Polovragi shepherd's market festival - worth coming?

POLOVRAGI FAIR - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AND WHAT TO EXPECT - WITH GOOD AND WITH LESS GOOD

Polovragi Fair was one of my favorites when I was a child. I couldn't wait for the summer holidays to come, which I spent most of the time at my aunt's in Novaci, a town very close to Polovragi. You can imagine that I was always there when the annual fair took place. Through the eyes of a child, the place was magical. It is probably seen the same way by children now, especially since the activities for them are much more numerous and diversified than they were 15-20 years ago.

The fair dates back to the Geto-Dacian period, being one of the oldest events of this kind, which takes place every year. It is also known as Nedea from Polovragi, taken from the location where it first took place, Nedeia Peak in the Căpățânii Mountains. Also, the word nedeia means alpine meadow area. It initially started as a pastoral fair, where shepherds from Novaci, Vaideeni, Polovragi and those from the Sibiu area sold various products necessary for both shepherding and daily life.

The event takes place every year on the Orthodox Christian holiday "Saint Elijah", around July 20th, and lasts for a week.

HOW DO YOU GET THERE AND WHERE DO YOU PARK?

The event takes place right in the center of the village, on the "fairground". To get to the location, simply set the "Targ Polovragi" location on your navigator and you will most likely be directed to the entrance on DJ665. As a landmark, opposite the entrance there is a Profi minimarket.

Parking on the side of the road is not allowed, because there are parades during the event, or the streets are completely closed, so you will have to choose one of the paid parking options. The price is approximately the same everywhere, i.e. 10 lei/car/day.

WHAT WILL YOU FIND AT THE POLOVRAGI FAIR?

Besides the things you can buy (and believe me, you have something to spend your money on), it is good to know that you can also enjoy shows, concerts and parades, which are a must at any edition. These are offered to visitors free of charge, with no entrance fee. In general, the shows are based on folk music, traditional Romanian dances, but especially pastoral ones, performed by local or regional folk ensembles.

Let's see what we can buy at the Polovragi Fair:

• clothes, shoes, accessories - from traditional Romanian blouses, summer dresses and pants, to sandals, sneakers or hats, sunglasses, bags, backpacks and all kinds of handmade or mass-produced jewelry;

• leather goods - jackets, belts, wallets, handmade purses, handbags, etc.;

• local handcrafts - wood carvings, glass/wood icons, traditional ceramics, decorative objects, hand-painted souvenirs and various creations of local craftsmen;

• local dishes and products: mountain cheeses (cottage cheese, telemea, urdă), smoked meat, homemade sausages, bacon, honey and bee products (pollen, propolis, tinctures), homemade sweets, decorated gingerbread, hot donuts, machine-made ice cream, natural juices, syrups and other goodies made in local households;

• utensils and products for the home and garden - pots, pans, knives, woven baskets, brooms, gardening tools, tin buckets, wooden utensils, storage containers and everything else you need for the household;

• second-hand clothes, shoes, accessories and household products;

  
  

What activities can children have (and not only)?

• they can spend time at bouncy castles - little ones can jump, run and climb freely in colorful castles, with slides, obstacles and tunnels - an ideal place to burn off their energy and have fun safely;

• they can ride around with toy cars;

• they can have fun on the carousels;

• they can try fun games of chance - from magnetic toy fishing, to lucky wheels or stands where they can win teddy bears, balls or other surprises, fun is guaranteed;

  
  

WHAT DO YOU EAT AT THE FAIR?

As expected, since Romanians are a nation of foodies, there is a dining area, where there are several vendors. And to come with a dose of reality, which personally hit me hard in the face, I can say that I was extremely disappointed with what was happening there. But maybe I didn't know which location to choose, or what dishes to order... I don't think it's the same everywhere... The food was not the best and surprisingly, not fresh at all... Also, the cleanliness of the dining area was non-existent. Our experience in this area was disappointing to say the least. The location I chose is NOT in the pictures below.

If you fancy a bite, you can try the traditional local dish, mutton stew. The food sold at this market is almost 100% meat-based. There are options such as mici, pork neck, chicken thighs, chicken breast, pastrami and even anchovies. As a side dish, I didn't see anything other than fries.

Food options to buy include: honey, cheeses, meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits, gingerbread, etc.

WHERE DO YOU ACCOMMODATE IN THE POLOVRAGI AREA?

Of the locations listed on Booking, I leave below the ones that caught my attention and also have great reviews:

• Pensiunea Castania - accommodation unit located in Polovragi, which has double or family rooms and a large and spacious yard. It is equipped with an outdoor swimming pool;

• Vila Nico - accommodation unit located in Baia de Fier, which has double or family rooms. It is equipped with a barbecue area, as well as a bar and restaurant;

• Pensiunea Tobo - accommodation unit located in Baia de Fier, which has double, triple, family rooms and can accommodate even a large group of up to 16 people. It has an outdoor swimming pool, bar and restaurant.

WHAT OTHER PLACES CAN YOU VISIT IN THE AREA?

After we finish the fair, we can take a run and visit some of the most interesting tourist attractions in the area:

• Cheile Oltelului (Oltet Gorges), unele dintre cele mai spectaculoase chei de la noi din tara. Pot fi facute la pas, de catre oricine, de orice varsta. Acestea se afla chiar la iesire din Polovragi;

• Polovragi Cave, which is located on the Oltet Gorges. It is approximately 800 meters long, and the visit is done with a guide. It hosts a colony of 300 horseshoe bats;

• Polovragi Monastery is located near the Oltet Gorges, in an absolutely superb natural setting. It was built in 1505 and is classified as a historical monument;

  
  

• Pestera Muierilor (Women's Cave) is located within the Baia de Fier commune, a few km from Polovragi. Visiting this cave is done in one direction, so the exit will be different from the entrance to the cave. There are locations where the cave is very low, so that the passage can be difficult for people with reduced mobility;

• Transalpina, the highest road in Romania, which reaches up to 2145 meters and crosses the Parang Mountains.

CONCLUSIONS

The Polovragi Fair is one of the events you shouldn't miss if you're in the area during the period it's taking place. I wouldn't say it's worth traveling all the way if you're coming from far away, especially for it, but the area where it takes place is quite touristy, so you can have enough activities for a few days.

One of the aspects that I liked the most and that differentiates it from other fairs is the fact that it has a second-hand clothes section at bargain prices, and if you are a fan of thrift, this is the place to be.

Read also about hiking in Romania: hike in Ciucas Mountains, hike on Stan Valley or hike through the Bicajel Gorges.

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