Locals from the “Tuscany of Romania”, riding electric bicycles instead of horses. Details of a special tourist program PHOTO

A region in Vâlcea, located on the famous Drăgășani Wine Country route, accessed a project with European funds through which it purchased 60 electric off-road bicycles for six localities, intended to be rented by tourists and locals alike.

The initiative of the Local Action Group (LAG) “Tinutul Vinului” is part of a larger cooperation project with two other LAGs from Mehedinți. The investment in Vâlcea amounts to 165,000 euros.

For five years, bicycles will be available for free rental through a digital platform. Among the Valcen localities that benefit from such facilities, there is also a city – Bălcești.

Details of the unusual project, which also makes electric bikes available for rent to villagers, were shared with the reporter “The Truth” by the president of the Local Action Group GAL Tinutul Vinului Vâlcea, Mugurel Mărcoianu.

Image 1/20:
Off road electric bikes from the Wine Country, in Vâlcea Photo GAL Wine Country

220 off-road bikes in the rural area of ​​Vâlcea and Mehedinți

While in the city there is an increased interest in electric scooters, those in the countryside have turned their attention to electric bikes, as is also the case in Vâlcea and Mehedinți counties.

“There are six localities in our GAL – “Tinutul Vinului”. It is a cooperation project with two other LAGs from Mehedinți county: Ada Kaleh and Platoul Mehedinți. A total of 220 electric bicycles were purchased, those from Mehedinti 80 each, we 60, because we had another cooperation project and we could not take the maximum amount. It’s not just about the bikes, it’s also about the docking stations with 10 seats, the app itself, the software which is very important…”the president of GAL Vâlcea, Mugurel Mărcoianu, shared with us (SEE PHOTO).

Mugurel Mărcoianu on one of the off road electric bikes Photo GAL Șinutul Vinului

“Land of Wine” represents one of the local action groups in Vâlcea that brings together 17 localities on the route of the famous Drăgășani vineyards and wine, which is why the area is also known as the “Tuscany of Romania”. The municipality of Dragășani is not part of the GAL, but another town, the southernmost one in Vâlcea county – Bălcești. Only six of these localities are included in this European funds project that aims to promote the objectives and tourist areas of one of the three targeted territories, and implicitly outdoor walking.

Project for the promotion of rural tourism and nature walks

“In principle, we are talking about communes in the Drăgășani vineyards area: Orlești, Prundeni, Sutești, Amărăști, Măciuca and the town of Bălcești – the only urban settlement on the territory of the “Tinutul Vinului” LAG. Măciuca is also the seat of the GAL. Bălcăști has tourist attractions such as “Conacul Otetelișanu” (where the inventor of the pen, Petrache Poenaru, was born – ed.)and Măciuca, likewise, won by points, because here there is a four-star Spa complex famous in the country. It also houses a stone carving exhibition. However, we also have other tourist objectives”, also specified the president of the “Tinutul Vinului” GAL, who is also the mayor of the Măciuca Vâlcea commune.

About the other beneficiary localities, he also mentioned that they are notable for their proximity to the hills of Dragășani, with countless places of worship – historical monuments, landscapes and other attractions: “However, we focused, first of all, on the fact that we are on a renowned wine route in the country and abroad. In fact, the first cooperation project was also related to wine and vines, but also to art, with two LAGs from France”.

The vineyards of Drăgăşani – Vâlcea Photo argaga net

“The French, impressed by Dragășani wine”

The event referred to by the mayor Mugurel Mărcoianu is related to the third edition of the International Stone Sculpture Camp, a tradition resumed after the model of the prestigious art events of the last century, from the desire to organize a Museum with sculptures in the air in the long term free in Măciuca.

The pandemic edition (the last one, by the way) was realized at the initiative of the “Dumitru Drăghicescu” Foundation, in partnership with Ateliere Enache – Paris. Carrara and Ruschița marble are among the materials used by the participants whose works of art are still exhibited here, including the equestrian statue dedicated to Queen Maria, unique in Romania, completed by the plastic artist Viorel Enache, son of the place and employee of the Louvre Museum in Paris.

“This project, the first carried out by the Ținutul Vinului LAG, was also awarded by the French Leader Association. Within the implemented project, the artists from France exchanged their know-how (knowledge – ed.) and their experiences with artists from our country, especially from our lands. Camps were practically created in both countries for artists, but also for winegrowers. Know that even though France is the homeland of wine and champagne, the French were very impressed by our wineries, the quality of the wine in our area and how hard the winegrowers work to obtain this highly appreciated wine, including abroad”the president of GAL Vâlcea, Mugurel Mărcoianu, also testified.

The equestrian statue dedicated to Queen Maria unique in Romania from Măciuca-Vâlcea Photo e-zeppelin ro

International cycling competition, not just off-road bikes, in the absence of tracks

Also in Măciuca, an international cycling competition has been organized for more than a decade – “Bike Fest Damila” – by a company of construction materials and metallurgical products, whose patron is from around the place, and which also owns the tourist complex luxury, awarded with Termalia – similar awards “Oscar in tourism” – in the “Best Spa Team 2021” category.

The purchase of electric vehicles was made even in the context where there are hardly any bike lanes in the villages. But how to organize international cycling competitions, especially when it comes to off-road bikes, everything is possible.

“There are also discussions that we don’t have water and roads, but we brought electric off-road bikes”, admits the mayor. “Something like that is also financed, and we choose whether to take them or not. Our contribution was zero. So we chose to do the project,” the GAL president also acknowledged the unusual project carried out in Vâlcea and Mehedinți.

And he promised that: “We will also build the bike lanes. But they are off-road bikes. For example, the French greatly appreciated a stone road among the vineyards, at a winery in Crețeni (also a public partner in the LAG “Tinutul vinului”). It is obvious that in our village we also want asphalt, but we must also preserve the specifics of the place, such as those tarla, agricultural roads, which should be laid out, but in a way that is as close as possible to tradition”.

In fact, beyond the hilarious name, on account of which jokes are often made, the commune of Măciuca in Vâlcea was brought out of anonymity thanks to the hosted events, sports and the luxury resort, proving that tourism and performance can be done even in a rural settlement without an obvious potential.

The town hosted in 2022, for example, the wedding of AUR leader George Simion.

Bike Fest Damila Măciuca – the national cycling competition in Vâlcea Photo damila ro

“I wanted to get a horse, but a bicycle is more comfortable and safer”

“This summer I will only go by bicycle. I wanted to get a horse, but a bicycle is more comfortable and safer. Just don’t run out of battery, how far I go”also mentioned Constantin Cîrstina, the mayor of Orlești, one of the municipalities included in the project, referring to the fact that the bicycles have an autonomy of 30-40 km to be used only electrically and 60 km to be used electrically and assisted by pedals.

It’s just that two-wheeled vehicles are not available to every villager, for example, but only to those with a bank account, who know how to use the applications on the net, necessary to identify the user and the possibility of blocking the account of the one who is no longer brought the bike back or damage it.

Under what conditions two-wheelers can be rented

“For five years, electric bicycles will be able to be rented for free by anyone, even if they are intended for tourists, with the mention that they can only be used by those over 14 years old, and between 14 and 16 years old a helmet is mandatory protection, according to the Highway Code. A valid email, a bank account with at least one leu is also required. The important thing is to have it while it’s free. For example, my colleagues from the City Hall also organized an outing with bicycles”explained the mayor Mugurel Mărcoianu, in the hope that users will use the new purchases with a sense of responsibility.

“We hope that those who will use them will show good faith and enjoy them. Just as we hope it will be a beautiful project and prove its usefulness, that evil exists in everything…”also mentioned the president of the “Tinutul Vinului” GAL.

The bikes are of Polish origin, but with top components, such as Shimano tires. They are equipped with GPS, in order to know where they are at any time, and their destruction attracts corresponding consequences.

In addition to the purchase of bicycles, the project, which will be completed in May 2024, also provides activities for the exchange of experience between the LAGs involved and for the promotion of areas of interest, and who knows, maybe in this way other collaborations will come in the future, as the initiators of the best practice example hope.