Muntenia

Why?

A land of contrasts, Muntenia (Wallachia) offers both fascinating landscapes and priceless historical heritage.

Right at the heart of all this, at the crossroads you will find Bucharest, the capital of Romania.

The fortresses, ruins, citadels and old churches are proof of a very turbulent history while cities with a strong historical and cultural heritage (Curtea de Argeş or Târgovişte) and the ethno-folk traditions shape a captivating cultural landscape.

The scenery is completed by unique natural phenomena such as the Muddy Volcanoes or the Eternal Fires and the spectacular and picturesque landscapes offered by the Carpathians such as the Sphinx and Babele in Bucegi Natural Park.

Easy to access from Bucharest, Muntenia is an excellent destination for unique cultural and historical discoveries or extended weekends and family vacations.

We recommend

The mountain Padina Fest Festival where you can enjoy nature for days with lots of fun activities to do and relax. The event takes place in July at an altitude of 1,500 m, that promotes the preservation of the Bucegi Mountains.

Visit the ethnographic region Gura Teghii-Varlaam in the Buzău Mountains and taste two of the local dishes „puricei domneşti“ and „bulzul de Varlaam“.

If you enjoy cycling you can adventure on the trails of the Buzău Mountains: Penteleu, Dealu Mare or Valea Slănicului de Buzău.

Visit the Ember Museum in Colţi, Buzău County.

Visit the picturesque villages Dragoslavele, Rucăr, Podul Dâmboviţei, Lereşti, Stoeneşti, Nămăeşti etc.

Buy a woven souvenir from the villages of Rucăr, Domneşti, Topoloveni, Dragoslavele etc.

Good to know

Transfăgărăşan is closed during winter.

Buşteni has a new ski slope Kalinderu that has the most modern cable car system in Romania.

The tourist information centre in Sinaia is located at 47b Carol I Boulevard.

The tourist information centre in Buzău is located in the Buzău Museum at 50 Nicolae Bălcescu street.

In Târgovişte you will find a tourist info centre at 2A Tricolorului Square.

How to get here

Muntenia is probably the most accessible region in Romania since you can get here easily with any means of transportation.

Air access

If you wish to travel by plane to Muntenia there is an International airport, the main airport of Romania, in Otopeni, located about 16 km from Bucharest, the Henri Coandă International Airport.

Railway access

There are international trains connecting important cities in Europe (Paris, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava) with Bucharest.

Road Access

Most people who visit Muntenia rent a car at the Bucharest airport or from other important cities in the region.

You can also easily get around with your own means of transportation. The region is crossed by some of the most important European roads: E60, E68 and E70. For those of you who prefer transportation by coach you can access the Autogari website where you can find buses from almost all main cities in Romania and Europe. Have a pleasant trip!

Discover

Bound by the Olt river on the Westside, the Danube and Milcov rivers to the south and north-east and the Carpathians to the north, this whole region together with Oltenia formed the historical province of Wallachia up until the 19th century.

Over the centuries Muntenia’s historical evolution has been largely influenced by the Ottoman Empire. One of the symbolic historical figures that has embodied the struggle against the Ottoman invasion was the voivode Michael the Brave, a very important figure in Romanian history.

The land representing Muntenia is divided between a hillock region with vineyards and orchards located at the foot of the mountains filled with natural attractions and traditional villages, and a large plain expanding all the way to the Danube where agricultural activities are predominant.

Here the Buzău area impresses with its picturesque mountain scenery such as Siriu Mountain and Eagles Lake or with its unique natural phenomena such as the Muddy Volcanoes in Pâclele Mari and Pâclele Mici or the Eternal Fires near Lopătari commune, a one of a kind phenomenon in Europe.

For those of you who are looking for relaxation and cures with salted waters, Sărata-Monteoru resort is the place to visit. There’s something interesting to visit for the history enthusiasts among you: the cave dwellings in Aluniş will leave you in awe. The land of Buzău is rich in monuments of significant cultural and spiritual importance such as Râmnicu-Sărat Monastery, the Church or the Palace in Buzău.

Once you find yourselves at the foot of the Carpathians you should continue your journey through the valleys that will carry you right to the heart of the mountains or over them, in Transylvania. You will find fairytale landscapes in the Doftana or Teleajenului valleys where you can go on biking tours and feast your eyes on the splendid scenery.

In Vălenii de Munte make sure you stop by the Ethnographic Museum of the Teleajen valley. If you go up north from Bucharest you’ll arrive in Prahova valley, a favorite vacation destination among Romanians due to its beautiful scenery and its easy access. Here you can either do winter sports or relax in the famous resorts surrounded by the Bucegi Plateau such as Azuga, Buşteni or Sinaia.

In Sinaia, also known as the “Carpathians Pearl” or the “Kings’ City” you shouldn’t miss a visit to Peleş and Pelişor, the famous royal palaces.

From Buşteni you can go on a hiking trip up to the Urlătoarea waterfall. The waterfall can also be reached by cable car that will carry you up onto the Bucegi Plateau.

For the nature lovers among you, Ialomiţa Valley will definitely be to your liking. Its relief is like a spectacle with a myriad of glacial relief and karst formations such as the Zănoagei Gorges, the Tătarului Gorges, the Orzei Gorges, the Ialomiţa Gorges and Caves, the Obârşia Ialomiţei Waterfall, Bear Cave and the Small Cave; and if time allows you can try to reach the Omu Peak (2,505 m). The Scropoasa and Bolboci dam lakes will fascinate you with their extraordinary green turquoise waters.

Considered a paradise for climbers, Piatra Craiului (declared a National Park due to its landscape and the special species found here) is filled with karst formations such as the Dâmbovicioarei Gorges and cave.

If you go upstream via Prahova valley you will reach Târgovişte, the former capital of the old Wallachia province. Here you can visit the Chindiei Tower and the Princely Court.

The mountain areas of Argeş and Muscel are filled with numerous monuments that hold a special place in Romania’s history and culture.

Also worth a visit here is the Mateiaş Mausoleum in Câmpulung Muscel or the Poenari Stronghold, a defense citadel built by Vlad the Impaler. Poenari is located in the Argeș Gorges near Vidraru Lake and dam. Make sure you don’t miss the legendary Curtea de Argeş Monastery, which is the resting place for many of Romania's rulers and royalty figures.

The north border of Argeş is represented by the most magnificent mountains in the country, the Făgăraş Mountains, with Moldoveanu, its highest peak at 2,544 m. The mountain fanatics among you will have a myriad of tracks to choose from. You can go climbing or even adventure on a road trip along the Transfăgărăşan road. With a length of 92 km this road connects Muntenia with Transylvania (between Arefu and Cârţişoara) and has an astounding 27 viaducts and bridges.

You can’t visit Muntenia without tasting its famous wines from vineyards such as Dealurile Buzăului, Dealul Mare, Ştefăneşti-Argeş or Sâmbureşti.

Muntenia, represented by plain stretches all the way to the Danube and is filled with various monuments and buildings of historical importance.

Some include the Casa de Piatră (House of Stone) Mansion in Hereşti that hosts exhibitions from the Peasant Museum. Another is Drugănescu Mansion in Giurgiu built in the Brâncovenesc style. From the Giurgiu port you can set sail on the Danube or relax on Gostinu beach. And if you cross the Giurgiu-Ruse bridge you’ll arrive in Bulgaria.

Cultural historical heritage is completed by medieval fortresses such as Turnu and several places of various denominations with special architecture found especially in Călăraşi county.

In Ialomiţa county you can visit the Agricultural Museum in Slobozia or just relax with a nice mud cure in the Amara spa resort.

If you arrive in Brăila, the Danube port city, you can take a boat ride to the Small Wetland of Brăila Natural Park - a small delta which is home to many bird species - or relax in the Sărat Lake (the Salted Lake) resort. In Brăila you will discover a multitude of city emblem buildings such as the Fluvial Railway Station or you can take stroll along the Danube esplanade.

Gastronomy

You will understand the whole turbulent history of Muntenia when you discover the local cuisine, which, although exposed to various influences over time, is today a special combination of them. You will find a rich assortment of vegetables, various meats and preparations of meat, fish, but also many milk products, pasta and fruit. To convince you of the special taste of Muntenia cuisine, try some of its dishes such as tripe soup, beef or pork peasant sour soups, meatball soup, aubergine salad, "mici" (grilled minced meat rolls), "Pleşcoi" sausages, Wallachian stuffed bell peppers, "sarmale" (stuffed cabbage rolls) with polenta, beef tongue and olive stew, "ciulama" (chicken or mushrooms in white sauce), grilled steaks, fish dishes, moussaka or various puddings with pasta and cheese, "papanaşi" (cheese doughnuts) or crepe. You will be enchanted Along with the numerous dishes of Muntenia cuisine, unique wines from the renowned vineyards will round out your gastronomic feast. Your senses will be delighted by the special wines of Pietroasele, Tohani, Urlaţi, Valea Călugărească, Ceptura or Coteşti.

Attractions