Balotești Commune: Heritage, Nature and Thermal Waters

At the intersection of Strada I.C. Brătianu and Șoseaua Unirii stands the Balotești Monument. It consists of two red granite prisms and a granite cross. Its inscription commemorates the commune’s heroes from 1916–1919 and 1941–1945, as well as those of December 1989.

Churches and Archaeological Traces

The Church of Balotești dates from 1763. It is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, Saint Theodore Tiron and Saint Stelian of Paphlagonia. The church thus provides a tangible historical and religious link within the local cultural landscape.

Several periods are also represented archaeologically. On the right bank of the Cociovaliștea stream, at the eastern edge of Petrești Forest, the Balotești archaeological area includes a settlement from the Geto-Dacian period and another from the Bronze Age. The “Malul stâng Cociovaliștea” site lies on the left bank of the Cociovaliștea and also includes a settlement from the Geto-Dacian period. Another site, “Râul Vlăsia”, lies on the right bank of the Vlăsia stream, east of the road to the TB sanatorium, on farmland and in Pașcani Forest.

In Săftica, archaeological site IF-I-s-B-20258 lies on the right bank of the Vlăsia stream, east and northeast of Săftica. The Orthodox Church of “Sf. Troită”, “Sf. Dumitru şi Sf. Elisabeta” is located there on Strada Sf. Troită. The commune therefore offers both archaeological sites and another religious building.

Plains, Valleys and Water

Balotești Commune is located in the Romanian Plain, in the southern part of the Vlăsia Plain, also known as the Bucharest Plain. The terrain is almost flat, sloping gently from north to south. The uniformity of the plain is interrupted to the north by the Vlăsia Valley and to the south by the Cociovaliștea Valley. There are also local depressions formed by mechanical and then chemical suffosion processes. Hygrophilous vegetation is particularly abundant along the unregulated sections of the Vlăsia Valley.

Water bodies also play a role in local angling tourism: 184 hectares of water bodies and reed beds are associated with it. Angling tourism is considered an activity valued by anglers in Balotești. For equestrian tourism, wooded areas and bodies of water provide a scenic setting for rides.

Activities and Getting Around

Edenland Park in Balotești offers outdoor activities such as cycling, horse riding, high ropes courses, archery and paintball. The park also offers operational treehouses for overnight stays; check their availability for your dates before travelling. Cycling competitions are held in Balotești every year, attracting thousands of participants from Romania and around the world.

Bathing tourism in Balotești is also linked to thermal water extracted from great depths. Therme București is located outside Bucharest, on National Road DN1 in Balotești. The commune is 4 km from Otopeni Airport. STB route 442 runs between București and Therme București in both directions and stops at Henri Coandă Airport. Check route and timetable details before travelling.

With archaeological sites from different periods, a historic church, a memorial and a range of leisure activities, Balotești Commune offers several tangible points of interest to help you plan your trip.

Discover more destinations: Săftica, Ștefăneștii de Jos Commune, Branesti and Vidra Commune.

For the broader travel overview: Ilfov.