Malaia on the Lotru: Mountains, Lakes and Culture

Malaia lies on the Lotru River in the northern mountainous area of Vâlcea County and is surrounded by the Lotru and Căpățânii Mountains. There are at least three reservoirs in Malaia. Malaia lies at the foot of the Fratoșteanu Mountains, which are crossed by the Transalpina.

Lacul Brădișor covers 230 hectares and is more than 40 meters deep; the Brădișor Dam is a 62-meter-high and 220-meter-long concrete arch dam. Fishing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming are possible at Lacul Brădișor. The Brădișor fishery complex has breeding facilities for Lostriță, a fish species threatened with extinction in Romania and considered a natural monument.

The Malaia Reservoir lies at an altitude of 480 meters, covers 46 hectares and is 22 meters deep. The Malaia Reservoir is used by the Malaia hydropower plant; the Malaia hydropower plant was commissioned in 1978 with an installed capacity of 18 MW.

The access road to Cascada Scoruș leaves the DN7A in Malaia approximately level with the middle of the lake, before the first bridge, and leads onto a forest road. Through the gorge of the Bucureasa Valley, the trail follows a marking with two white and red circles; it is not recommended for children or inexperienced hikers. A trail marked with a blue triangle leads from Cascada Scoruș via the old shepherd’s hut of Cocora and past Crucea Brătienilor into the Căpățânii Mountains.

Fântâna Brătienilor can be reached from Valea Satului road via a blue-marked trail after approximately 15 to 20 minutes on foot through the forest.

The Muntinu Nature Reserve lies on the steep slope of the glacial cirque in the upper reaches of the Muntinu Valley, east of Mount Cărbunele. It protects the plants growing there and is characterized by its botanical and scenic features; the area includes a glacial valley and two lakes in the upper reaches of the valley.

Fishing for trout at Lacul Petrimanu has been documented. Hikes lead from Lacul Petrimanu in the direction of Cheile Latoriței, which lie between the Latoriței and Căpățânii Mountains. Cheile Latoriței stretches for 25 kilometers through a wild landscape of rocks, moss and numerous waterfalls. Cascada Moara Dracilor is a 20- to 25-meter-high waterfall with two drops near Iezerul Latoriței; the difficult path there is not recommended for beginners without a guide or good maps. Cascada Apa Spânzurată is a 35-meter-high waterfall on the Turcinu Mare stream on the right slope of the Latorița Valley.

Directly behind the Petrimanu Dam, a forest road branches off toward Curmătura Oltețului at an altitude of 1,620 meters. The paved road to Lacul Petrimanu begins in the Ciungetu area.

Crucea Brătienilor was erected by Vintilă and Lia Brătianu in memory of their parents and has been included on Romania’s list of historic monuments. The foundation stone for the new church of the Sfânta Mănăstire Înălţarea Sfintei Cruci nunnery in Malaia was laid on June 12, 2012. The Malaia monastery complex includes a large church and a two-story Arhondaric with 25 cells.

The wooden church of Sfinţii Împăraţi Constantin şi Elena in Ciunget was built in 1861. Peștera Laptelui in the village of Ciungetu in the municipality of Malaia, also called Peștera cu Lapte, lies on the right slope of the Rudăreasa and is particularly interesting from a paleontological and historical perspective.

The World Flutes Museum in Săliștea, Malaia, is open to visitors, offers guided tours and workshops on world cultures and world music, and displays almost 100 exhibits. These include flutes from Vaideeni and Țara Loviștei, as well as wind instruments and other instruments from all continents.

DexiWorld Park includes the shady and cool Valea Dinozaurilor area along a stream fed by a small waterfall.

Baile Govora, Lazaret, Măldăresti, Perişani, Voineasa, Băile Olăneşti, Ocnele Mari, Banesti

For the higher-level travel overview: Vâlcea.