Novaci is a town in Gorj County

Gorj County

Gorj is a county of Romania, in Oltenia, with its capital city at Târgu Jiu.- Demographics :In 2002, it had a population of 387,308 and its population density was 69/km².* Romanians – over 98%* Rromas, others.- Geography :...

, Oltenia

Oltenia

Oltenia is a historical province and geographical region of Romania, in western Wallachia. It is situated between the Danube, the Southern Carpathians and the Olt river ....

, Romania

Romania

Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...

, situated at the foothills of the Parâng Mountains

Parâng Mountains

Parâng Mountains are one of the highest mountain ridges in Romania and Southern Carpathians, with its highest peak Parângu Mare reaching 2,519 m.-Description:The Parâng mountains are located in the south-western part of the Central-Meridional Carpathians...

, on the river Gilort. It administers four villages: Berceşti, Hirişeşti, Pociovaliştea and Siteşti.

The river traditionally divided the Oltenian settlement of Novacii Români from Novacii Străini, populated mainly by shepherds coming from over the mountains, from Sibiu County

Sibiu County

Sibiu is a county of Romania, in the historical region Transylvania, with the capital city Sibiu.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 421,724 and the population density was 78/km²....

 in Transylvania

Transylvania

Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...

. The differences in between the two segments of the town are obvious in the traditional vernacular architecture: the low fences of Oltenia are replaced by tall gates and hidden-away courtyards in the Novacii Străini.

The population has been steadily decreasing since the 1990s, mainly because of relocation of the young, educated peoples in bigger cities.

Only 12 kilometers from Novaci

Novaci

Novaci is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania, situated at the foothills of the Parâng Mountains, on the river Gilort. It administers four villages: Berceşti, Hirişeşti, Pociovaliştea and Siteşti....

 passing the Transalpina (DN 67C)

Transalpina (DN 67C)

The Transalpina or DN67C located in the Parâng Mountains group, in the Southern Carpathians of Romania, is one of the most spectacular roads of the Carpathian Mountains...

 road is Rânca

Rânca

Rânca is a recently developed Romanian resort, located at 1,600 m elevation, at the foothill of Păpuşa Peak in the Parâng Mountains....

 (1600m altitude), the newly developed Romanian resort surrounded by mountain peaks and tremendous beauty. From this place is a view of the Parângu Mare

Parângu Mare

Parângu Mare is a peak located in Parâng Mountains at 2,519 m altitude and belongs to the Parâng Mountains group.-Mountains:* Parâng Mountains * Şureanu Mountains...

 peak and when the weather is good you can see the Peleaga

Peleaga

The Retezat Mountains are some of the highest massifs in Romania, being part of the Southern Carpathians. The highest peak is Peleaga , at an altitude of 2,509 metres...

 peak of Retezat Mountains

Retezat Mountains

The Retezat Mountains are one of the highest massifs in Romania, being part of the Southern Carpathians. The highest peak is Peleaga , at an altitude of 2509 metres...

. During winter there are two ski slopes with low and medium difficulty.