Valea Călugărească: Winemaking, Culture and Cycling Route

Valea Călugărească brings together several themes that may be relevant when choosing a destination: winemaking, cultural heritage and a multi-day cycling route. The “Traseul Cicloturistic Dealu Mare” passes through the town; the “Crama 1777” Museum, the “Paralela 45 – Ținutul vinurilor roșii” monument and the Barbu Matac manor each offer their own cultural and historical perspective. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip here, it helps to distinguish between these different highlights: the route offers a sporting perspective, while the museum, monument and manor offer different ways to explore winemaking and local history.

Cycling the Traseul Cicloturistic Dealu Mare

The “Traseul Cicloturistic Dealu Mare” passes through Valea Călugărească and combines cycling with local culture, culinary and oenological traditions, and the region’s natural treasures. The route is 140 km long and can be completed in five days by cyclists with a moderate level of fitness. This gives you a concrete timeframe for the tour and an explicitly stated fitness level. The route passes through flat and hilly terrain. You can therefore assess it as a travel option both by its multi-day distance and by its combination of these types of terrain.

Vineyards and landscape

The vineyards of the Valea Călugărească Institute for Research and Development in Viticulture and Winemaking lie in the Subcarpathian hills at elevations of 156 to 320 m. They are located mainly on slopes facing south, southeast and southwest, with gradients of 8 to 30 percent. Elevation, aspect and slope gradient describe three distinct features of this wine-growing landscape. While the cycling route is described as crossing flat and hilly terrain, the institute’s vineyards are characterized by specific elevation and slope figures. This gives you two different perspectives on the landscape and winemaking, without conflating the characteristics of the vineyards with the route’s course.

Crama 1777 and the winemaking tradition

The “Crama 1777” Museum presents the wine cellar of Valea Călugărească as a monument of medieval art, created by local woodcarvers. The cellar also contains a themed room for wine tastings. Barrels and ceramic vessels used to store wine and brandy are on display there. This brings together the cellar’s artistic significance and specific objects from its storage history: one aspect concerns the craftsmanship, the other the vessels and their former use. The museum thus offers a glimpse both of the work of local woodcarvers and of containers associated with winemaking and brandy production.

Monument and historical sites

The “Paralela 45 – Ținutul vinurilor roșii” monument was inaugurated in 2025 in front of the Valea Călugărească town hall. It marks the town’s geographical location and its centuries-old tradition of viticulture and winemaking. As a landmark for residents and visitors, it connects a geographical reference with the history of winemaking. By contrast, the “Crama 1777” Museum focuses on the wine cellar, woodcarving and the storage vessels on display there.

The Barbu Matac manor was built between 1901 and 1903 on the former Cantacuzino estate by Barbu Matac. This history of its construction dates back to the early years of the 20th century and complements the more recent history of the monument inaugurated in 2025 with an older reference. Conacul Matac is also associated with wine tastings: Nicolae Ceaușescu was invited there for wine tastings. Together, the cycling route, museum, monument and manor offer different ways to discover Valea Călugărească through cycling, winemaking and history.

Discover more destinations: Azuga, Valea Doftanei, Cheia, Băicoi, Provița de Sus, Sinaia, Talea, Valenii De Munte.

For the broader travel overview: Prahova.