Costeşti: Karst Landscape, Gorges and Monasteries

Costeşti is one of the communes within which Buila-Vânturarița National Park is located; in Vâlcea County, the park area also includes the communes of Bărbătești and Băile Olănești. Its mountain landscape encompasses karst peaks, limestone ridges, caves, gorges, valleys, forests, mountain meadows and hay meadows, as well as diverse flora and fauna.

Hiking routes

The route described as a round trip from Pietreni via Schitul Pătrunsa to Schitul Pahomie is given as taking eight hours to walk. Its sections are marked with a red triangle, blue dot and red cross.

In the Buila-Vânturarița area, a route leads from Mănăstirea Bistrița via Cheile Bistriței, Între Râuri, Valea Cuca and Plaiul Zănoaga to Curmătura Rodeanu.

Another route begins in the village of Pietreni and runs via Cheile Costeşti, Cantonul Silvic Prislop, Plaiul Netedu, Vârful Netedu, Vârful Lespezi, Muntele Zănoaga and Vârful Govora to Şaua Zmeuret.

Nature and geology

At the foot of a sandstone quarry is the Muzeul Trovanților, an open-air geological museum. It displays several irregularly shaped, spherical or ellipsoidal geological formations, known as trovanți, ranging in size from a few centimetres to several metres.

The Muzeul Trovanților covers 1.10 hectares; under Government Decision No. 1581 of 8 December 2005, it was designated a protected area and incorporated into Buila-Vânturarița National Park.

Cheile Costeştiului extends for approximately four kilometres along the Costeşti stream and is designated a nature reserve.

Other destinations for planning your trip: Vaideeni, Horezu, Brezoi, Voineasa, Călimănești, Băile Olăneşti, Blidari, Lazaret

Monasteries and trails

From Costești, the route to Arnota Monastery passes by Mănăstirea Bistrița and climbs towards the Costeşti limestone quarry, reaching an altitude of 840 metres.

The present-day church of Arnota Monastery contains the tomb of Matei Basarab, who died on 9 April 1654.

Peștera Liliecilor can be reached behind Mănăstirea Bistrița in about 15 minutes via an easy path equipped with railings. Apart from light sources, no special equipment is required.

Inside the cave is the small Ovidenia cave church, dating from the 17th century and partly hewn into the rock and partly built of masonry.

The path through Cheile Bistriței begins in the village of Bistrița at the gate of Mănăstirea Bistrița; there is an information board and a signpost there.

From Biserica 44 de Izvoare, an unmarked path heading northwest reaches Cheile Costeștilor after approximately five minutes of ascent.

Churches and art

The wooden church of Grămești in Pietreni is dated to 1664 and is dedicated to “Adormirea Maicii Domnului”.

Biserica 44 de Izvoare in Pietreni has been documented since 1701.

The “Gheorghe D. Anghel” Art Museum is located in the Constantin Popian Cultural Centre. The centrepiece of the museum is a collection of six masterpieces by Gh. D. Anghel.

To the higher-level travel overview: Vâlcea.