre section in Valea Ulmului is followed later by the Jiu. The second connection mentions Braniște as well as the forests Pădurea Ciumați, Pădurea Măturici and Pădurea Bucovăț.

For the second route, the spatial connection to the Natura 2000 site is also explicitly recorded: most of it runs through ROSCI0045 “Coridorul Jiului”. For this section, travel is limited to forest roads and paths. Thus, both the river floodplains and the wooded hills and the named forest paths are part of the landscape around Podari.

For the broader travel overview: Dolj.