Valea Viilor: Culture, History and Trails

Culture

Valea Viilor is the birthplace of composer Marţian Negrea. The “Festivalul Martian Negrea” festival takes place in Valea Viilor every year in November.

The church is surrounded by defensive walls and towers. Four towers still stand together with walls 6–7 m high and battlements. At the church’s north portal there is a portcullis that has remained intact since 1525.

The church interior still contains pews from 1528, an altar from 1779, an organ from 1807 and a soundboard above the pulpit from 1746.

The Valea Viilor Ecomuseum comprises five farmsteads that have preserved their original appearance, with traditionally designed gardens and courtyards. The Valea Viilor commune is one of six settlements in Sibiu County belonging to the regional ecomuseum network.

The four-movement symphonic suite “Stories of Grui” by Marţian Negrea depicts the everyday life, customs and traditions of the people of Valea Viilor.

For your sightseeing, you can distinguish between the church, its preserved furnishings, the conserved farmsteads and the musical references. These different approaches keep the building, everyday culture and music separate as distinct levels of observation.

Landscape

A walk through Valea Viilor and to the surrounding hills offers views of the residents’ cultivated gardens, the former vineyards and the entire commune.

The trails around Valea Viilor can currently be used for hiking, cycling and horse riding. They connect the village with Ighișu Nou, Motiș, Șoala, Agârbiciu, Axente Sever, Târnava and Copșa Mică.

The three stated forms of use place different emphases on exploring the surrounding area. The connections to the places mentioned also give the trails different spatial points of reference, rather than viewing them merely as individual routes on the outskirts of the village.

When choosing a hotel in Valea Viilor, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions can be compared as separate details. This keeps it clear whether an offer suits the planned period and the desired room type, and which conditions apply to your own cost planning.

More places: Gunzendorf, Städterdorf, Pojana, Veştem, Vale, Cârţişoara, Dealu Frumos, Șura Mare

Geographical setting

Valea Viilor is located on a side road branching off National Road DN 14. For orientation, this single road reference can be distinguished from a regional circular route.

The “Pe urmele coloniştilor saşi” route runs from Sibiu via Slimnic, Axente Sever, Valea Viilor, Şeica Mică, Mândra and Ocna Sibiului, returning to Sibiu.

The circular route via Sibiu and the places mentioned forms a regional context. This places two spatial levels side by side: trails connecting Valea Viilor with its surroundings, and a circular route that places the village within a sequence of stops.

For the higher-level travel overview: Hermannstadt.