Holiday apartment in Ștefăneștii de Sus: Balta Pasărea, culture and cycling routes

Ștefăneștii de Sus combines a waterside location with historic churches, woodland landscapes and several cycling routes. The village was founded on the left bank of Balta Pasărea. For planning a day, the waters of Balta Pasărea, historic churches, Pădurea Ștefănești forest and cycling routes through several places can be combined around Ștefăneștii de Sus.

Balta Pasărea and the municipality’s landscape

The municipality of Ștefăneștii de Jos lies in the Câmpia Moviliței, a subunit of the Câmpia Vlăsiei, on both sides of Balta Pasărea. The landscape therefore extends beyond the village of Ștefăneștii de Sus and connects several places in the same area. At the entrance to Ștefăneștii de Jos from the direction of Bucharest lies Pădurea Ștefănești forest. It is regarded as a remnant of the former Codri ai Vlăsiei and is associated with social and recreational interest.

Among its deciduous tree species, Pădurea Ștefănești includes oaks, lime trees and acacias. These specific tree species give the forest its own character and make it another landscape feature alongside Balta Pasărea. The forest thus complements the waterside area of Balta Pasărea with a second natural environment.

Churches and local history

Approximately in the centre of the village stands the church dedicated to “Sf. Nicolae”. It is included among the historic monuments as of 2010. Parohia Ștefăneștii de Sus is associated with the address Str. Dornei No. 2, village of Ștefăneștii de Sus, municipality of Ștefăneștii de Jos, Ilfov County.

Cultural and historical points of interest can also be found outside Ștefăneștii de Sus in the area around Balta Pasărea. The historic church of Crețuleasca is located on a terrace on the right bank of Balta Pasărea, at the edge of the village of Crețuleasca. The village of Ștefănești was first mentioned in 1623 under the name “Lipovatul”.

Routes between the village and surrounding area

The DJ100 and DJ200 roads intersect in Ștefăneștii de Sus. DJ200 connects Ștefăneștii de Sus to Dascălu and Grădiștea in the north, and to Voluntari and Bucharest in the south; when planning a drive, the northern and southern connections can be considered separately.

For cyclists, the “Traseu Stefanestii de Sus - Petrachioaia” route is interesting: it passes through Ștefăneștii de Sus, Afumați, Petrăchioaia, Măineasca, Vânători, Gagu and Dascălu before returning to Ștefăneștii de Sus. The return to Ștefăneștii de Sus also establishes a starting and finishing point for planning the day. On a cycling tour in Ștefăneștii de Sus, several villages can be included consecutively in the day’s itinerary.

Another road cycling route is named “Gara Obor - Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfântul Eftimie“ - Fundenii Doamnei - Biserica „Înălțarea Sfintei Cruci“ - Biserica Ortodoxă Ștefăneștii de Sus”. The route includes the Orthodox church of Ștefăneștii de Sus; “84 m” is indicated there. The churches “Sfântul Eftimie” and “Înălțarea Sfintei Cruci” can serve as specific waypoints when planning.

For the overarching travel overview: Comuna Ștefăneștii de Jos.