The river Olt, one of the most important in Romania, also named this region and it separates Oltenia of Muntenia. The relief of this area includes the Carpathians and the Danube in South.
The churches in Oltenia, altogether with some other monuments of art and architecture, rise from the grassy fields in spring and are surrounded by extraordinary violet-reddish colours in autumn. Their founders, be they rulers or boyars, searched for remote places of a wild beauty, where the soul can easily reach God.

Such a place is Tismana, a nun monastery situated close to the top of the mountain, in the vicinity of a fall. Here, more than 620 years ago, the priest Nicodim, who has been sanctified, founded a church, whose construction was finished by the ruler Radu the I, in the second half of the 14 century. This impressive church is visited by many sick people, who come here to find their peace in prayers to St. Nicodim's shrine, as his relics are said to work wonders.

In Târgu Jiu one can admire 3 masterpieces belonging to the sculptor Constantin Brâncusi, (born in the neighbouring village): Coloana Infinitului (The Column of the Infinite) recently restored, Masa Tacerii (The Table of the Silence) and Poarta Sarutului (The Gate of The Kiss) - the last ones placed in a park on the bank of the river Jiu.
The road leads us to the nun monastery Polovragi, built in 1645 by the boyar Danciu Pârâianu. The hospitable nuns will offer a tour of the church and will invite the tourist to spend some quiet days of rest in their cells. They will tell the legends of the place, especially the one about outlaws and treasure searchers. The legend tells that they have hidden gold treasures in the cave Polovragi, situated near by, in the gorge of Oltet, a place that represents one of the main attractions of this region.

The church Horezu, built by the ruler Constantin Brâncoveanu in 1692, is situated in a wonderful and hilly region and it represents a true masterpiece of the religious art. This church is representative for the Brâncoveanu style, created during the reign of this ruler, who was also known as the "gold ruler". The church is characterized by porches with wooden-carved pillars and complicated adornments reminding of the refinement of the Italian art. Horezu is also a nun monastery where one can find accommodation but also different monahic dishes.

In the vicinity, the tourists can visit Horezu, a town famous for its pottery and for Târgul de Oale (The Pots Fair), which is organised here every year at the beginning of May.
The nuns monastery Bistrita is situated really close to the foot of the mountains Capatâna. The tourist will be impressed by the story of the monk Grigore Decapolitul, whose relics are placed inside a shrine. Many people come here to touch it for healing or solving their problems. Three kilometres away there is a church which seems to be taken out of a fairy tale. Its name is Arnota and it is a very small church, hidden at the end of a sinuated road. It was built in 1636 by the ruler Matei Basarab, as a sign of gratitude to God for helping him to get rid of the Turkish enemies who always attacked the country.

The origins of the nun monastery at Govora go down to 1492, during the reign of Radu cel Mare, the ruler who restored it in the place of an older establishment. The road passing through this area can be named the road of the cross. It passes through many villages with lots of painted crosses lined along this road. Its crossings reveal other monasteries such as Mânastirea Dintr-un Lemn (The monastery made of one wood) situated 7 km away from Govora and built by the ruler Preda Brâncoveanu in 1635. The legend explains its name with the fact it was built out of only one oak trunk.

This church, protector of sailors and pilots, is also the witness of a romantic love story: as he was in love with a young nun, the writer Anton Pann run away with his lover, who was disguised as a boy.
Another monastery that can be visited is the monastery Surpatele, founded by princess Maria, the wife of the ruler Constantin Brâncoveanu. Further away, past Râmnicu Vâlcea, we find the monastery Frasinei, a monk establishment where, according to a local rule of St. Calinic, no women are allowed.

We cannot end this journey without stopping at the monastery of Cozia, situated at the frontier of Oltenia and Muntenia. The church was founded in 1388 by the ruler Mircea cel Batrân, whose image is reproduced in a fresco.
Only 2 km away, nestled at the foot of mountain, we find the monastery Turnu (XVI century), a place where the monks treat every tourist with remarkable hospitality. Following a narrow path, not very far away, one reaches the monastery Stânisoara, situated on the mountain Cozia, far from the madding crowd, closer to God.
All these places have as departure point the town Râmnicu Vâlcea, the capital of the district Vâlcea. All around this town there are balneo-climateric resorts such as Olanesti, Calimanesti-Caciulata, Govora.