Discover Voşlăbeni

When planning a trip to Voşlăbeni, nature, history and routes offer different points of interest. The Mlaștina „După Luncă“ nature reserve is home to distinctive plant life; the history of the Orthodox Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel can be traced through two phases of construction. Among the routes, there is a long section of the Via Mariae and a hiking route in the surrounding area featuring three named points.

Nature and plant life

The Mlaștina „După Luncă“ nature reserve is a nationally protected area. It overlaps with a Site of Community Importance of the same name, as well as with the „Depresiunea și Munții Giurgeului“ Special Protection Area for birds in Romania’s Natura 2000 network. The overlap between these protected-area designations is an important part of understanding the area.

Many rare and endangered plants grow in Mlaștina „După Luncă“, including the round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) and common butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris). The Siberian ligularia (Ligularia sibirica) is described as a relict species. Thus, alongside the protected-area designations, specific plants are at the heart of the nature theme. The three species do not all belong to the same category: the sundew and butterwort are rare and endangered plants, while the Siberian ligularia is notable for its classification as a relict species.

Church history and local traditions

The Orthodox Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Voșlăbeni was built in 1864, replacing an older wooden church. This earlier wooden church had been consecrated in 1714 by Bishop Sava III of Roman. The two dates therefore refer to different phases of construction: 1714 marks the consecration of the predecessor building, and 1864 the construction of the church that followed it.

The cultural context extends beyond the history of this church building. In the commune of Voșlăbeni and its associated villages, traditional local recipes, local customs, crafts and traditional activities are considered elements of local character. Together with the church history, they paint a picture that encompasses both built heritage and traditional everyday and craft practices.

Hiking routes and planning your time

The Via Mariae includes a 26.6-kilometre stage listed as taking nine hours. It runs from Suseni via Voșlăbeni to Cârța. The time estimate applies to the entire stage, not just the section through Voșlăbeni. So if you plan this route, allow for the full distance and check current trail conditions before setting out, as they may vary.

Another hiking route in the surrounding area links Izvoru Mureșului, Muntele Negru and Peștera Șugău. Unlike the Via Mariae, this route is defined by its three connected points; no distance or duration is specified. The routes therefore cannot be compared using the same metrics. When choosing, first consider whether you are looking at the Via Mariae stage, with its specific distance and time estimate, or the route through the named places and landscape features.

Monastery and getting your bearings in the area

The Adormirea Maicii Domnului Monastery is located near Voșlăbeni on the DN 12 between Miercurea Ciuc and Gheorgheni. It lies at the foot of Hășmașul Mare, between the Mureș and Olt rivers, at an altitude of 950 metres. This distinguishes the monastery geographically from the Orthodox Church in Voșlăbeni: the church is part of the history of the village, while the monastery is located in its surrounding area.

There is also a tourist information office in Izvoru Mureșului, in the area around Voșlăbeni. If you plan to use it, check its opening hours before travelling. This will help you consider the local history, nature and different routes as separate parts of your trip planning.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Miercurea-Ciuc, Borsec, Lunca De Jos, Toplița, Senetea, Sub Cetate, Jigodin-Băi, Dănești.

Go to the main travel overview: Harghita.