Cislău has a strong focus on trails and history: tourist routes lead to the ruins of the Doamnei Neaga Monastery, while churches and the stud farm offer further insights into cultural history. For your travel planning, trails through a varied landscape sit alongside the history of buildings and horse breeding. You can focus on a route to the ruins, on churches and monastery history, or on the history of the stud farm.

Routes and landscapes around Cislău

There are twelve tourist routes in the Cislău area. Several marked tourist routes lead from Cislău to the ruins of the Doamnei Neaga Monastery. Check trail conditions and markings before setting out. One route listed in the 2021–2027 local development strategy runs from Vf. Seciu along the “Valea Zidului” trail to the ruins. The combination of a trail and a historic destination appeals to travelers who want to pair a hike with a cultural heritage site. The area around Cislău includes flowing streams, gentle hills, lakes, and deciduous and coniferous forests.

Churches and monastery history

In 1588, Doamna Neaga had a monastery built in a clearing near the village of Buda-Crăciunești. The monastery ruins are the destination of several marked routes from Cislău. In Cislău, the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God ensemble at 46 Strada Culturii is dated to 1749. The lime-plastered wooden Church of the Ascension stands in Buda-Crăciunești. According to a tourist description, it has been undergoing conservation for several years and access is restricted; check locally for current access arrangements before visiting. It was built in 1791 and, together with its bell tower, is a historic monument. Since 1936, the church has housed the mortal remains of Doamna Neaga, wife of Prince Mihnea Turcitul. Together, these places tell different chapters of local history: from the founding of the monastery to the church buildings and the memorial site.

The stud farm and local festivals

Cislău Stud Farm was established in 1884 on the former lands of Mitocul Călugăresc. Its breeding and promotion program includes Thoroughbreds and Gidran horses; the composition of the herd may change. This adds an institutional perspective to the history of the churches and monastery.

The 2021–2027 local development strategy lists December 22 as the date of the Christmas carol festival and the “Colindele Cislăului” competition. The Cislău commune and local council have organized the event since 2005. The “Legendele Cislăului” folklore festival is usually held on the first Saturday in September; it is organized by the local authorities together with the Buzău County Council and the Buzău County Center for Culture and Art. Check current dates and whether the events will take place before traveling.

Getting there and road planning

Cislău commune is accessible via the Buzău–Nehoiașu railway line. Check the timetable for your travel date. The winding stretch of Trans Cislau, described after its renovation in 2021, runs between Buda-Crăciunești and Cislău. Check current road conditions before driving.

Discover more destinations: Lopătari, C. A. Rosetti, Berca, Plaiu Nucului, Buzău, Cozieni, Nehoiu, Mierea

For the wider travel overview: Buzau.