The wine region Dealu Mare (“Big hill”) is one of the most famous and oldest wine-growing districts in Romania and said to be the “Tuscany” of Romania. Indeed it is situated on the same latitude as Northern Italy, but tourism is still at the very beginning. Dealu Mare has an extension of about 60-70 km between Valea Calugareasca (near Ploiesti) and Merei/Vernesti (near Buzau), covering the two counties Buzau and Prahova. Dealu Mare offers more than 6.000 years of settlement history, a Mediterranean climate from April to October and excellent wines from sunny southward hills. Besides that, Dealu Mare offers a couple of first class tourism attractions that are waiting to be discovered.
Tourism Attractions in Dealu Mare:
- Winery visits and wine tasting: Traditional mansions, wine cellars and wineries in Buzau county
- Culinary adventures: Truffle hunting in Buzau
- Religion: Famous monasteries and churches (i.e. Ciolanu and Ghighiu monastery, stone church of Naeni)
- Art: Open air sculpture camps at Naeni and Magura
- Archaeological sites: Thracian graves at Naeni, Stone quarry with fossils at Naeni, Roman sites at Pietroasele, “Monteoru culture”, find spot of the “Hen with Golden Chicken” treasure at Pietroasele
- Spa: Salty waters of Sarata Monteoru (swim like in the Dead See in Israel)
- Nature: Beautiful panorama on top of the hill at Seciu, Naeni and Ciolanu, beautiful oak and fir woods at Plopu, Monteoru and Magura
Accommodation: Area Dealu Mare – Sarata Monteoru
Culinary Tours:
- Muddy Volcanoes & Dealu Mare Wine Tasting Tour
- Dealu Mare Wine Tour
- Dealu Mare Wine Brunch
- Cooking Class in the vineyards
Cultural Tours: