Residents of the central Romanian village of Șimon have launched a project to restore old houses in a bid to attract tourism to the area.
As more people seek the experience of living in a traditional home, century-old houses are being refurbished or even relocated to more quiet, scenic areas.
Luminita Cherebetu, who owns one of the houses, said that the traditional houses offer tourists a degree of “intimacy”, which the project aims to capitalise on.
“Once the tourists enter the gate, they can feel all the privacy they need, romantic and comfortable intimacy,” she said. “If they want to get up in pyjamas and have coffee, they can do it in this courtyard. If they want to sunbathe, walk in the garden, make a barbecue, or talk in the barn, they can do whatever they want.”
Tourists have already been quick to visit and show their appreciation for the project, expressing their fondness for the “energy” it exudes, in addition to its “silence and nature”.
Many owners of traditional houses are also collectors, preserving pieces of art like ancient irons, cast iron stoves, and old kitchen items from their grandparents. In a place that feels cut off from the world, time itself seems to have stopped.
Get a feel for the restoration project in the village of Șimon by watching the video in the player above.
