At the foothills of the Făgăraş Mountains, on the road to Bâlea lies the commune of Cârţişoara - a big settlement with narrow streets opening to large squares.
Hundreds of years ago the settlement was made up of two villages bearing the names of the shepherds having created them - Streza and Oprea.
Just like any other Romanian settlement, Cârţişoara also boasts two monument-churches and especially the centre museum dedicated to the one who made this commune famous in the entire Europe - Badea Cârţan.
There are few left who know his story, but in the late 1900s the pages of the European newspapers were full of articles about the shepherd who had left from Cârţişoara across the mountains to Wallachia and all the way to Rome by foot to see Trajan’s Column with his own eyes. Badea Cârţan’s journey lasted 43 days and when he got to Rome he sat in front on the Column in his shepherd’s clothes… “A Dacian stepped down from the Column!” shouted the curious passers-by.
A visit to Cârţişoara may turn into a very unique experience where you will get to know interesting people and stories.
Did you know...?
In 2012 Cârţişoara was included in the Official Guide “Romania’s Most Beautiful Villages” published by the association with the same name.
In his journey to Rome, Badea Cârţan changed 4 pairs of shoes.