Rural Tourism in Romania

Rural tourism has seen an impressive development in Romania, in the past few years. Visitors are invited into a world of scenic landscapes and unaltered traditions, where craftsmen can do wonders and where guesthouses offer the tastiest dishes made after ancient recipes. Maria Stoian, founder of the National Association of Rural, Ecological and Cultural Tourism, believes that tourists who visit the Romanian rural area have the chance of getting to know the real Romania.

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România Internațional, 08.03.2018, 13:46

Rural tourism has seen an impressive development in Romania, in the past few years. Visitors are invited into a world of scenic landscapes and unaltered traditions, where craftsmen can do wonders and where guesthouses offer the tastiest dishes made after ancient recipes. Maria Stoian, founder of the National Association of Rural, Ecological and Cultural Tourism, believes that tourists who visit the Romanian rural area have the chance of getting to know the real Romania.

Maria Stoian: “Visiting the country’s rural areas is a chance to understand the roots of this people and get to know the true Romanians. Tourists can learn about Romanian gastronomy, which is so varied. They can see the source of inspiration for folk architecture, and also a variety of folk customs and traditions. In Marginimea Sibiului there are some very beautiful villages, and the local cuisine is amazing. In northern Oltenia there are special monasteries and also opportunities for active tourism, on Sohodol Gorges and the Oltet Valley. From northern Oltenia we head towards the Danube Gorge. Few people know that nautical tourism can be practiced here and that there are water bungalows available to tourists. The area has great potential. Bran Moeciu is the cradle of Romanian rural tourism. Also, the Curvature Carpathians and the Vrancea-Buzau area with its wine route are also worth visiting.”

Perspectives for 2018 are very good, says Maria Stoian: “Romanians are more and more interested in domestic tourist destinations, including rural tourism and the same tendency has been noticed among foreign tourists. Except for our regular tourists from France, Germany, Italy and Israel, visitors from the Nordic countries have also started to show special interest in Romania. Romanians from the Diaspora represent another tourist segment. They are not only visiting their families but also various regions from their native country. I remember a family from France who was interested in rural tourism but had many reservations and questions about it. A year later it was them who recommended all their friends and relatives to visit Romania’s rural area.”

Romanian villages and communes are also promoted through a large variety of events, with free of charge access. Maria Stoian: “We have many events scheduled for this year. Balvanyos, in the central county of Covasna, is host to the Pomana Porcului Festival, attended by teams from several counties of Romania and also from Slovakia, Hungary and other countries in the region. There is also the Pies Festival in Oituz, the Meat Jelly Festival held in Tismana, Gorj county and the Sheep and Shepherds’ Festival held in Bran, Brasov county. Fundata, the commune with the highest elevation in Brasov county, hosts an event devoted to shepherds. Visitors are welcome to Romania’s villages that have preserved traditions intact and that can also provide good accommodation conditions.

Maramureş, in northern Romania, one of the regions where rural tourism is very developed, boasts many guesthouses. Dan Carpov is the representative of the tourist information office of Maramureş County: “In 2018 Romania celebrates 100 years since the union of the Romanian principalities, consequently tourist circuits will include stopovers at the memorial houses of some of the outstanding personalities of the county. Maramureş is a wide county, including 4 regions: the Country of Lăpuş, the Country of Maramureş, located in the northeastern half of the historical region of Maramureş, the Country of Chioar and the Country of Codru. Customs and traditions have been well preserved in all theses areas just like the traditional costume. “

As for the tourists’ feedback , Dan Carpov says is is always positive: “Tourists’ feedback is very good, we are at the top of preferences, which makes us improve our offer continuously and do our best to live up to the expectations. Mocăniţa, the narrow gauge steam train is the top tourist attraction for tourists. On tourists’ list of preferences are also the 8 UNESCO sites in the county and we have a circuit that includes all of them. Mountain tourism has been developing recently. We have a biking route that is 80-km long.”

Many of Romania’s guesthouses provide home cooked meals to tourists and organize trips to the areas nearby.