Around 40 million years of geological development are revealed in the UNESCO Global Geopark Buzău Land. Located in the Carpathian arc, the geopark brings the history of the Earth to life through a landscape of varied forms. Nature, architecture and collections offer very different ways to explore this distinctive range of themes in Buzau.

Geology taking shape

The mud volcanoes stretch across the communes of Berca and Scorțoasa: badlands and volcanic cones shape the landscape, from which cold black mud rises to the surface. Access is via the DN 10 from Buzău towards Brașov, as far as Sătuc in the commune of Berca; from there, it is another 20 kilometres. Check road conditions before setting out.

The Trovanți of Bozioru in the Bălănesei Valley reveal another geological formation. They consist of sand deposits and layers of cemented sandstone, about one kilometre from the village of Ulmet. From the car park near the Trovanți, visitors first walk around 500 metres. A stepped path then leads through an alder grove to the “Babele de la Ulmet”. As trail conditions may change, check conditions before your visit. In Bozioru, the Muzeul Formelor, opened in 2018, uses augmented reality to explain how the Trovanți formed.

The prehistoric caves of Năeni also give the landscape a long temporal dimension: they are more than 4,000 years old. In Colți, meanwhile, the geological reserve covers 2.52 hectares. It is the only place in Romania where organised amber mining took place.

Stone as art and architecture

At the Măgura Sculpture Camp, stone meets art: the open-air collection comprises 256 sculptural groups and statues by 153 Romanian sculptors. It is located in clearings near Ciolanu Monastery, in the commune of Tisău. The Brâncovenesc Ensemble in Râmnicu Sărat offers a different architectural accent. Its rich stone decoration makes it one of the defining monuments of the Brâncovenesc style.

In Năeni, the Biserica Dintr-o Piatră is built entirely from white Năeni limestone. The iconostasis, altar, boundary walls and interior furnishings are also carved from stone. Visits are possible on Saturdays, Sundays and religious holidays. Check visiting arrangements before your trip. The building complex of Răteşti Monastery centres on two side wings and a central building with the chapel “Sfântul Epifanie, arhiepiscopul Ciprului”.

Museums, collections and places of remembrance

The Muzeul de Arheologie, Istorie și Artă Buzău is housed in the former girls’ school, which is classified as a historic monument. Its permanent exhibitions opened in 1980–1981 and were subsequently updated several times, including in 1986, 1990, 1999–2001, 2004 and 2015–2017. A telephone collection comprises more than 300 Romanian and foreign devices and presents the history of the telephone chronologically. The exhibits include an Ericsson telephone from 1898.

The Bucur and Margareta Chiriac Collection brings together contemporary Romanian art and folk art. It includes ceramics, wooden cutlery, masks, decorated eggs and carved chairs. In Mânzălești, the “Timpul Omului” ethnographic collection symbolically interprets local life through stone, clay and salt. The Casa Timpului collection in Valea Salciei, which is open to visitors, is housed in a traditional farmhouse. Its three rooms show a living room, an old bedroom and a room with traditional tools; the interiors of traditional farmhouses are depicted.

In Pârscov, the Casa Memorială “Vasile Voiculescu” recreates the writer’s family surroundings. A themed exhibition presents aspects of his private and professional life. The exhibition on Dumitru Dan’s collection documents a journey around the world that Dan began on 1 April 1910 with three other companions.

Routes and activities with different focuses

The proposed tourist route through the Nișcov Valley follows county road 100H through Vernești, Nișcov, Cârlomănești, Mierea, Grăjdana, Izvoranu, Leiculești, Haleș and Tisău. It can end at the “Fântâna lui Mihai Viteazul” monument in Măgura. Check road conditions before setting out. The regional route “Drumul pietrei și al cramelor din județul Buzău” combines history, archaeology, religion and local traditions with viticulture and winemaking to create an integrated visitor experience. As participating locations may change, check the route in advance.

Rafting and kayaking clubs and specialist instructors are available; a trip can take three to four hours, including the briefing. The moderately challenging route on the Buzău River starts at the Nehoiașu hydroelectric power station near the confluence of the Bâsca and Buzău rivers. It continues towards Nehoiu and reaches the Valea Lupului area in the town of Pătârlagele. Fast and calm stretches alternate, while water conditions vary seasonally. Check with the clubs in advance for availability and conditions.

Discover more destinations

Berca, Sarata-Monteoru, Chiojdu, Buzău, C. A. Rosetti, Fântânele, Poşta Câlnău, Nehoiu, Măgura, Plaiu Nucului, Orașul Pătârlagele, Balta Alba, Comuna Tisău, Odaile, Comuna Valea Râmnicului, Valea Sălciilor, Ciuta, Mierea, Cislău, Lopătari, Cozieni

For the broader travel overview: Romania.