THE
THE
DAMBOVIÇIOARA CAVE is situated along the
The cave was first mentioned in 1767. It
has 2 galleries: a short one of 20 m, to the left, and a 100 m gallery to the
right.
Following the short gallery, one may
notice the strawberry shape stalactite. The legend says that the cave was a
hermit’s shelter long time ago. Visitors may admire the three columns – the
hermit altar. Next to it there are the table and the chairs used by the hermit.
The 100 m gallery has its own legend too.
During the World War I, the gallery was the dwelling of two outlaws: Fulga and Budac. They robbed the
rich people on the way or the visitors of the cave. One day, two policemen
disguised as tourists, came to the cave and trapped the two outlaws. Fulga was killed. As for Budac,
he was captured and imprisoned.
The gallery is full of “exhibits” carved
by the water in the mountain rock: the hermit’s armchair and his books on the
self; a snake head, a pistol, or a bear paw.
The gallery becomes very narrow on its
last 15 m. and the tourists may walk it in Indian file.
The cave is 369 m long, but the tourists
are allowed to visit only the two galleries mentioned above
Ochi Andreea, 17
years old
THE MONASTERY OF CURTEA DE ARGES
CURTEA DE ARGES is a
town with an overwhelming history, the second capital of
It represents the political and religious
core of the country, the cradle of the Foundation.
The traditional architecture in Arges subscribed in the rich history of the national
patrimony with numerous monuments of true values. Considering all the monuments
of the princes in Arges, the monastery is the most
important construction of art and religious architecture.
The monument was erected by Negate Basra
(the medieval prince) between 1515-1517.The monastery is built entirely in
carved stone. The outside walls are encomposed with a
belt carved in stone as a rope twisted in three.
Another original element conferring this
monument uniqueness is the upper niches. At the joint of these niches there are
stone made doves holding a bell in their beaks, singing its crystal song in the
wind.
The steeples of the monastery are also
carved; some of them are twisted and gilded with gold.
In the middle of the entrance there are 12
pillars of carved stone beautifully twisted and decorated.
The prince Neagoe
Basarab died without finishing the monastery. He was
buried in the pronaos of the church, which thus
became a princely necropolis. His successor and son-in law, Radu
of Afumati, did everything that had still to be done for
the church. He was buried next to his father – in law.
To the right and to the left of the
entrance there are the tombs of the firs Romanians royal couples: king Carol
the First and the queen Elisabeth and their successors Ferdinand and Mary.
The Monastery of Curtea
de Arges is the most outstanding and representative
Idor Iosif, 16 years old
THE WATER MILL
The water mill on the
-The drain;
-The two mill wheels;
-The rooms where the technological
processes take place;
-The whirlpool
There has been developing here a very old
traditional activity – the last three steps of the woolen carpets production.
1.The woolen carpets are put into the whirlpool for 2-3hours
in order to moisten it very well. This way the worker may easily identify and bring
to the outer side of the carper the numerous knots.
2.The woolen carpet is placed on a large wood cylinder.
Under the cylinder there is a huge brush made of wood too. The rushing water of
the drain makes moving the large mill wheel. The wheel axel turns the cylinder
too and allows the brush to card the carpet. Thus the long woolen threads are
extracted from the knots.
3.The aim of the next step is to make the carpet lasting and
thicker than it was at the beginning. The carpet is placed inside a moving
cylinder in a room where the temperature reaches 50 C (by wood heating). This
process lasts for three hours. The carpets are, then, washed in clear cold
water and dry in the sun.
Another part of the water mill is the
whirlpool - the so-called “washing machine». In fact this very old washing
system was imitated by the washing machine. The device is used to wash carpets
and other wools .For some hours they are wheeled by the rushing stream of water
coming from the
The system is an ecological one. Chemical
washing products are prohibited.
Valimareanu Alexandru,17 years old
WATER AND EASTER TRADITIONS IN
The Easter or the Resurrection is the greatest
Christian celebration. Due to the Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, those who believe
in Him are redumpted and forgiven the original sin.
The date of Christian Easter
is not a fix one: it is in accordance with the spring equinox. Due to
subsequent irregularities of the calendar, the Catholic Church celebrates
Easter between 22nd of March and the 25th of April, while
the Orthodox Church celebrates Easter between the 4th of April and
the 8th of May.
A sum of pre-Christian beliefs
and holidays mark the Lent of the Orthodox Christians:
-In the middle of the Fast, girls wash
their faces in the river in order to be pretty;
-On the Palm Sunday the hair is washed
with blessed water so that it will grow thick and nicely; afterwards, the water
is poured at the root of a pear tree.
On Sunday – the Holy Day of Resurrection –
people go to the church for the holy Liturgy. They come back home with candles
latten during the ceremony. The family members wash their faces in a pot where
they laid a red egg, basil, a silver coin and water. They say the Lord’s Prayer
and receive the Eucharist. In the end they break red eggs and greet one another
with “Jesus has resurrected”.
Some of them collect eggs
shells and throw them away in the river so that they reach the
People believe that the one born on Ester
night will be lucky the whole life, while he one who dies during the Passions
Week will have his sins forgiven.
ANA VOROVENCI
Teacher