The Museum of Viticulture and Fruit Growing in Golești

The Museum of Viticulture and Fruit Growing in Golești represents a unique historical space in Romania. It covers an area of 14 hectares and has a valuable patrimony, being structured in two major sections: the History - Ethnography Section and the Open Air Section. At the Golești Museum, visitors can explore both a boyar courtyard and a complete traditional village with households, church, school, town hall and inn. In the centre of the boyar court, surrounded by flowers and greenery, is the Manor of Golești, built in 1640. Here you will discover how the Golești boyars lived in the nineteenth century and what were the great historical events related to this place and this boyar family.

The Manor of the Golescu family has a close connection with the Romanian royalty, being the place where King Carol I spent the first night on Romanian territory. In the winter salon, where the Golescu family used to gather around the festive tables, two exceptional pieces are exhibited today: the throne of the kings of Romania and the office of King Carol I. In the courtyard, there is also the infirmary of ruler Radu Golescu. At the end of the 18th century, the ruler Radu Golescu, the first enlightened boyar from Wallachia, built, on his estates, the first infirmary – a hospital where the sick and the elderly of the village were cared for. The Golești boyars established on their field the first school with teaching in Romanian in the south of the country for the children from the village who wanted to learn. The Free Public School from Golești was a model institution for the first half of the 19th century. Regardless of the social rank they had, the students benefited from courses and manuals free of charge. Two great personalities of the Romanian education taught here: Ion Heliade Rădulescu and Aaron Florian. Beyond the defensive walls of the mansion, one walks in a traditional village, whose households introduce us to all the important ethnographic areas of Romania. Also, numerous recreational activities are accessible to the visiting public: horse and pony riding, carriage rides, zipline for children, playgrounds and peasant bowling alley.