Poiana Sarata

To get from Bucharest, the capital of Romania, to Poiana Sarata, a village located in the south west of Bacau district. The easiest way is to go through Brasov and then follow the road signposted Targu Secuiesc.

Once you have escaped the busy but very impressive road DN1 which cuts through the Meridional Carpathian Mountains to provide access to Transylvania your journey will become much more pleasant.

You are approaching Covasna district well known for the practicality of their inhabitants and your journey will become a real delight. On sale at the side of the road will be hand made Hungarian cakes plus potatoes, onions eggs and flowers grown organically in their back gardens. Also, double distilled plum brandy made with such pride and excellence every autumn after harvesting from their small orchards you feel you are going back a century.

Don't panic, there are two villages with the name “Oituz” one on the Transylvanian side and one on the Moldavian side of the Carpathian Mountains. You still have a few miles until you arrive in Poiana Sarata which translated into English is ‘The Salty Meadow' but what a journey, the nature surrounding you is overwhelming. The winding road as you cross the Carpathian Mountain once again but this time it is from Transylvania to Moldavia is guarded by pine forests. You are tempted every mile to stop and breath the clean strong air.

When the winding roads are finished you are entering the village of Poiana Sarata.

Meadows, clearings, grazing land and hills surrounds this village where the inhabitants speak the pure Moldavian language. You would not think you were just a few miles away to the Transylvanian border.

The archives show that Poiana Sarata was established in 1823 and is situated on the main flow of the Oituz River between the Vrancea and Nemirei mountains at the altitude at 600 metres.

Being placed on the border line to the old Austro-Hungarian Empire the inhabitants were familiar with the horrors of foreign occupation and in the honour of all the heroes who died in the First World War the locals built The People's Church in1926.

The Oituz River with its jumping waters wiggles through Poiana Sarata after 15 km from its source a lively spring collecting on its way water from brooks such as Caraslau, Lipianu, Brizaia, Halos, Hernica and Macincasul.

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