Some reviewers have already noted that the 'coules de petite valachie' TWHS is quite close to the already inscribed Horezu monastry WHS. So is this just a minor sidestep on the way to something more worthwhile, or can it stand on its own ? My initial reaction was indeed "Ah, it is so close, might as well spend a couple of minutes there". However, the site at Maldaresti is actually quite a nice heritage area, with two of the mysterious 'cula', an old church, a little heritage house and some nice green surroundings. The culas itself are interesting, too, being a mixture of a country house and a fortress from a time when the area was seemingly so dangerous that everything needed to be fortified - castles, villages, churches, houses. Still waiting for the 'Fortified outhouses of Transylvania' to show up on the list. I had a good time rummaging through the old houses, and probably spent an hour doing so. The visit also was quite easy, with everything being open and a friendly caretaker going around to collect the small entrance fee. The site is indeed only 5 kilometers away from the entrance of the Horezu monastry, with a pretty direct street connection in between. I had a car, but the distance seemed to be walkable to me. The 'cula' concept is interesting and unique enough to make it worthwhile for the list, so all in all, a thumbs up from me for the site. It would have been a shame to miss such a nice site while in the area.
Visited in June 2023.
Importance 3/5 Beauty 3/5 Uniqueness 4/5 Environment 4/5 Experience 4/5