The famous British journalist, Charlie Ottley, the biggest promoter of Romania abroad, made a film dedicated to the promotion of an aspiring UNESCO geopark. On this occasion, he also revealed the story behind the documentary “Discover Oltenia”.
Accompanied by his team and representatives of the aspiring UNESCO geopark in Vâlcea county, Charlie Ottley filmed for six months in Oltenia de sub Munte. At the end of the project, he admitted: “I think this is one of the best initiatives I have come across in Romania in the last ten years, and it is a perfect example of how you can take a wild area, a clean area of the Carpathian Mountains, and without cutting or exploiting it, to turn it into a source of income for the local economy”.
On Monday, May 20, 2024, the story of the new film promoting the treasures of Romania, made by the British director, who became “ambassador for Oltenia de sub Munte” was posted on the social media page of Oltenia de sub Munte – aspiring UNESCO geopark (SEE VIDEO).
Charlie Ottley at the Discover Oltenia filming for the aspiring UNESCO geopark Oltenia under Munte
The story “Discover Oltenia” – the new promotion brand of Romania
“After spending the last six months creating the film, (…) I am very proud to accept the role of ambassador for Oltenia de Sub Munte“, admitted the producer of the documentary series “Flavors of Romania” and “Wild Carpathia” about the proposed new brand, also mentioning the fact that the project will bring prosperity to all the communities involved who will be able to promote their culture, crafts, history, but also nature – the wonderful and wild landscapes they own.
“I really hope that the locals will benefit from the opportunities that the Geopark will bring, because this is a destination that will attract visitors not only from Romania, but from all over the world”the British director also mentioned.
Oltenia de sub Munte and Discover Oltenia the promotion film of the aspiring UNESCO collage geopark
Oltenia under the Mountain – “the new Transylvania”
In fact, during the filming, Charlie Ottley also recognized the fact that Oltenia de Sub Munte represents one of the most beautiful and biodiverse regions in the Carpathians, which could always compete with other much better-known areas in our country: “Romania has much more to offer outside of Transylvania and the painted monasteries of Bucovina. Oltenia could be the “new Transylvania” in terms of international tourism. Romania must be among the top tourist destinations in Europe”.
The treasures of Oltenia under Mount Colaj
The idea of the aspiring UNESCO Geopark “Oltenia de sub Munte” was based on the smallest national park in Romania, the only one in our country that appeared as a result of an initiative of a non-governmental organization – the Kogayon Association (it's about Buila-Vânturarița), but also on the priceless and countless treasures contained in a relatively small space: from crafts with tradition, to architecture, spirituality, history, culture, art, geology, riches of the soil and subsoil, on tourism and implicitly unique attractions, as well as on the particularly unique nature generous from this region.
The treasures of Oltenia under Mount Colaj
The preview in Horezu and the premiere in Bucharest, shortly
In the birth process of this project, the initiators encountered many problems, including the opacity of the county administration and local administrations that did not understand the idea of the Vâlcea geopark. Meanwhile, most people's opinions have thankfully changed. And today, there are many more settlements, including from neighboring counties, that would like to be part of this project.
The documentary “Discover Oltenia” will soon have its preview in Horezu – the Capital of Traditional Romanian Ceramics, part of the aspiring UNESCO OItenia Geopark under the Mountain, along with five other localities, including the Băile Olănești resort, and then the premiere in Bucharest.
