We promote Romania - "Răvăşitul Ilor - Cheese and Pastrami Festival"

Located 25 km from Brasov and 190 km from Bucharest, Bran it is both a place of history and legend. Bran is the gateway between Transylvania and Wallachia, guarded on one side by the Piatra Craiului Massif, and on the other by the Bucegi Massif. The bran is where it's at one of the most visited castles in Europe – Dracula Castle – the source of inspiration for the most fascinating legend, that of the bloody one Count Dracula.

The town of Bran

Although the name of Bran is inextricably linked to that of Bran Castle, the area is extremely rich in tourist attractions: Keys of Moieci, Bucegi mountains and Craiului Stone, Dâmbovicioara Cave, Râşnovu Fortress, But and Brasov, together with the Saxon cities from Prejmer and Harman. Poiana Braşov is a traditional skiing area, but also for spending summer holidays. Access to Poiana Braşov is easy from Râşnov (9 km).

The town of Bran (old Romanian variant: Turciu), which is the village of residence of the commune of the same name in Brașov County, Transylvania, Romania. However, the town of Bran had no connection with the village of Poarta, they were originally separated by a thick forest of fir and beech, a forest that stretched from the southeast of the current castle to the current Orthodox church of the Poarta community.

Braşov

The city of Brașov is only 20km from the Festival, one of the most visited cities in Transylvania, where you can also stay. If you're still in the area, why not explore this unique city? You will surely enjoy a walk through a unique city. We highly recommend you read it our informative article about the most beautiful tourist attractions in Brașov which are worth visiting.

The ravages of the sheep - Country celebrationUm

Measured Milk, held for the first time in 2008, between July 19-20, it took place on the Zanoaga - Poartă slope, the event presented the popular port parade, harness contests, weight pulling, log cutting, campfire and much more against the backdrop of a celebration peasants

Răvășitul Oilor - When the festival takes place

The blundering of sheep it's an annual event, what takes place at the end of September, with the cold weather. It's about bringing the sheep down from the mountain and breaking the flocks, that is, dividing the sheep to their owners.

Răvășitul Oilor - Reason for joy and good cheer

The Feast of the Sheep is a symbolic celebration that marks the end of the pastoral year. From ancient times it was celebrated at the time of the descent of the sheep from the mountain, with dances and games, and with good cheer.

Rampage of the Sheep - Customs

The Ravager of the Sheep, became and is a great celebration of branes which brings the recognition of one of the most important activities of the locals and especially the respect and valuing of their work for the ancestral tradition of raising animals. This festive and symbolic organization marks the end of each pastoral year, during which the flocks of sheep come down from the mountains and are distributed to the owners, along with the products obtained throughout the summer and which were negotiated with the farm managers.

In addition to these customs, the whole atmosphere takes on an emotional note, this descent of the sheep from the mountain also represents the moment when the shepherds meet their family and friends again.

Răvășitul Oilor - The best products obtained from milk processing

On their faces burnt by the sun and beaten by the wind, you can read the longing for the holy home but also the pride of obtaining some delicious cheeses.

Răvășitul Oilor - How to get urda, the cheese of the bellows

To obtain a good curd, boil the sheep's whey mixed with pistachios.whey kept in a can since the beginning of verii", it is selected, put in cheesecloth, drained, squeezed, sometimes mixed with dill. Bellows cheese it is obtained from the house through a mincing machine, put in a sieve in a piece of cheesecloth, then pressed with a weight to drain all the moisture, then kept for eight days in fir wood trunks, after which it is put through the machine again to mince, mix with salt, put in the bellows ("animal base"), or in fir wood and is kept cold from September to May.

Răvășitul Oilor - The secret of the best pastrami 

Here the shepherds compete in the quality of the products obtained and in the beauty of the animals. At this important event for shepherds, you can also hear the "secret" recipes of the goodies on sale. pastrami it is prepared from boneless mutton, sprinkled with salt and spices: pepper, paprika, thyme, garlic, basil. After it is kept for a few days, it is placed in a warm bath, prepared from water or white wine in which spices are boiled: bay leaves, mustard seeds, black pepper, in which it is kept from one day to a week and put to dry.

Răvășitul Oilor – The best telemea

Sheep telemeau it is prepared from coagulated cheese that drains through the sieve placed in the wooden crypt, it is cut into cubes that drain three times consecutively, for about three hours, after salting, it is cut into large pieces and put in wooden boxes, alternating a row of cheese with a row of salt, over which the concentrated brine is poured, so that the egg sits on top. 

Răvășitul Oilor – The best cheese

Smoked cheese it is prepared from fermented cottage cheese, boiled in salt with whey, and kept for 24 hours in brine, 24 hours in smoke from dry beech wood and placed in molds that are kept on shelves.

Răvășitul Oilor – With the flavor of must, wine and palinUm

There are also drinks from this fair, the goodness of fragrant must, wine, such as palinca obtained from double-refined tuica "until it catches fire in the pipe".

Răvășitul Oilor - Traditional objects

Every year this holiday has a greater echo. In addition to the gastronomic attractions, folk craftsmen from all over the country come to the festival, bringing with them numerous handmade items, such as ceramic dishes, popular wear items, carpets, sculptures and many other traditional items.

Răvășitul Oilor - Selected dishes

Indispensable for the most lustful were not butchers and mutton pastrami, specific to the resort. From the steaming cauldrons, the cooks imbibe us with cabbage and pork knuckle, or one Transylvanian guide of half a ton, with beans, chives and thyme, mmm crazy. Indispensable from this festival are also sausage lovingly prepared by the shepherds, for the greediest among us. They were not missing either sweets, with the flavor of childhood, for the little ones, but also for the child in us, again donuts they have the flavor of childhood and the taste of "I haven't had enough, I want one more", they made a sensation among the hungry.

I end this article with the hope that I captured your attention a little, where I tried to present you some of the beauties that our country offers us, with wonderful and hardworking people, with gorgeous landscapes and wonderful places.

Until next time, I say: ,,Remember, you need little things to be happy – Marcus Aurelius!