Ștefănești

The city is in the centre of the county, northeast of Pitești, on the left bank of the Argeș River, where it receives the waters of the tributary of the Doamnei River, in the southwestern extremity of the Cândești Plateau, a subdivision of the Getic Plateau. It is crossed by the Bucharest-Pitești highway, on which it is served by the Pitești Est junction, located on the territory of the neighbouring commune, Mărăcineni. That junction connects the highway to the national road DN7, which also connects Pitești to Bucharest and passes through the component localities of the city. The city is also a secondary railway junction, being crossed by the Bucharest-Pitești railway, which is served by Golești station, from where a railway branch to Câmpulung-Parc Krețulescu branches, a line on which the city also has Ștefănești Argeș station.

At the end of the 19th century, Ștefănești was a rural commune in the Argeșelul plasa of Muscel county, being formed by the villages Ștefănești and Izvorani, with 1628 inhabitants. There were three churches and a school in the commune in 1866. At that time, the communes of Golești (the residence of the Podgoria plasa) and Valea Mare (in the Râurile network) also functioned on the current territory of the commune. Golești commune consisted of the villages of Golești, Uderu and Valea Boierească, with a total of 800 inhabitants. In the commune there were the houses of the Golescu family, a church and a school with 63 students. Valea Mare commune, with the villages of Câmpul, Valea Mare, Enculești and Ploscariu, had 1172 inhabitants; there were also 3 churches and a school here.

The Socec yearbook records the three communes in the Golești network of the same county. Ștefănești commune was the residence of the plasa, having 2420 inhabitants in the villages of Florica, Izvorani, Ștefănești and Târgu Dealului; Golești commune was composed of Golești and Valea Boierească villages, with 1063 inhabitants; and Valea Mare commune had 1460 inhabitants. inhabitants, being made up of the villages of Enculești, Ploscari and Valea Mare. In 1931, in order to be distinguished from Valea Mare-Pravăț commune, Valea Mare commune took its name from Valea Mare-Podgoria.

In 1950, the communes were transferred to the regional city of Pitești, the residence of the Argeș region. During that period, political refugees from Greece, driven out of the Greek Civil War, were brought to Florica, in the house confiscated from the Brătianu family.Therefore, the village of Florica was called Partizanii at that time. However, this name lasted only until 1964, when it was changed again to Ștefăneștii Noi. In 1968, the communes were transferred to Argeș county, at the same time the communes of Golești and Valea Mare-Podgoria were abolished, their villages moving to Ștefănești commune, organized as a suburban commune of Pitești municipality. In 1989, the concept of suburban commune disappeared from the legislation, and Ștefănești commune was directly subordinated to Argeș county. The commune was declared a city in 2004, with all villages as component villages.

Ștefănești has a temperate continental climate, with hot, humid summers and cold winters with occasional periods of snowfall. Belgrade experiences all four seasons to their maximums, and those visiting are advised to dress appropriately, and keep an eye on the weather forecast.

Ștefănești is in the Eastern European time zone (UTC+2, with a DST of UTC+3 from April to October).

• * 🌍 Ștefănești National Tourist Information and Promotion Center (Centrul Național de Informare Turistică și Promovare Ștefănești), Calea București 1, ☏ +40248 266 325. Monday-Wednesday 08:00-16:00, Thursday 08:00-18:00, Friday 08:00-14:00, Sa Su closed. (updated Nov 2020)

The town is also a secondary railway junction, being crossed by the Bucharest-Pitești railway, which is served by Golești station, from where a railway branch to Câmpulung-Parc Krețulescu branches off, a line on which the city also has Ștefănești Argeș station.

• 🌍 Golești Railway Station, Strada Gării, ☏ +40731990365. served by interregio trains operated by CFR Călători, it is located along the Bucharest-Pitești railway. It is a interchange station for the Bucharest-Pitești and Golești-Câmpulung-Argeșel lines. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Ștefănești-Argeș Railway Station (former known as Florica Railway Station), Strada Florica. A neo-Romanian style construction from the period of King Charles 1st, on the Golești-Câmpulung-Argeșel railway line, Ștefănești is connected to the main train station with about 14 minutes of travel. (updated Nov 2020)

The Valea Mare-Podgoria - Blocks neighbourhood (Ștefănești Blocuri)-Pitești transport will operate from 06:00 to 20:00. The first ride will be at 06:00 from Ștefănești and at 06:30, from Pitești.

For those who go by maxi-taxi from the village of Ștefănești (Ștefănești Sat), there are rides at 06:45 and 17:00.

The minibuses on the Pitești-Topoloveni route will have departure and disembarkation in Pitești, on Calea București. Their schedule will be: 06:00-18:00, every half hour, both from Pitesti and from Topoloveni.

For Golești, is the following schedule: from Monday to Friday, the morning departures from Golești are at 05:30, 05:55, 06:30, 07:30, and from Pitești to Golești, at 07:00. In the afternoon, the departures from Golești to Pitești are at: 15:30, 16:30, 17:30, and from Pitești to Golești, they are at: 15:10, 16:00, 17:00. On Saturday and Sunday, departures from Golești are at 05:50 and 06:30, and from Pitești to Golești, at 05:30.

Taxi service is provided from Pitești 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ștefănești has decent road connections. Main connections are:

• A1 runs south to Bucharest.
• DN7 runs west to Pitești, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Sibiu, Sebeș, Deva, Arad, Nădlac, and into Hungary. Towards north, it leads to Topoloveni, Găești, Titu and Bucharest.
• DJ740 runs north from Valea Mare-Podgoria to Mioveni, across the hills.

The nearest airport to Stefanesti is Bucharest (OTP ^IATA) which is a main international airport with regular flights from most European capitals and major cities. The airport is situated in Otopeni which is 11 km to the north of Bucharest centre. To Stefanesti is a further 136 km from Otopeni airport with an estimated driving time of 1hour and 30 minutes. Bucharest airport is also accessible by a combination of trains, buses and taxis.

Also close is Craiova (CRA ^IATA) which has few budget airlines operating regular flights from some European countries. The airport is located close to the city centre This airport is also close to the national road, but is 121 km and a 2-hours journey to Stefanesti.

• Astra Transport, ☏ +4 0248 636 302. most typical minibus transport company (updated May 2021)

You can head out on the street and hail a minibus if headed to a particular destination. They typically have around 14 seats, with standing room for around ten extra people during busy periods. Minibuses are easily identifiable and display their basic route information (in Romanian) on the front. It should not take longer than 10 min to find a ride. According to the law minibuses should stop at bus stops only, but this is only respected if the driver sees a police car. So, in practice you can ask the driver to stop anywhere and he will drop you off at any point on their route.

• 🌍 Golești Museum (Muzeul Golești), Strada Banul Radu Golescu 1, ☏ +40737508672, cmngolesti@yahoo.com. Apr-Oct: daily 09:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: daily 08:00-16:00. The museum has four sections: the Feudal Ensemble of Golesti - the most important secular medieval fortified ensemble in Wallachia - contains the first Free Community School in Muntenia, the first sick and a mansion built in 1640, restored in 2016. Next to the medieval ensemble is a huge museum ethnographic, with absolutely original monuments of popular architecture from all areas of Romania. Also, in Golesti Park there is a beautiful relaxation and amusement park for children where you can spend a whole day in a healthy and quiet place. Children can ride horses and ponies, play zip lines or have fun with traditional toys. Adult 10 lei, senior or student 5 lei. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Brătianu National Museum - Villa Florica (Muzeul Național Brătianu - Vila Florica), Aleea Stațiunii 37, ☏ +40737147286. Tu-Su 10:00-16:00. in Ştefăneşti, there is the Brătieni family's House, also called Vila Florica, in memory of the daughter of I.C. Brătianu. Dominating with authority the political life of Romania for two decades, Ion I.C. Brătianu was one of the most complex and controversial personalities in national history. Among the members of the Brătianu family who lived at the Vila Florica, we must mention Ion C. Brătianu, Ion I.C. Brătianu, Dinu Brătianu and Vintilă Brătianu. In the villa is the Suspended Library, the most important private library in Romania. Adult 20 lei, senior 10 lei, student or disabled 5 lei. (updated Nov 2020)

• 🌍 St. Trinity Church (Biserica Sfânta Treime/Biserica Goleștilor) (Golești). The church in Golesti, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is a boyar foundation from the 17th century. It was founded in 1646 by the great boyar Stroe Leurdeanu. It was built by master Stoica. The church, a true architectural jewel, is the necropolis of the fighters and scholars of the Golescu family. The architecture of the church indicates the skill and mastery of the Romanian craftsmen who contributed to its elevation. The refinement of the European Renaissance is visible. During the Brancovenean period, a pavilion was added above the gate. (updated Nov 2020)

• 🌍 Funeral Chapel "Nativity of Saint John the Baptist" (Capela funerară „Nașterea Sf. Ioan Botezătorul”/Biserica Brătienilor), ☏ +40745271259. An important component of the ensemble from Vila Florica in Ștefănești is the church where most members of the Brătianu family are buried. Located on a plateau to the right of the dendrological park, at the edge of the forest, the Chapel of the Bratianu Family, dedicated to the "Birth of St. John the Baptist", was built in 1898 according to the plans of the French architect André Lecomte du Noüy. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God (Biserica "Nașterea Maicii Domnului"), Strada Valea Mare, ☏ +40771214016. The church was founded by the master Necula Ghimpescu and his wife Ancuţa, from Piteşti, and dates from 1686, when Şerban Cantacuzino (1678-1688) was on the throne of Wallachia. The holy place, through its painting, particularly beautiful, alive and original, through the warm air, so Romanian, that it releases, in which the echoes of the monastic nevi of the time when it was metoh of the famous monastery from Vieroşi are felt, raises heart to the height of the dome. From there, the grace of the One who overcame death clothes you in the garment of love and eternity. Over time, the place has undergone modifications, repairs and consolidations such as in 1854, 1931, 1940, 1977, preparing for the passage of the third Christian millennium on September 5, 1993, when His Eminence Calinic, Archbishop of Argeş and Muscel, sanctified the church. We cannot fail to mention the fact that near the place of worship is the cross that marks the place where the famous Romanian writer Liviu Rebreanu was buried. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Saint John Church (Biserica Sfântul Ioan Bogoslovul). It was built in the 16th century by Kaplea from Goleşti. It was for almost 300 years a hermitage of nuns, apparently dedicated to the Namaiești Monastery. The builder was from Goleşti, the direct niece of the parable Baldovin, a relative of the voivode Neagoe Basarab, the wife of Radu Golescu, a great clucer in 1540, a boyar of great trust and the support of the rulers Radu Paisie and Pătraşcu cel Bun. The church was built on the house of his daughter Nenesa, the wife of Radu postelnic from Brâncoveni, the mother of Ivaşcu, a man of Trust and advisor to Alexandru Vodă. The painting is in fresco, it seems from 1758. Today it is only the chapel of the cemetery. In 1770 the church was burned by the Turks and later rebuilt with the money of the slums from Pitesti and the priest Matei. Here is the inscription:
  "And in the rebellion of the Muscals, the Turks burned this church, after grazing they were shredded again and covered with slabs and stone pillars at the expense of the priest Matei sin Grajdean Cojocar, helping Jupân Niful Cojocarul and other rulers in the days Alexandru Ipsilant. Leat 7290 October ”The beautiful painting where Alexandru Ipsilanti is portrayed still exists. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Enculești Wooden Church/Gurgui Hermitage (Biserica de lemn din Encluești/Schitul Gurgui), Strada Cimitirului 131. The wooden church dedicated to the Holy Hierarch Nicolae and built in 1687 is originally dedicated to the Trivale Monastery. The nun Marta, Sister Nica's sister, on September 5, 1687 donated «her hermitage at the bottom of Valea Mare, from the place called Gurgui», a gift later confirmed by Constantin Brancoveanu on May 8, 1697.
  The church was later moved from Ploscaru hamlet. Here the services are held only once a year, but some icons or objects that belonged to this church can be admired at the National Museum of Art in Bucharest or the royal doors made of rosewood exhibited at the Argeș County Museum.The biblical painting »Jesus Pantocrator« painted on a wooden panel and superimposed in the centre of the vault dates from the 18th century as the episcopal chair decorated with rosettes carved in wood. A few icons that may have been part of the national heritage can still be touched by the parishioners. The open porch, with a gabled roof and a triangular pediment, amplifies the majesty of the monument, and the decoration of the access frame in the nave reflects the aesthetic concerns of the cruise craftsmen.
  Also in the courtyard of this wooden church, there is a stone cross decorated with rosettes inscribed in a circle dating from 1741, from September 1. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Saint Nicholas Church (Biserica Sfântul Nicolae din Izvorani), Strada Izvorani (Izvorani). Was built between 1836-1838, by the Pătrulești brothers with the material support of a believer named Gămiloiu. At first glance, the architecture seems ordinary, but there are small details that turn the view into a special one. The church was painted in the year of the Great Union, 1918, by the famous church painter, originally from Pitesti, Gheorghe Belizarie. When the Russians entered the country, towards the end of the Second World War, occupying the village of Izvorani, they made a carpentry workshop in the church. The villagers say that one day, one of the Russians in the church, intoxicated by the drink and disturbed by the striking resemblance to the last tsar, Nicholas II, fired a gun at the painting of King Ferdinand, at the entrance to the church. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Beheading of St. John the Baptist Church (Biserica "Tăierea capului Sfântului Ioan Botezătorul"). the oldest church building was built by the sluger Musat and jupaness Despina under the reign of voivode Alexandru Iliasi on a slope at the edge of the old Sheepheard's Road, from where you can admire paradisiacal views of the Stefanesti valleys. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 St. Martyr Demetrios Church (Biserica „Sf. M. Mc. Dimitrie”) (Târgu Dealului). it has a special historical load, being the preferred place for carrying the advice of some High Prelates with Tudor Vladimirescu. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 St. Nicholas and St.Paraschiva Church (Biserica „Sf. Nicolae și Sf.Paraschiva”) (Enculești). it also protects the bell, the odors and the furniture of the former church "Saint Hierarch Nicholas" in the old centre of Pitesti, demolished by the communist authorities in 1962. (updated Nov 2020)

• 🌍 The ruins of the Brâncoveanu's vineyard mansion in Valea Mare-Podgoria (Ruinele conacului brâncovenesc de vie din Valea Mare-Podgoria), Strada Coasta Câmpului (next to the veterinary dispensary). The wallachian prince Constanin Brâncoveanu spent here picking vines, on his way from the royal court from Târgovişte to the one from Bucharest, on the road of Potlogi and Mogoşoaia. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Emanuel (Nolică) Antonescu mansion (Conacul Emanuel (Nolică) Antonescu), Aleea Taberei. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Vila Donescu, Strada Ion Pillat 18. was built at the end of the 19th century, and in 1947 it was nationalized. Since then it belonged to Alexandru Donescu, the mayor of Bucharest from the interwar period. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Ion Pillat's House (Casa lui Ion Pillat), Strada Ion Pillat. Built in neo-Romanian architectural style, here lived the great romanian poet, Ion Pillat. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Former Liviu Rebreanu memorial house (Fosta casă memorială Liviu Rebreanu), Strada Gheorman 21. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the building was bought in 1930 by the great novelist. Here, Liviu Rebreanu wrote the novel "Răscoala" and also here Rebreanu died on September 1, 1944. On September 3, 1944 he was buried in the church cemetery in Valea Mare, to be later moved to the Belu cemetery in Bucharest. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Mihail Ghelmegeanu Mansion (Conacul Mihail Ghelmegeanu), Strada Valea Popii. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Vila Bulandra, Strada Gheorman 40. Built in 1896 at the edge of the forest by the same craftsmen who erected Pelisor Castle in Sinaia, here lived the romanian actress Lucia Sturza Bulandra and her husband, Tony Bulandra. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Former power plant and astronomical observatory (Fosta uzină electrică și observatorul astronomic). (updated Jan 2021)
• 🌍 Florica Farm (Ferma Florica). The third basic component of the ensemble from Vila Florica is the farm, located right at the entrance to the park, on the left side. The monumental building of the farm is the work of the architect Petre Antonescu from 1905-1925, being built on two levels in neo-Romanian style. Strikingly resembling romanian great monastic ensembles, the farm at Florica forms, through its four sides, an inner courtyard, in the middle of which is an artesian well. (updated Jan 2021)
• 🌍 Girescu House (Casa Girescu). wine show shop during the communist period. (updated Feb 2021)
• 🌍 Păunescu House (Casa Păunescu). The place where the laboratories of the National Research-Development Institute for Biotechnologies in Horticulture operated. (updated Mar 2021)

• 🌍 Matei Basarab's Cross (Crucea lui Matei Basarab), Calea București 1 (in front of the Ștefănești Cultural Center). (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Logothete Andreiaș's stone cross (Crucea de piatră a Logofătului Andreiaș), Strada Coasta Câmpului (next to block 3). (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Stone Cross of sluger Mușat (Crucea de piatră a Slugerului Mușat), Strada Otelești 138 (in the courtyard of the church „Beheading the head of St. John the Baptist"). (updated Jan 2021)
• 🌍 Heroes Monument. (updated Mar 2021)
• 🌍 The statuary group "La Vulturi" (Grupul statuar "La Vulturi"). (updated Jun 2021)
• 🌍 The well with icons (Puțul cu icoane), at the cross between Gorgoiești and Oțelești streets. (updated Oct 2021)

• 🌍 Cure Spring (Izvorul Tămăduirii). The spring is located in a forest on the Turcului valley, near a tourist road starting in the village of Valea Mare-Podgoria. (updated Nov 2020)
• 🌍 Streaua Valley (Valea Streaua). The place where the locals' horses are part of the wonderful landscape. (updated Dec 2020)
• 🌍 Golești Lake (Lacul Golești). Is a water and hydroelectric reservoir, one of the favorite place of the locals for fishing. The Golesti accumulation is the largest on the Arges river after Vidraru; has an area of 634 ha, a total volume at NNR of 55 million m³, a length of 7 km and a maximum depth of 16.5 m; has a multi-storey overflow with a height of 19.5 m.
  A monument near the Golesti dam commemorates the aviators who died in 2006 in an accident. An IAR 330 military helicopter (Puma), belonging to the 90th Air Transport Base from Otopeni, crashed in the middle of the lake during a training flight. (updated Jul 2021)
• 🌍 At two firs (La doi brazi). is a panorama point on the hills. Offer visitors one of the best panorama of Ștefănești area and even Pitești. The name of the place comes from two proud fir trees planted in that place. It is also a good hiking place. (updated Aug 2021)

• 🌍 Crama Marcea (Marcea Wine Cellar), Drum de Exploatare Marcea, 1, ☏ +40722 183 323, contact@marcea.ro. You can visit the winery and the vineyard! Introduction to the history of the place regarding the activity of viticulture and vinification. An ecological wine cellar with energy autonomy, photovoltaic panels and heat pump. (updated Mar 2021)

• 🌍 Munte-mă frumos!, ☏ +40746 852 867, lucian2108@gmail.com. Music festival in Izvorani village where you can sleep in a tent, and eat Romanian food cooked in a cauldron. (updated Nov 2020)
• Sumedru's Fire (Focul lui Sumedru). A 2000-year old Romanian tradition. On the night of 25 to 26 October, before the feast of St. Demetrius, the defender of the shepherds, fires are lit and young people gather around them. (updated Nov 2020)
• Ștefănești Wine Trails, bikeq2017@gmail.com. bicycle competition on a spectacular mountain bike route, among the wine hills and forests of Ștefănești, culminating with panoramic landscapes that will make you feel connected to nature. (updated Oct 2021)
• 🌍 Zilele Orașului Ștefănești, Blocks Area - Block 20 Parking. It represents a local celebration dedicated to the town of Ștefănești, marking on 5th August, the anniversary of the city and bringing together the local community to celebrate and enjoy various activities. (updated Apr 2024)

• 🌍 Golești Football Field (Terenul de Fotbal Golești). (updated Jul 2021)
• 🌍 Marcea Sport. (updated Aug 2021)

• Cycling and hiking around Stefanesti's forests and hill paths can be a great way to recreate yourself.. (updated Nov 2020)

• Walk along Golești Lake, especially during sunset could be an extraordinary experience. (updated Jul 2021)

• Enjoy the two parks of the town * 🌍 Ștefănești Blocuri Park (Parcul Ștefănești Blocuri). (updated Dec 2020) and * 🌍 Cultural Center's Park (Parcul Centrului Cultural). (updated Dec 2020)

• 🌍 Ștefănești Post Office (Oficiul Poștal Ștefănești), Aleea Teilor, Bl.15, parter, ☏ +40248266408. (updated Nov 2020)

A large number of stores sell prepaid telephone cards. This is especially useful for international calls. Digi - Strada Coasta Câmpului nr. 55, offers competitive rates for international calls.

• 🌍 "Constantin Bălăceanu Stolnici" chronic diseases and geriatrics Hospital (Spitalul de Boli Cronice și Geriatrie "Constantin Bălăceanu Stolnici"), Strada Coasta Câmpului, nr. 54, ☏ +40248266929, spitalul_stefanesti@yahoo.com. (updated Dec 2020)

During normal shopping hours, you won't have any problem locating a pharmacy. Common brands include Mona and Dr. Max.

Outside of these hours you will face more of a challenge. There are no 24 h pharmacies in the city.

• BRD, near Ștefănești Blocuri Park. 
• BCR, in front of Carrefour Market. 
• Banca Transilvania, in front of Profi. 
• UniCredit Bank, inside Nidec Motor Corporation.