Bike Trail Baile Govora

Tour on paved streets

The actual starting point of your bike tour is in Baile Govora. From the town, you follow the Strada Tudor Vladimirescu and at the roundabout traffic take the second exit, direction Prajila. At this very beginning of your tour, you already have a steep ascent to manage and these few first meters are a bit of a challenge. At the junction with the next main road, turn right and continue the tour direction Pietrari. When you find yourself in the outskirts of the village, keep to the right whenever ways part, and you will reach Bârzesti after only a few kilometers.

Through the villages of Rumania

From Bârzesti start the steepest ascent of your tour, a stretch of over two kilometers, until you reach - at 670 meters - the highest point of your bike tour. The way up is all along the main road, on which you also continue to Pietreni, more relaxed after the steep ascent. From here, cycle further on to Văratici, where you turn off the main street and reach the village Costeşi. Once through the village, you continue back on the main road, but keep to the right in the direction of Tomşani. Once arrived here, you will find a perfect spot for a short break. The city lies near a small lake, at which you can rest and enjoy the beautiful landscape.

Stopover at the lake

From the lake, continue your bike tour along the river. It originates in the lake and runs parallel to the main road. On this last leg of your tour you come through Foleştii de Sus and Foleştii de Jos before you finally reach Frânceşti. At the fork in the road in Frânceşti, take a left. This brings you directly back to the junction to Baile Govora. Turn right at the junction and for the last time cycle uphill, until you again reach the starting point of your tour.

The starting point Baile Govora offers a good number of possibilities for eating out, as well as for overnight accommodation.

A clear highlight of this tour is the scenery, as it leads you through classic nature protected areas of Rumania. Especially the region around Pietreni is known for its dense forests, which harbor a great variety of trees. Many animals feel at home here, among them deer, wild pigs, badgers, and even wolves. So keep an eye open along your bike tour if you want to see any of these animals openly in the wild. Pietreni is also known for its findings from the Early Bronze Age, which are not only evidence of the early formation of the small town, but also ascribe historic importance to the town itself.

Also known for its idyllic landscape is the parish Tomşani, which is dominated by the Bistriţa River, along which a major part of your cycle leads. The area around Tomşani is especially used for agriculture. In contrast to many other regions in Rumania, the place was not subject to economic disadvantages during the communist time. Some of the small towns of the parish date back to 1453, so you are cycling through a really historic part of the country.

Worth mentioning is the starting point itself, Băile Govora. The place not only has a lot of mineral springs, but also a good number of wellness and spa establishments. The town lives mainly of tourism and offers many possibilities for overnight stays. You will also find some museums and artefacts here, which you can visit before or after your bike tour.

The course of the journey in general is quite special, as it shows you not only through beautiful sceneries, but also leads you past many old monasteries. Each of them can be visited, so that you have many possibilities along your way to take a break. Some of the monasteries also offer overnight stays, so you can divide the 73 km into a number of legs, if you want. As the main part of this tour leads you along paved roads, however, it is not very demanding and well manageable also for someone in average shape.

By car

Coming from Râmnicu Vâlcea

Leave town over the DJ703F and after this change onto the DN64. You will reach a fork in the road, where you turn right onto the DN67. In the foothills of Scărişoara, keep to the left. This will take you onto the DJ649, which brings you directly to Baile Govora, the starting point of your tour.

Coming from Târgu Jiu

Over the Strada Republicii, stay on the right and take the exit onto DN67. Follow this road for about 85 km. Afterwards, take the right exit onto the DJ649, which brings you directly to the starting point of your bike tour in Baile Govora.

Coming from Craiova

Leave the city firstly over the DN65C, direction Motoci, and follow the road for about 55 km. Ignore the exit to Oveselu and keep driving on the DN65C, until you are able to turn right onto the DJ677F towards Dăesti. This road brings you to a junction with the DN64. Turn left at the junction and at the next possible option change onto the DJ647. From here you again take a left to get onto the DJ649, which brings you directly to the starting point of your bike tour in Baile Govora.

By public transport

Unfortunately you cannot reach the town by train. However, there are regular bus connections from Râmnicu Vâlcea and Bucharest to Baile Govora.