Description
Geopark “Ținutul Buzăului” is a geographical area in Buzău county conceived as a project with its own management structure, initiated and coordinated by Buzău County Council in order to preserve, promote and enhance the outstanding natural elements of the area, the cultural and historical heritage values, and to support the social and economic development of the communes on the principle of sustainable development.
The Buzau County Geopark is the 7th UNESCO World Heritage Site and will be located in the north of Buzau County, in the curving area of the Eastern Carpathians, at the intersection of the historical roads linking Muntenia, Transylvania and Moldova. The reserve will include all the communes of Beceni, Berca, Bozioru, Bisoca, Brăești, Chiliile, Cănești, Colți, Cozieni, Lopătari, Mînzălești, Odăile, Pîrscov, Pănătău, Scorțoasa, Sărulești, Valea Salciei, Vintilă Vodă, with a total area of 109826 ha and a population of 52500 inhabitants. The centre of the geopark will be the commune of Berca.
Geodiversity
The area is well known for its mud volcanoes, Meledic complex (salt and salt caves), Focul Viu – Lopătari, Bisoca Lakes Forest, SCI Natura 2000 sites (Bisoca, Mânzălești-Meledic, Mud Volcanoes, Lunca Buzăului), various formations (Bucur’s Mass, Sphinx of Buștea, Negru Vodă’s Throne, …etc. ), the lakes, the amber of Colți, the spectacular relief with “walls of giants” or “stone fangs” and other geological phenomena occurring in the area of Vintilă Vodă, Colți and Bozioru, the dome landscapes and salt springs, oil springs.
The territory has an extremely complex geological structure, the sedimentary rocks found on the surface cover a history that begins more than 70 million years ago, the basis for the evolution of the Carpathian chain.
It is an area at the interface of three provinces – Ardeal, Moldova and Wallachia – Buzau County having something of all of them, but at the same time its own identity.
The rural area is predominant, with villages along the valleys, combining the existence of powerful old religious and monastic centres with isolated hamlets where old traditions have long been handed down from generation to generation.
Access keys
The “Buzau County” Geopark is located at the crossroads of historical roads linking Muntenia, Transylvania and Moldova. The southern point of entry to the geopark is 130 km from Bucharest, and the northern point is 80 km from Brasov, which is also a crossing point for those transiting Transylvania on their way to the Delta.
The DN10 (Brasov – Buzau) lies to the south along the Buzau valley. County roads branch off from it along the Slănic, Sărățelului and Bălănesei valleys. The Dumul on the Sibiciului valley has the status of a communal road.
DN2 (or E85 European road) from Bucharest to Suceava, on the eastern side. County roads branch off from it along the Caulna and Râmnic valleys.
Along the Buzăului valley, there is access to the 504 Buzău – Nehoiașu railway (stations or stops at: Buzău, Buzău Nord, Vernești, Cândești, Berca, Ojasca, Unguriu, Măgura, Pârscov, Bădila, Rușavăț, Viperești, Cislău, Gura Bâscei, Mărunțișu, Pătârlagele, Valea Sibiciului, Șețu, Păltineni, Nehoiu, Nehoiașu).
The supporting infrastructure for tourism is very poorly developed. On the one hand it is an advantage because it blocks mass tourism, but on the other hand it is also a disadvantage because those who would like to go there and would be dedicated to alternative tourism and have nowhere to stay. As far as the roads are concerned, they are quite difficult, and it is necessary to resort to alternative means of travel such as bicycle, cart, motorcycle, horse or on foot.The major entry points to the Geopark are at Berca, Pârscov, Colți, Beceni, Valea Salciei.
Particularities
The tourist season is limited to 4-6 months.
The only information can be obtained from the Tourist Information Center Tourism Infopoint Buzau, located at the entrance to the future Geopark, in Berca commune, at the intersection of the roads between Volcanii Noroioşi and Rătești Monastery, from web pages, from the authorities.
Forms of tourism
- Rural and agritourism
- Ecumenical Rătești Monasteries, Poiana Mărului, Găvanu, Berca), Complex of rock settlements in the Colți-Aluniş-Nucu-Bozioru-Brăesti area
- Hiking: preferably in the Ivănețu Massif and in the area of rock hermitages.
- Cultural: you can visit the Museum of Ethnography and Folklore of Văia Slănicului located in Mânzălești commune, and during the year in certain localities folklore celebrations are held, especially related to religious holidays.
- Cinegetic tourism: Balneo-medical in the Fisici area where in the past there were specific facilities and, less so at the rest of the mineral springs.
Source: wikipedia