The Olt Defile () is a defile that has been cut into the Transyvanian Alps in south-central

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

by the river Olt. In the

Brezoi Brezoi is a town located in Vâlcea County, Romania. It administers eight villages: Călinești, Corbu, Drăgănești, Golotreni, Păscoaia, Proieni, Valea lui Stan, and Văratica. It is situated in the historical region of Oltenia. The town is si ...

–

Titești Titești is a commune located in Vâlcea County, Muntenia, Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary t ...

Depression portion of the defile there are located hot spring resorts. In the surrounding mountains grow walnut and oak trees, wild roses, and white ivy. Transportation is provided by highways and railways between

Râmnicu Vâlcea Râmnicu Vâlcea (formerly ''Râmnic'', ) is a city in Romania. Located in the south-central part of the country, in the historical province of Oltenia, it is the seat of Vâlcea County and its main urban settlement. According to the 2021 Romanian ...

and

Sibiu Sibiu ( , , , Hungarian: ''Nagyszeben'', , Transylvanian Saxon: ''Härmeschtat'' or ''Hermestatt'') is a city in central Romania, situated in the historical region of Transylvania. Located some north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles th ...

."Olt Defile." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006.

History

The defile was important when

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

occupied the area during the 1st century BC to 2nd century AD, building roads and fortifications along the Olt to north of the

Danube The Danube ( ; see also #Names and etymology, other names) is the List of rivers of Europe#Longest rivers, second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga in Russia. It flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest sou ...

. This line of fortifications was known as the ''Limes Alutanus'', which once marked the eastern frontier of

Roman Dacia Roman Dacia ( ; also known as ; or Dacia Felix, ) was a province of the Roman Empire from 106 to 271–275 AD. Its territory consisted of what are now the regions of Oltenia, Transylvania and Banat (today all in Romania, except the last regi ...

. Remains of these Roman

castra ''Castra'' () is a Latin language, Latin term used during the Roman Republic and Roman Empire for a military 'camp', and ''castrum'' () for a 'Fortification, fort'. Either could refer to a building or plot of land, used as a fortified milita ...

have been found in several villages, including those of

Boița Boița (; ; ) is a commune in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to ...

Câineni Câineni is a commune located in Vâlcea County, Oltenia, Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to ...

, and

Călimănești Călimănești, often known as Călimănești-Căciulata, is a town in Vâlcea County, southern Romania. It is situated in the Historical regions of Romania, historical region of Oltenia and the northern part of the county, on the traditional rou ...

. From the 14th to 18th century, several monasteries were built in the area. One of these, Turnul Monastery from the 17th century, even had cells that were carved into the cliffs by hermits from the 14th century

Cozia Monastery Cozia Monastery (Romanian language, Romanian: ''Mănăstirea Cozia'') is one of the most important medieval monastic complexes in Romania, located on the right bank of the Olt (river), Olt River near the town of Călimănești in Vâlcea County. Fo ...

, which was known for its exterior frescoes. The Ostrov Hermitage, also in the area, dates from the 17th century, while the Cornet Hermitage was built during the 17th and 18th centuries. There are also two fortresses, dating from the 16th century, located in Turnu Roșu and Boița.

Notes

{{coord missing, Romania Canyons and gorges of Romania