Holiday in the Land of Stone Carvers

The tradition of stone carving has been preserved unaltered in the village of Naeni, in Buzau county.

Daniel Onea, 12.11.2015, 14:00

In the village of Naeni, in Buzau county, the
tradition of stone carving has been preserved unaltered to this day. The
limestone quarry nearby provides plenty of raw material, while a neighbouring
hill top is the site of a well-known sculpture camp. Other tourist attractions
in Buzau include the Muddy Volcanoes, the Siriu Dam, the Eagles’ Lake, the
Living Fire, the cave settlements, the Amber Museum and a series of wine
cellars. Elena Stanciu, a local guide from Naeni told us the area has become
increasingly popular as a tourist destination:

The ancient tradition of stone carving has been preserved unaltered in
Naeni. The craft of stone carving has been handed down from one generation to
another as early as the Stone Age, and in time it has become a form of art.
Other attractions include the sculpture camp and the nearby group of lime
sculptures made by children from Naeni, Slobozia and Chisinau. These are
located on top of a hill that provides great vistas of the surroundings. To the
north, visitors see the ridge of the Carpathians, while to the south lies the
Baragan Plain. Another attraction in the region is a church made from a single
block of stone originating from Naeni and surrounded by stone walls, like an
old fortress. This type of church is unique in Romania and in Europe. The stone
used to make the church comes from the nearby 100-metre deep quarry. Both the
interior and exterior decorations of the church, as well as its altar screen, were
made using limestone from Naeni.

Most tourist sites in the region are located within 10 km of each other,
which is an advantage for visitors to the area. While some of these sites are
not easily reached by car, it won’t take you more than a day to visit them all.
The local guide Elena Stanciu tells us what else we can see in the Naeni area:

I would also
recommend the pre-historic grottoes placed strategically on the upper crest of
the Colarea hill, close to the stone church. A hearth, mural paintings and
weapons and tools were discovered in one of these grottoes. A Dacian necropolis
lies very close to the stone church and consists of a group of tombs carved in
stone. A small Dacian settlement has been reconstructed here with support form
the Sfantu Sava Foundation in Buzau. Called the Dacian Village, it consists of
three earth huts and a shelter. Two huts have already been built and are now
inhabited by the volunteers who help with the construction of the Dacian
Village. The site can be visited free of charge from Monday to Friday. Visitors
love it here. Beginning next year, the huts will be rented to tourists wishing
to see how our ancestors used to live 2,500 years ago.

The Buzau area is
famous for its wine cellars and there’s also a tourist wine route if you wish
to sample the local offer. Local guide Elena Stanciu says the area is popular
with tourists because of its wines and the beautiful natural scenery:

The scenery in
Buzau Mountains is truly charming. The best-known destinations are Siriu Dam
and the Eagles’ Lake, a truly special place. Also, many of the tourists
reaching Naeni also visit the Muddy Volcanoes. Many people who come to Naeni
also visit the Living Fire, the Ciolanu Monastery, the Amber Museum and many
other sites, well known among tourists at home and abroad. Autumn is a great
season for a trip to these parts. We have groups visiting every week, and
everybody tells us this area is every bit as impressive as they heard it was.

This is an area to visit any time of the year.
No matter when you get here, you will also be charmed by the local cuisine,
especially the pickles from Sarata Monteoru, only 23 km away from Naeni. Here
is Cristina Partal, the head of the Buzau branch of the National Association
for Rural and Eco Tourism:

The resort of
Sarata Monteoru, which was first mentioned in historical records by Grigore
Constantin Monteoru in 1895 is well known for its naturally salty waters which
have a great reputation for treating rheumatism, stomach and gynaecological
conditions, as well as for cooking. In Sarata Monteoru they pickle almost
anything, from baby watermelons to plums, quinces, apples, onion, cauliflower,
and even red beets, which lends a reddish hue to the other pickles. They even
pickle grapes, which are great with venison, because Buzau is also a great
hunting area.