Discover Vâlcea County, Romania – Râmnicu Vâlcea city, Buila – Vânturarița National Park, Ocnele Mari Salina, Horezu, spas …

Vâlcea County is located in the historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia in Romania. It benefits from a varied landscape that includes mountains, hills, plateaus and plains. The river Olt crosses a distance greater than 100 km across this county. It is also rich in tradition and spirituality and its territory houses several monasteries well-known as historical monuments. Vâlcea County is also known for its spectacular landscapes.

Schitul Pahomie

Pahomie

City Râmnicu Vâlcea is the county seat and is documented since 1388.
A interesting place to visit here is Anton Pann Memorial House. The house is a monument of urban architecture and the exhibition dedicated to the famous writer contains decorative items, furniture, some from Transylvania and painted portraits of personalities in the area.

Resorts in Vâlcea County ware developed around some mineral and thermal springs. Băile Olănești, Govora or Călimănești – Căciulata are places where many diseases are treated. These places also serve as starting points for hiking the mountains surrounding them.

Buila – Vânturariţa National Park

This is the smallest national park in Romania, covering the limestone ridge Buila – Vânturariţa. Its landscape enjoys all the wonders of karst topography (gorge, holes, detritus, cloughs, caves, avens and dizzying steeps ), the pathless forests, protected species (many endemic) of flora and fauna, well preserved. Walking on the high mountain routes you can enjoy the wonderful view of Olt Valley, Cozia , Făgăraş, and Parâng Mountains. You can also turn your attention to other sights like:

-Cheile Bistriței (Bistriţei Gorge),
-Cheile Costești (Costeşti Gorge),
-Cheile Cheia, (Cheia Gorge)
-Cheile Olănești,(Olănești Gorge)
-The caves of Cheia Gorge,
-Orchid Meadows of Cheia Valley.

Museum of Trovants is a natural outdoor museum, whose exhibits are geological formations that are impressive in shape, size and age. This museum is at the entrance of Costeşti.

The Resort Ocnele Mari is located in the town with the similar name. In saline, besides the areas where salt is still extracted, at a depth of 225 m , there is an arranged tourist area that includes a museum, sports fields, playgrounds, souvenir shops, etc.
Drăgăşani wine area has a recognized potential that is highlighted today by several wineries. Tourists who want to learn more about the tradition of wine production will find this area very resourceful.

Monasteries in Vâlcea County
In heritage of Vâlcea County, there are several monuments of religious art and history each with its specifics, located in the well-known tourist places. Cozia, Horezu, or Govora or other more isolated places such as the hermitages Pahomie and Pătrunsa, are places of silence and knowledge.

Horezu
It is a famous name in Romanian folk art, related to the famous “Horezu Ceramics”. Horezu is located 45 km far from Râmnicu Vâlcea. Those interested in learning more about the art objects from clay must go to Ceramics Center of Olari.

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