5 Places to Visit in Argeș

Argeș County, an hour from the capital, is very rich in tourist destinations, with countless attractions and secrets just waiting to be discovered by visitors.

If you are planning a weekend trip, you may not have time to visit all the well-known sights in the area. Here, though, are the most important ones:

• Curtea de Argeș Monastery, in the old capital of Wallachia, is on the list of historic monuments of Romania. The legend behind the monastery is very well known: the master builder Manole was forced to wall up his wife (Ana) as a sacrifice so that the monastery could be raised. So that he could not build another more beautiful one, Manole made himself wings from wooden shingles, and where his flight ended a fountain appeared – Master Manole’s Fountain. The monastery is one of the most visited architectural complexes in the country and the place where the tombs of Carol I and Elisabeth, Carol II, Ferdinand, Marie and King Michael are found.
• Poenari Citadel lies a short distance from the Vidraru Dam, on a rocky peak of Cetățuia mountain, surrounded by steep slopes. Its position was chosen strategically, to make it impregnable. It is reached by 1,480 concrete steps, passing through a superb beech forest. It is said to be the place where Vlad Țepeș withdrew from the Turks. It was built in the 14th century by Negru Vodă, and later strengthened and extended by Vlad Țepeș.

• The Vidraru Dam, the highest concrete dam in the country, is in the Făgăraș Mountains, on the road leading to the well-known Transfăgărășan. It was built in the 1960s to prevent flooding and to produce electricity. The view from here is superb, which is why many tourists stop to take a photo of the lake surrounded by mountains rising steeply on either side.
• The Transfăgărășan, the road linking Muntenia with Transylvania, is considered one of the most spectacular roads in the world, crossing the Făgăraș Mountains. Construction of the “road among the clouds” began on Ceaușescu’s initiative and took about 4 years. The process was quite difficult: according to official figures, about 40 people lost their lives building the route. The highest point of the road is at Bâlea Lake, 2,034 metres. In the cold season you can visit, and perhaps even stay overnight at, the Ice Hotel, unique in South-East Europe. It is classed as a 3-star hotel and even has a restaurant and a bar, also made of ice.

• How does a mountain trail sound? Valea lui Stan is where adventure meets nature, with metal ladders, walkways, cable handrails, rocks and waterfalls. The hike takes half a day, and the distance to cover is about 9 km.

There are countless accommodation options in the area, from camping to luxury 4-star hotels.