Vâlcea: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Hurezi Monastery was founded in 1690 by Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu and is considered a masterpiece of the Brâncovenesc style. It is located in Romanii de Jos, which belongs to the town of Horezu, and has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

When staying in Vâlcea, the desire to rent a holiday apartment may be part of your own travel planning.

Culture

The Arutela Roman fort was built in the 2nd century AD during the reign of Emperor Hadrian by a unit of Syrian archers as part of the Roman defense system. Visitors can explore the well-preserved ruins.

The Măldărești Museum Complex comprises the restored buildings Cula Duca and Cula Greceanu, which have been converted into museums. The tower of Cula Greceanu dates from 1516 and is credited with being the oldest of its kind in Romania.

The Muzeul Satului Vâlcean is located in Bujoreni on the outskirts of the city of Râmnicu Vâlcea. The open-air museum comprises 27 traditional farmsteads and three wooden churches. It presents traditional activities such as woodworking and ironworking, weaving, pottery and beekeeping, and regularly hosts festivals and educational workshops.

The Ocnele Mari Salt Mine contains salt sculptures as well as a place of worship decorated with icons carved from salt and other salt elements. It also features play and recreation areas as well as sports fields.

Nature

The Lotrișor Waterfall is almost 30 metres high and was created by work to divert the river; therefore, it is not a natural waterfall. From the car park at the start of the forest track, it can only be reached on foot, by bicycle or with a pushchair; the average walk takes 35 to 40 minutes.

Peștera Liliecilor is known for its bat colonies and diverse limestone formations and contains two old churches. Peștera Urșilor in the Cheile Bistriței is one of the few caves in Vâlcea that can be visited.

Buila-Vânturarița National Park has more than 23 habitat types.

Hiking

Hiking trail Traseul III leads from Căciulata via Mănăstirea Cozia, Poiana Bivolari, Stâna La Mușețel and Curmătura La Troiță to Poiana Stănișoarei. It is marked in yellow, takes 2 hours and 30 minutes, and is accessible year-round.

As part of the project “Porţile Parcului Naţional Buila-Vânturariţa: natură şi spiritualitate”, an ecotourism programme and an ecotourism trail were developed by Asociaţia Kogayon. The project was funded by Fundaţia pentru Parteneriat and Asociaţia de Ecoturism din România and co-financed by Consiliul Judeţean Vâlcea.

Wine and crafts

At the Vila Dobrușa winery in the Drăgășani wine-growing region, AVINCIS offers wine tastings and tours of the winery. At the Vila Dobrușa winery, visitors can organise guided walks through the vineyards on recommended routes with the support of the AVINCIS team.

The archaeology hall of the Muzeul Viei și Vinului displays Neolithic clay vessels as well as Dacian and Roman pottery fragments that were used to store wine. The Muzeul Viei și Vinului also contains written sources with the first records of viticulture in Vâlcea County from the time of Mircea cel Bătrân.

Horezu pottery is handmade in the northern part of Vâlcea County and is considered a unique traditional craft that reflects knowledge and craftsmanship passed down through generations. The clay used for traditional pottery in Vâlcea is extracted locally at Dealul Ulmului.

Other areas in the regional selection: Gura Văii, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Blidari, Baile Govora, Horezu, Voineasa, Banesti, Băile Olăneşti, Călimănești, Ciungetu, Măldăresti, Costeşti, Brezoi, Perişani, Marița, Lazaret, Câinenii Mici, Malaia, Balcesti, Ocnele Mari, Vaideeni, Comuna Nicolae Bălcescu, Orașul Băbeni, Obârşia Lotrului, Pietrișu, Curăturile.

To the higher-level travel overview: Romania.