Mănăstirea Dintr-un Lemn

Transalpina (Pasul Urdele)

The Transalpina is the highest road in Romania, a spectacular route that crosses the Parâng massif of the Southern Carpathians, linking Oltenia to Transylvania over alpine ridges. The Urdele Pass, the highest point of the road, sits at over 2100 metres, offering broad views over the bare summits, the deep valleys and the alpine meadows that stretch as far as the eye can see. The road, with historical origins lost in antiquity and modernised in recent times, climbs in switchbacks above the tree line, through a wild, bare landscape often swept by wind and shrouded in mist. Flocks of sheep graze on either side of the highway, and in the warm season the slopes are covered with flowers. Because of the altitude, the road is passable only in the warm months, being closed in winter due to heavy snow. The route is prized by motorcyclists, cyclists and lovers of mountain scenery, offering one of the most memorable driving experiences in the country, with many stops for photographs.

Mănăstirea Turnu

Turnu Monastery lies in Valcea county, near Ramnicu Valcea and the Cozia resort, at the foot of the Cozia Mountains, in a particularly beautiful landscape on the bank of the Olt river. The settlement has old origins, linked to the hermits who withdrew into the caves and cells carved into the mountain rock for a life of prayer and asceticism. The name of the monastery comes from the old ruins of a Roman tower nearby, a testimony to the ancient presence in the area. The church and the monastery buildings rise in an isolated natural setting, surrounded by forests and the cliffs of the Cozia massif. Visitors can climb paths towards the old rock-hewn cells, in an excursion both spiritual and into nature. Set close to Cozia Monastery and the Olt valley, Turnu Monastery is a quiet and picturesque stop for pilgrims and for those crossing the gorge between the mountains.

Mănăstirea Ostrov Călimănești

Ostrov Monastery stands on a small island in the Olt River, in the resort of Călimănești in Vâlcea, in a natural setting that makes it seem to float above the water. It is considered one of the oldest nunneries in Wallachia, the present church having been founded in the early sixteenth century by the ruler Neagoe Basarab and his wife, Lady Despina. The small church preserves fragments of old wall painting and an atmosphere of contemplation heightened by the island's isolation. Around the church, the monastic community keeps gardens and cells, and the view over the Olt and the surrounding hills is remarkable. The place has been tied to legends of healing waters in the area, near the mineral springs of Călimănești and Căciulata. Visitors can easily reach the island and combine a spiritual stop with a walk along the riverbank. Appropriate dress is recommended when visiting a place of worship.

Restaurant Cozia Râmnicu Vâlcea

Hotel Central Râmnicu Vâlcea