Discover Arcani: Culture and Landscape

At Aprilia Park in Sănătești, Arcani commune, the dry ski slope allows skiing at any time of year without snow.

Experiences

Aprilia Park also has two straight tubby slides. They are designed for children but also offer adults a safe and entertaining activity.

Nature and Geology

The Sohodol Valley is a protected floristic area with a great variety of plant species, including species that are rare in Romanian flora. The landscape also includes formations shaped by water or wind in limestone, such as Nările, Cuptorul, Peștera Gârla Vacii and Inelul.

The Sohodol Gorge is a karst landscape approximately 12 kilometers long in the Vâlcan Mountains between Runcu and Poiana Contului.

Route

The tourist route from Târgu Jiu to Băile Herculane runs via Stănești, Lelești, Runcu, Arcani, Peștișani, Godinești, Tismana, Padeș and Glogova, respectively Băile Herculane. Arcani lies between Runcu and Peștișani.

In Stroești, different forms of traditional craftsmanship stand side by side: the Brădiceanu wooden house dates back to the 19th century, while the wooden church dedicated to the “Nativity of the Mother of God,” with its approximate construction date around 1710 and its crucifix as evidence of an 18th-century origin, documents an older sacred architectural history. The “Sf. Voievozi” Church complements this picture with its shingle roof preserved in 1871.

When comparing hotels for Arcani, you can check travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions side by side on the respective offer page. You can align your choice of location for your trip with the landscape and cultural themes described.

Other places

Turcineşti, Aninişu din Deal, Ţânţăreni, Țicleni, Tismana, Rânca, Muşeteşti and Târgu Jiu

Culture and Craftsmanship

The Brădiceanu wooden house in Stroești, in Arcani commune, dates back to the 19th century.

The Jaleș Valley Cultural Center “Professor Grigore Pupăză” in Arcani commune is dedicated to preserving and promoting the local cultural heritage. It has four exhibition rooms containing written documents, inscriptions, icons, schoolbooks, tools from the residents’ traditional activities, ceramics, traditional costumes, a mill, a stamping mill and a collection of carved posts. The cultural center was founded in 1967 under the name Arcani Village Museum.

Liliana Arapu’s weaving workshop is located in Stroiești, in Arcani commune, and has been in existence for more than ten years. In September 2025, numerous adults and children took part on weekends in Arcani in courses on traditional Gorj crafts, led by folk artisan Liliana Arapu.

The wooden church in the village of Stroești is an Orthodox place of worship dedicated to the “Nativity of the Mother of God.” It is representative of the region’s traditional architecture and reflects local craftsmanship in wood processing. The church was built around 1710; a crucifix provides evidence that it dates back to the 18th century.

Voievozi” in Stroești, in Arcani commune, retained its wooden-shingle roof in 1871 after the villagers rejected its replacement with sheet metal.

For the higher-level travel overview: Gorj.