Roata de Jos: Churches, History and the Dâmbovnic Landscape

Culture and History

The church of Sadina is a listed historic building erected in 1668 and is one of the tourist attractions of the municipality of Roata de Jos.

Known as “Adormirea Maicii Domnului,” it is located in Sadina at Strada Petrolistului No. 13.

The church is the surviving part of a monastic monastery.

This monastery was founded in 1668 during the reign of Radu Leon Voievod.

Cult objects of the Dacians were recovered from the cemetery of the church of Sadina, including a Dacian vessel used for cremation.

The combination of church architecture, the founding of the monastery and archaeological finds makes Sadina a place where several historical layers meet within the municipality. The surviving part of the church points to the monastery’s history, while the finds in the cemetery reach back to the Dacian past.

A monument in the center of the municipality commemorates 116 local residents.

They lost their lives in the battles of 1916 to 1918 at Mărăști, Mărășești, Oituz and Dragoslavele. The monument was erected in 1936.

The settlement of Roata was first mentioned in a document issued by Vladislav II on August 5, 1451.

The documented history of the municipality thus encompasses both the early documentary mention of Roata and the church and monastery history of Sadina. The monument in the municipal center also preserves the memory of the 116 local residents and the battles of 1916 to 1918 at a central location.

Landscape

Roata de Jos lies in the floodplain of the Dâmbovnic Valley.

This floodplain is located within the Găvanu-Burdea subunit of the Romanian Plain.

The Dâmbovnic Plain is 1.5 to 2 kilometers wide.

It is bordered by slopes on both sides.

The slopes transition into the higher-lying lowland.

Roata de Jos lies largely in the floodplain of the Dâmbovnic River, on its left bank.

The landscape is therefore shaped by the transition between the broad valley plain and the higher-lying lowland. The Dâmbovnic provides the geographical reference for the floodplain; Roata de Jos lies on its left bank, while the slopes on both sides delimit the valley area.

Geographical Location

Near Roata de Jos, county road DJ611 branches off from DJ601.

From there, county road DJ611 runs northwest to Gratia in Teleorman County.

This transport link connects Roata de Jos with the settlement of Gratia to the northwest and leads into Teleorman County. The starting point of this connection is the junction of DJ611 and DJ601 near Roata de Jos.

Archaeology and Historic Buildings

Near Roata de Jos lies a Bronze Age settlement belonging to the Tei culture.

This Bronze Age settlement is located at the entrance to the village from the direction of Cartojani.

The “Sfântul Gheorghe” Church in Cartojani is a listed historic building dating from 1852.

The village of Roata de Jos is home to the “Sfântul Nicolae”-Zgaia Church, a listed historic building dating from 1912.

The “La Carieră” archaeological site is among the historic monuments of local interest in the municipality of Roata de Jos.

The “La Troiță” archaeological site in Cartojani is a Bronze Age settlement of the Glina culture.

“La Troiță” is located in the center of Cartojani.

The archaeological information thus leads from the Bronze Age Tei culture near Roata de Jos to the Bronze Age Glina culture in Cartojani. These sites are complemented by the two churches as listed historic buildings: “Sfântul Gheorghe” dates from 1852, while “Sfântul Nicolae”-Zgaia dates from 1912. “La Carieră” is classified as a historic monument of local interest in the municipality of Roata de Jos.

For the broader travel overview: Roata de Jos.