Discover Baile Govora: Spa Park, Culture and Forest Trails

Băile Govora stretches along the Hința stream in a small hollow surrounded by wooded hills. The hills around Băile Govora are covered with beech and oak forests; the forested area covers 847 ha. The location between the stream, hollow and forest defines the town’s landscape setting.

Nature

The 20-hectare Parcul Central has footpaths, a bandstand and an open-air mini-amphitheatre. A water and light cascade, statues, benches and a children’s playground are also part of its facilities. The park thus combines paths, areas for spending time and individual design elements across an area of 20 ha. The Izvorul Ferdinand spring is located in the spa park on the right bank of the Hința stream. Its area has the greatest abundance of sulphur-containing mineral waters.

Băile Govora has both iodine-containing deep waters and shallow, mineralisation-produced sulphur-containing mineral waters. A specially created cycle path runs through the forest along the spa trail towards Curături. A circular hike from Băile Govora follows the spa trail and passes through the beech forest back to the park. The spa trail thereby connects the park area with the forest and the route towards Curături; the circular hike follows the same section of trail and returns to its starting point in the park.

Culture

The Palace Hotel was built from 1911 to 1914 in an eclectic style combining Rococo, Baroque, Classicism, Renaissance and decorative elements of the Romanian folk style. The building therefore displays several historical stylistic languages alongside decorative references to Romanian folk style.

The Ștefănescu Hotel was built between March 1900 and April 1902. Its design combines defining elements of vernacular architecture with Classical features. The two buildings represent different architectural combinations and, at the same time, two clearly distinct construction periods.

History

The Virginia Andreescu-Haret Cultural Centre is located in the former cinema building. This building, together with the Central Park ensemble, is listed as a historic monument. The “Preot Gheorghe Petre–Govora” Museum of Archaeology and Religious Art was founded in 1974 with archaeological finds, icons and old books collected by its namesake. The museum thus brings archaeological finds, religious images and historic books together in a single collection.

Getting There

From Râmnicu Vâlcea, Băile Govora can be reached via the DN 7 or DN 67, followed by the DJ 649. The road journey is therefore described in two consecutive sections: first via the DN 7 or DN 67 and then via the DJ 649. Travellers arriving by train take the train to Râmnicu Vâlcea railway station and continue to Băile Govora using a local transport service or a taxi. For rail travel, the transfer to local transport takes place at Râmnicu Vâlcea railway station.

Other Places

Other places: Brezoi, Marița, Perişani, Câinenii Mici, Costeşti, Pietrișu, Gura Văii, Horezu

To the higher-level travel overview: Vâlcea.