Novaci, the heart of traditions in the pastoral region of Oltenia.

Novaci – The Heart of Pastoral Tradition in Oltenia

Many Romanians who think of Oltenia’s pastoral lands immediately think of Novaci. Here in the foothills Parâng Massif, where the famous Transalpina road begins its climb towards the mountains, shepherds from Mărginimea Sibiului once lived peacefully — until 1918. In the past, when there was no tourism or forestry industry, the people of Novaci lived in what could easily have been called a forgotten settlement.

Nowadays, more and more travellers passionate about mountain landscapes, customs, and traditions are discovering Novaci. Many of them hardly know where to look first or which view to admire most.

In the book "Picturesque Romania" by Alexandru Vlahuță we find a description of Novaci as it was at the end of the last century: "Around midday we enter Novaci – an endless village lying at the foot of the mountain, in the beautiful valley of the Gilort. White houses, thatched with straw, rise here and there among orchards. Through the middle of the village flows the Gilort River, turning mills, fulling troughs, and presses, whose murmuring echoes in the grove of poplars stretching along the water."

Before the Transalpina was asphalted, tourists and locals had access to the Parâng Mountains via Gilortului Valley, going through Gilortului Gorges. They arrived in Rânca Resort only after leaving behind Mount Dâlbanu.

Since the summer of 2014, when heavy floods destroyed part of the gorge and the road winding through the cliffs, the only access route to Rânca is Transalpina, which passes through Plaiul Novacilor, past Scărița Hill and over the Cerbu, Plopu, Florile-Albe and Cornesu mountains. In the past, only the shepherds would venture from there to the high pastures of Parâng to watch over the village of Novaci.

“Taking the sheep up to the mountains”, the shepherds’ festival in Novaci.

Not being a religious holiday, "The Sheep’s Ascent to the Mountains" is the day dedicated to the shepherds of Novaci. It is celebrated on the third Sunday in May, in Hirișești Forestclose to the religious feast of Saints Constantine and Helen. This date is considered by locals to be the best time to take flocks of sheep up into the mountains.

In 1968, the local authorities wanted to organise an event in honour of the shepherds. At first it was simply called "Day of the Shepherds". Over the years, the event has grown to be called The Shepherds’ Song and Costume Festival – “The Sheep’s Ascent to the Mountains”.

The festival carries with it an old custom of the locals, transhumance. After spending the long winter nights on the plains of Bărăgan or Banat, amid blizzards, snow and rain, the shepherds return to Novaci, celebrate their day, then slowly head for the green pastures of the mountains. The road between Novaci and Parâng is also called the old transhumance route. Sheep roam the mountain paths all summer until late autumn brings snow.

Folklore, Novaci's greatest treasure.

The folklore of Novaci includes traditional songs, folk dances, shepherds’ calls, and pastoral costumes. In the shepherd villages neighbouring Novaci, on the left side of the Gilort river, tourists can still hear the ancient language of ancestors and forefathers, with words like "văruță", "soriță", "dodă", "coană", "țață" or "leliță" constantly used in speech. Those interested can also find out about legends of Novaci... for almost everyone here knows fantastic stories.

Folk songs, whether from Oltenia or Transylvania, are meant to convey ancient messages to listeners. The shepherds' songs from the area around Sibiu and the Novaci area of interference convey incredibly detailed information about the life of the shepherds who went to the mountains and the life of the women who stayed behind to look after the village.

And traditional shouted verses had an interesting role. To show their joy at being present at hora (traditional circle dance) danced every Sunday in the town centre, the people of Novaci used shouted verses adapted to the different rhythms of the music.

P.S.: If you would like to learn more about traditional music, shepherd's costumes or legends, do not hesitate to visit Novaci. For those who are undecided, we, the team TransaTravel, we can give them information. We have texts on everything. The curious just have to come to Novaci or ask us for information that will convince them to visit the land of the shepherds of Gorj.