County · Oltenia
Vâlcea County
Seat: Râmnicu Vâlcea
Valcea climbs from the plains of Oltenia towards the peaks of the Southern Carpathians, following the Olt valley through gorges and monasteries. The Cozia and Buila-Vanturarita parks offer spectacular hiking, while the string of monasteries along the Olt valley, led by Cozia, tells the story of Wallachian faith. At Horezu, the Brancoveanu-era monastery and folk pottery are inscribed on the UNESCO heritage list, and Dragasani is famed for its wines.
The spa resorts of Baile Olanesti and Calimanesti-Caciulata draw visitors with their healing springs, while the Trovants at Costesti, the living stones that seem to grow, astonish travellers. The seat is Ramnicu Valcea.
Cities & places in Vâlcea
Not to miss in Vâlcea
MountainTransalpina (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.
WineryCrama Iordache
Crama Iordache is a small family winery in the Drăgășani region, part of the new wave that brought Oltenia's native grapes back into focus. It works small quantities, with an emphasis on authenticity and the expression of place: Crâmpoșie Selecționată, Negru de Drăgășani, Novac and fresh whites, in honest wines with character. Without fuss and without loud marketing, the winery earned its regard through what's in the glass. On the hills of the Olt's right bank, in an area where every small winery has its own story, a visit here means a warm welcome, a relaxed tasting and direct contact with the people who make the wine. It's the kind of stop that appeals to those after the authentic, far from the crowded circuits.
WineryCrama Prince Ştirbey
Crama Prince Ştirbey is the most historic address at Drăgășani — the estate of the princely Știrbey family, which has made wine here for over a century and was the world's first bottler of Crâmpoșie Selecționată. Today, under the care of the Kripp-Costinescu family, the winery is a benchmark of authenticity: native grapes worked with respect — Crâmpoșie, Novac, Negru de Drăgășani, dry Tămâioasă — in wines without artifice that express terroir above fashion. The Genius Loci range gathers the estate's peaks. Visits include tours of the historic cellars and tastings in the manor, in an atmosphere blending old nobility with modern winemaking. It's the heartfelt stop for anyone who wants to taste the revival of Oltenian wine at its source.
MonasteryMănăstirea Govora
Govora Monastery, near Râmnicu Vâlcea, is one of the oldest and most important monasteries in Oltenia, with a history reaching back to the 15th century. It played a notable cultural role, for it was here in the 17th century that a famous printing press operated, producing the Govora Law Code, one of the first collections of laws in the Romanian language. The ensemble, rebuilt and embellished during the reigns of Matei Basarab and Constantin Brâncoveanu, blends elements of the Brâncovenesc style with the tradition of Moldavian-Wallachian architecture, standing out through its carved columns, valuable murals and elegant porch. Set on a wooded hill in a quiet and picturesque setting, the monastery radiates an atmosphere of peace and contemplation. Here visitors discover not only an active place of worship but also an important centre of old Romanian culture. Located near the Băile Govora spa resort, the monastery is a valuable stop for those interested in history, religious art and spirituality.
MonasteryMănăstirea Arnota
Arnota Monastery rises in solitude on a mountain peak in northern Oltenia, above the village of Costești, in a landscape of rocks and forests that heightens the sense of withdrawal. It was founded in the first half of the seventeenth century by the ruler Matei Basarab, who chose this sheltered spot to also prepare his tomb, which lies today inside the church. The church preserves a particularly valuable carved iconostasis and fragments of wall painting from the founder's era, testimonies of early Brâncoveanu-style art. The road climbing up to the monastery offers wide views over the sub-Carpathian hills and the nearby limestone quarry. The atmosphere is quiet and fit for contemplation, and the monastic community carefully maintains the complex. Visitors who reach this place are rewarded with a blend of the site's historic value and the beauty of the surrounding nature. Suitable footwear is recommended for the access road.
MonasteryMănăstirea 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.
ChurchBiserica Sfântul Nicolae Drăgășani
The Church of Saint Nicholas in Dragasani is a traditional Orthodox place of worship in the heart of the Oltenia wine country, a spiritual landmark for the local community across several generations. Built in the style typical of southern Romanian town churches, it combines a nave-based plan with towers rising above the porch and naos, while the interior preserves wall paintings and icons depicting biblical scenes and the faces of saints. The feast of Saint Nicholas, protector of the poor and of travellers, is marked each year with a service attended by the faithful of the area. Set in a town famous for its wines, the church makes a fitting stop for those exploring Dragasani and the surrounding vineyard hills. Visitors are asked to respect the quiet and the schedule of services when they enter.
MonasteryMănăstirea Bistrița Vâlcea
Bistrita Monastery in Valcea is an important monastic settlement founded at the end of the fifteenth century by the powerful boyar family of the Craiovesti, in a spectacular natural setting at the foot of the Capatanii Mountains, near the Bistrita Gorges. Over the centuries the monastery was destroyed and rebuilt several times, and the present appearance of the great church bears the mark of nineteenth-century restorations. It has preserved the relics of Saint Gregory the Decapolite and once housed one of the first printing presses in Wallachia, making it a centre of spirituality and culture of remarkable antiquity. Nearby are the Cave of Saint Gregory the Decapolite and rock hermitages carved into the cliff. The mountain setting and the quiet complete the atmosphere. Practical note: the monastery can be combined with a hike in the Bistrita Gorges and a visit to the nearby cave; it is active, so respect the customs of the place.
MonasteryMănăstirea Hurezi
Horezu Monastery, located near the town of Horezu in Oltenia, is the largest monastic ensemble in Wallachia and the masterpiece of the Brancovan style, which is why it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Founded at the end of the seventeenth century by the ruler Constantin Brancoveanu, the monastery impresses through its architectural balance, the richness of its stone and wood carving and its ensemble of remarkably well-preserved frescoes, which include portraits of the founder and his family. Elegant columns, arcades, porches and fine decoration define this style, a synthesis of Byzantine tradition and Western influences. The complex includes the great church, chapels, cells and a valuable library, a testimony to its cultural role. The quiet setting at the foot of the mountains reinforces the atmosphere of spirituality. Practical note: allow time to admire the frescoes and painting; the visit combines naturally with the Horezu pottery centre, famous for its traditional ceramics.
MonasteryMănăstirea 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.
MonasteryMănăstirea Dintr-un Lemn
The Monastery from a Single Tree is located in Valcea county, near the town of Ramnicu Valcea, in a quiet natural setting surrounded by forests. The unusual name of the monastery comes from a legend according to which the first church here was carved from a single old oak, on the spot where a monk is said to have found an icon of the Mother of God. The old wooden church, preserved to this day, is one of the most valuable buildings of its kind in Oltenia. Beside it rises a larger masonry church, founded in the seventeenth century, adorned with paintings and precious liturgical objects. The monastic complex, with its cells and old walls, conveys an atmosphere of contemplation and continuity. Set not far from other renowned monasteries of Valcea, the Monastery from a Single Tree is a precious stop on the pilgrimage route of northern Oltenia, in a landscape of wooded hills.
MonasteryMănăstirea Cozia
Cozia Monastery, on the bank of the Olt near Călimănești, is one of the oldest and most important medieval foundations in Wallachia, built in the late 14th century by the ruler Mircea the Elder, whose tomb lies here. The main church is a brilliant example of Byzantine architecture, with walls striped in stone and brick, stone carvings of rare finesse and old frescoes depicting the founders and religious scenes. Set in a superb natural landscape, at the foot of the mountains and near the Olt gorge, the monastery breathes calm and history. Visitors can admire the carved porch, Neagoe Basarab's fountain and the museum of heritage objects. It is a natural stop on the road between Sibiu and Râmnicu Vâlcea. Modest dress is advised; check the schedule for visiting and services.