Schitu Golești between rolling hills and history

Schitu Golești combines a distinctive hilly landscape with historical evidence ranging from church history and the Roman era to the remembrance of war dead. A particularly tangible starting point is the Schitul Golești ensemble in Valea Pechii: the national historic monument comprises the “Sf. Trei Ierarhi” Church, monks’ cells, a bell tower and an enclosing wall.

Culture and history

Construction of the “Sf. Trei Ierarhi” Church began in 1670 and was completed in 1676. In 1802, it became a parish church and has retained this patronage. Fragments of the original frescoes have survived in the apses. The church collection includes the Gospel, twelve Menaia and icons painted on wood in the 17th century.

The building history thus extends from its completion in the 17th century to its conversion into a parish church in 1802; surviving fresco fragments and the aforementioned liturgical books and icons complement the architectural elements with evidence of the furnishings.

The historical evidence differs significantly in form: the ensemble features sacred architecture and church furnishings, the fortress contains archaeological finds and restored military buildings, while the monument bears inscriptions commemorating the deceased. This sequence makes the site’s different historical layers visible as distinct themes.

Geographical setting

The municipality of Schitu Golești lies on national road DN 73 between Pitești and Brașov, seven kilometres south of Câmpulung.

Landscape

The municipal area is characterized by high hills with extensive, angular ridges, terraced surfaces, narrow, only slightly eroded watersheds and steep slopes marked by pronounced erosion processes. Along the Râul Târgului are level terraces and narrow floodplains 200 to 300 metres wide; the river collects water from the side valleys. The local hills have smooth, parallel ridges separated by valleys, known as muscele. The terraces are covered by pastures and orchards.

Between the higher ridges and the river area, there is an alternation of sloping hillsides, narrow watersheds, level terraces and areas covered by pastures and orchards.

Archaeology

The exhibition at Jidava Roman Fortress includes pottery, inscribed brick and roof-tile fragments, amphorae, mosaic pieces, water pipes, weapons and military equipment accessories. Among the structures restored on the site are the Principia, the Praetorium and the Horreum. The fortress was built between AD 190 and 211 during the reigns of the emperors Commodus and Septimius Severus and was destroyed by the invasion of the Carpi between AD 244 and 245.

The structural remains therefore include both central and representative areas such as the Principia and the Praetorium and the Horreum; the exhibition also preserves movable finds and technical components from the fortress.

Remembrance

The war memorial in Schitu Golești was erected in 1932. Its inscriptions commemorate local war dead from the First World War and also name people who died while working at the lignite mine.

Other places

For further exploration: Piteşti, Lunca Corbului, Valea Uleiului, Bascov, Mioveni, Rucar, Argeșelu, Valea Mare-Bratia

For the broader travel overview: Argeş.