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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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Calimanesti, Olanesti, Govora – Oltenia’s Health Springs
Among Oltenia’s counties, Valcea was blessed with the gift of the mineral waters that have revived both body and soul from Antiquity to present day. There are at least three such resorts worth visiting for relaxation and health: Calimanesti-Caciulata, Olanesti and Govora.
Calimanesti
Calimanesti is a town situated on the right shore of the Olt river, in the Jiblea-Calimanesti valley, at a height of approximately 300 m and 18 km far from Ramnicu Valcea (capital city of Valcea county). Together with the neighboring resort Caciulata, Calimanesti represents a treatment resort opened to tourists and patients all year long.
The beginning of Calimanesti’s history dates from ancient times. The Dacians probably knew and used the healing properties of the waters here. It is also said that the Kogaionon, the Dacians’ sacred mountain, was located nearby; this is the reason why a military camp, named Arutela (from Alutus, the ancient name of the river Olt) was built in this region, after the Roman conquest of Dacia.
The name of “Calimanesti” comes from Caliman, who settled with his family and relatives on this side of the river, during the early Middle Ages. Calimanesti’s medieval history is closely connected to that of the monastery Cozia, founded by the famous ruler of Wallachia, Mircea the Elder (1355 – 1418). The document by which he ordered the construction of this religious establishment is the first testimony of Calimanesti’s existence.
The healing properties of the waters were discovered by the monks from Cozia, who found out from a peasant, during a confession, that he was cured by bathing in a small lake close to the monastery. They investigated it and built a small treatment house called “bolnita” there. In time, many Romanian rulers came here for treatments.
At the middle of the XIXth century, the famous doctor Carol Davila, the founder of the modern Romanian healthcare system, recommended the Calimanesti waters to Napoleon III. A couple of recipients were sent to Paris, to ease the pain of the liver infection the Emperor of France was suffering from.
Calimanesti evolved continuously as a treatment resort and as a town; in 1893, the mineral water from Calimanesti-Caciulata won the golden medal at the International Exhibition of Food and Mineral Waters in Bruxelles.
In the present, Calimanesti-Caciulata hosts the only sanatorium in the country which deals with silicosis affections, but it is also recommended for those suffering from gastritis, colitis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, sinusitis, laryngitis and related illnesses.
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