Baia de Fier is a small mountain community in the north-east of Gorj county about 9 km east of Novaci. Baia de Fier means “mine of iron” in Romanian and refers to the exploitation of iron in the surrounding mountains. Baia de Fier belongs to a group of communities which is called “Oltenia sub munte” (Oltenia under the Mountains). Basically, all the communities belonging to this group try to promote the mountains and the local villages as tourist attractions. The village Cernadia is a village west of Baia de Fier that also belongs to the community. Cernadia has it’s own Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary School. From what I have heard so far about 4200 people are living in the community Baia de Fier.

The name of the mayor is Constantin Mihutescu , PSD. He has been elected mayor 3 times and he is running for office again this year. Since 2007 Baia de Fier has a partner village in Italy by the name Boccioleto. In the center you can also see the river Galben (the yellow river) which cut the valley that you find in the direction of the Women‘s Cave. Every September Baia de Fier organizes a big regional dance festival that is very popular.

The community is spread out pretty much so it is hard to get a very good overview. The center is a big intersection where all the busses stop. The road up the hill goes to Polovragi and lets you pass the primaria and all the local schools. If you take the road to the left you will go to the Women’s Cave and if you take the road to the right you go to the National Road

People here are very proud of the Women’s Cave and the cave in Polovragi. I guess, they are trying to promote the caves as Natural Monuments which could be attractive for tourists. Close to the Women’s Cave is a graphite mine but I am not sure if it is still exploited.

If you follow the road to the Women’s Cave and keep going after passing the entrance to the cave you will reach the Rudari community. This group belongs neither to the Roma nor the Romanians. The children have their own primary and secondary school.

What I noticed is that Baia de Fier has quite a lot of grocery stores. I mean it is a small community so how do all these little businesses survive here? There is also a pharmacy, a post office, a bank, some bars and two discos.

Polovragi: I am also trying to work in Polovragi which is west of Baia de Fier, a few kilometers west of the border to the next judet Rm. Valcea. The administrations there is very active. The director of the Casa de Cultura has a dance group that traveled to several other countries. Polovragi is also known for it’s cave and monastery which I haven’t visited yet.

School: Baia de Fier has a gradinita, a primary school, a secondary school, a high school as well as an evening school. All these buildings are currently renovated. The secondary/high school has a computer room and a new, large gym. Behind the primaria is an asphalt football field. The local library is in the gradinita is also currently under renovations. There are about 60 teachers in the school. The only bad thing is that the schools only have outside toilets for their students.

The teacher are generally open for my suggestions. Especially, my contact person Iuliana Tarlea and the English teacher Elisabeta Buduran want to work together with me and the future volunteers.

One of the kindergarten teachers, Dana Turbaceanu, speaks English. The kindergarten teachers (4) are very active organizing different activities for the children.

People: A lot of people have heard about me and well, talk about me. Whenever I went to the bar in the center I met people who knew my name but I wouldn’t know them. On of the few persons I can talk to in English is Diana Filigean. She is 19 years old and works as a waitress in one of the bars in the center. I have visited her their several times to be “out” in the community and talk with her about the life in Baia de Fier.

Administration: The primar is well respected. People appreciate that he is improving the schools because they believe it is important. However, people told me that they think a new mayor will be elected because he has had the office for twelve years and it is time for a change.
My relation with the primar is rather cool. I haven’t really talked with him yet for whatever reason. However, I have been to the primaria several times and the staff always tried to help me.

Peştera Muierilor (Women‘s Cave):

„The name Women's Cave was given to this cave by the people from Baia de Fier. In the old times, when the men fought in frequent wars, the women (and children) were hiding in the cave. So it became the Women's cave.
The cave has four levels. The upper level, 40m above the ground of the gorge is open to the public. A horizontal passage of 580m was developed with paths and electric light. The cave is entered at the northern entrance. After only 20m, the extreme richness in speleothemes starts. Icicle like stalactites, organs and huge stalagmite formations can be seen. The most impressive stalagmiite is called the Little Dome. Then in the Altar Hall the Blooded Rock has an exceptional red coulouring which resembles blood. It is caused by oxidzed iron or rust. The red coulour is similar to terra cotta, and a result of higher temperatures during the oxidation process. Under lower temperature the result woud have been brownish.
The Cupola is a 17m high chamber which is home to a bat colony. Bats of the spieces Myotis, Miniopterus, and Rhinolophus live here. The typical sound and the odor of methane is overwhelming. Finally the eastern entrance is reached, which opens in the cliffside of the Galbenul Gorge. The cave was formed by the water of the river Galbenul. Every level of the cave represents one stage of the river cutting its valley into the limestone rocks.
Continuing in the main passage, we reach a chamber with the restored skeleton of a cave bear (Ursus spelaeus). The bears were discovered in the Bears Gallery in the level below. This part is not accessible to visitors, as it is closed for protection. Access is strictly restricted to scientific research. This cemetery of prehistoric animals still contains numerous cave bear skeletons plus the remains of hyenas, lions, foxes, wild goats, wolves, and wild boars. Even some human remains from the Mousterien have been discovered.
The guide uses a formation of flowstone to produce music by knocking the ribbs with a small stick. The passage now becomes wetter, with many pools filled up in spring during snow melt. In summer some of them become dry. This passage is sometimes very low, with the lowest parts less than a meter high.
The Turk's Hall was named after a huge stalagmite, which looks like a person with an oriental mantle and a fez on its head. This is the Turk. The hall has numerous other formations with names like Odalisque, Santa Claus, and Wounded Hen Hawk.
Returning to the southern entrance, the cave is left here. The path back to the entrance offers many views of the Galbenul river gorge.“

Source: http://www.showcaves.com/english/ro/showcaves/Muierilor.html

Interesting homepage with information about the cave and many photos:
http://alexisphoenix.org/romaniawomenscave.php

Caminul Cultural “Profesor Ion Nitulescu“: The Caminula Cultural is opposite the high school. The buildings look very “used” and would need a renovation. Every Friday and Sunday the local traditional dance group is practicing there. The director is very interested in developing a small “village exhibition” in the building. Basically, a tourist attraction and an additional use for the building. In the building is also the office of the local cable TV supplier.

Events: As already mentioned Baia de Fier is organizing a regional dance festival every September. Around the Women’s Day (March 8) the local administration tries to organize a spectacle at the Women’s Cave and every March the Caminul Cultural is organizing a “Miss Baia de Fier” pageant. At easter the Caminula Cultural is also organizing a spectacle.