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- Targoviste – A Capital’s CharmDrobeta Turnu Severin – A Bridge Across The AgesSearching For Tranquility Around BucharestCalimanesti, Olanesti, Govora – Oltenia’s Health SpringsAlba Iulia and Codex AureusIasi – A City Imbued With History and CultureThe Deva Fortress – Active Witness to Transylvania’s HistoryRupea Stronghold, The Core of Brasov CountyScarisoara Cave, Glacier Chill in Summer TimeMuierilor Cave, Symbol of Fertility and HolinessOrsova – Heavy Industry Meets the Roman EmpireThe Heaven of Cherry Orchards, in CetateleCurtisoara Museum – a Cradle of SpiritualityBaile Felix – a Balneary Resort for All AgesIzei Valley – Maramures Finest Traditions and LocationsHarman – A Small Part of Brasov’s CultureMuseums and places to visit in OradeaVidraru Dam and Lake, a Wonder of Nature, Confined by ManAncient Cities in the Constanta AreaSfantul Ioan Domnesc Monument-Church – The Shadow of Stefan cel MarePutna Monastery – The Spiritual Center of MoldaviaOcnele Mari: Salt Mines, Spa and Rich HistoryBaile Govora – One of The Oldest Romanian SpasCraiova – The Heart of OlteniaRules for Visiting the Protected Nature AreasArad – One Millenia on the Banks of MuresTargu Jiu and the Endless ColumnBucura Lake – The Largest Glacier Lake in RomaniaTraveling to Sfantu GheorgheLipscani – “The Old Leipzig” of BucharestCule – Strange Strongholds of a Riotous PastVatra DorneiCluj NapocaDobrudja and the Danube DeltaBucharest – an european capitalBrasov – Part of the “Heart” of RomaniaTimisoara, Little ViennaRosia MontanaPeriam “Rock la Mures” FestSinaiaVama VecheSighisoara, medieval heavenHunedoaraSighisoaraSibiu – modernity with a German touchA visit in Piatra-NeamtVama Veche versus MamaiaThe mountain tourism in RomaniaA trip to Muntii ApuseniAn incursion in legends – BranTrips and winter sports on Valea PrahoveiTransilvania – The medieval land of StrongholdsBucovina and Northern MoldaviaMaramures – A Land From TalesTan and Fun at the Black SeaA wild land – The Danube Delta
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The Heaven of Cherry Orchards, in Cetatele
Finally, at the end of June and July the Albaute and Bozniac cherries become ripe, the latter being more and more grown by villagers. The last ones to be picked up are the Zdrontosi kind, on the Ilie Prooroc holiday (July 20) and even at the beginning of August. The cherry trees spawning these fruits are more prone to rotting and unhealthy. Their cherries are very dark, almost black, a shiny and intense shade with a consistent juicy fruit almost glued to the kernel.
In order to pick up cherries, in the old days, villagers would use tall ladders, sometimes even 10-15 metres in length, or they would climb the less tall trees. In case the cherry trees were too tall, they would tie two sets of ladders together with chains, one at the end of the other. Cherries were so important for the villagers of Cetatele that they wouldn't make hay till they didn't pick them all up. It is said that in this village, till the holiday of SanPetru (June 29) you should have at least a pile of hay gathered in your yard.
At night, in the eve of June's holidays (Sanpetru, Sanziene), the carriages filled with cherries would travel to Lapus, Baiut, Sighetul Marmatiei, to local fares. A pitoresque literary portrait of those times shows the carriages' wheels being red from the squashed cherries. Villagers would put hay underneath them to protect the fruit from getting squashed and cover them with a canvas. Sadly, the habit of growing cherry trees and selling cherries has decayed for the past 25 years, as traditions are lost and climate changes have affected the growth of the fruit, some of the kinds becoming extinguished.
Thankfully, there's still the opportunity of visiting the area and having the good old village people remind us of the time when cherries were the place's most treasured possession.
Author: Alex Stanescu
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