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The fourth hill of our route is Bucium, connected to the Păun hill (408m). The “Trinitas” cross from Păun, built in 2006, is 40 meters high and is the largest cross on the territory of Romania. It is also the main broadcasting antenna for Christian-Ortodox Radio Trinitas.
Descending from Păun village, we reach Bucium Monastery. It was built in Moldavian style in the 19th century and was known as a resting place for Moldavian metropolitans. Set in a secluded area, Bucium Monastery invites the visitor to discover the architectural beauty, the uniqueness of the interior paintings, the Byzantine painting workshop and the wine cellar.
At a kilometre of the monastery we meet the odd-numbered poplars, a group of 15 trees that inspired the great poet Mihai Eminescu to write to Veronica Micle the poetry of love: “Beneath the odd-numbered poplars” Her husband, Stefan Micle, was the rector of the University of Iasi, and during the summer the two stayed in a house in the area. A small park with alleys was built around the old poplars, with Eminescu’s statue in the centre.
Across the street is the protocol house of the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, who was accommodated here on three occasions. After 1990, the building became a guest house for the presidents of Romania, but also for the French President François Mitterand who visited Iaşi in 1991.
Bucium Hill is known for hundreds of years of vine cultivation and wine production. Lately, the area has experienced a real estate explosion, the formerly living houses and forests being gradually replaced by the wealthier homes of Iasi. The vineyard tradition is preserved by Bucium Agroindustrial Plant (founded in 1949), which mainly produces white, recognized and awarded wines. Within the company, a complete breakthrough of this beautiful ancient tradition can be achieved. The route starts in the wine cellar with a short history of the wine industry. After a presentation of the winemaking stages, it follows the wine collection, the collectible bottles, then the small ethnographic museum with wine theme and the wine shop with a full wine offer. The tour ends with a tasting of light wines (especially Fetească Albă, Sauvignon blanc, Busuioaca de Bohotin) and sparkling wine.
On the way to the next hill, we cross residential districts and then the Căpriţa forest, reaching the “thieves’ road” where you can stop at Vlădiceni Monastery. The route then crosses the railroad with dozens of freight wagons and then the industrial area, dominated by abandoned factories. After crossing this transit area, you reach the Ciric entertainment area.
Vlădiceni Monastery
The old hearth of the Vlădiceni Monastery dates back to 1415, when the ruler Alexandru cel Bun met here the caravan carrying the relics of the Great Holy Martyr John from Suceava, brought from Cetatea Albă. In 1908, a new hermitage was built here, then destroyed during the First World War following an explosion from an armoury depot. It was restored in the interwar period, but the 1940 earthquake and then the Second World War ruined it again. During the communist period it became a warehouse for construction materials, which led it to the complete destruction. The current building was built between 1995-2000 and conceived as a replica of the Putna Monastery in Suceava County, the tomb church of Stephen the Great. Father Calistrat from the Monastery is nowadays a renowned spiritual confessor throughout Romania.
8. Forêt Ciric – Zone de Loisirs Ciric