SN
AG
OV
Th e Reed House:Șoseaua Snagov nr. 78, Snagov Sat, comuna Snagov, cod postal 077165,Județ Ilfov, RomâniaTel/Fax: 021 323 9905, Mobil: +4(0)720 SNAGOV +4(0)720 762468offi [email protected]
GPS: 44°42’26.50’ N 26°10’26.40’ ECollections’ visiting1) Only by previous appoint-ment2) For organized groups (min. 8 people) – a day would be established by mu-tual agreement3) For individuals only in
some weekends is open (on the occasion of other events) – will be communicated by request4) Fee for visiting: 3-10 lei/pers. – established according to the group size, type of pre-sentations (audio or multi-media, with/without guide), duration and period of time.
ISB
N –
978
-973
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3815
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3Index
collections 01/index
Collection 04“Monasteries andChurches –in Snagov Area”Message to the reader
Collection 05“VLAD BASARAB ŢEPEŞ / DRACULA – HISTORY andLEGEND”
What are SnagovMuseum Collections?
Collection 06“Eco-Tourism ofSnagov area”
HISTORY andCULTUREin Snagov area
Collection 07“Water Sports”
Collection 02“ETHNOGRAPHY –local traditions –Snagov Area”
Other attractions inSnagov area
Collection 01“Local archaeology /Numismatics / Maps”
Other collections in development, partially exposed, at which you are invited to contribute
Collection 03“Good and “bad”celebrities”
P04
P06
P09
P12
P14
P18
P24
P26
P29
P33
P36
P39
4 Introduction
collections02/message to the reader
Message to the readerProbably (you, the reader)
are a local (older or newer)
or a tourist – willing to
know something new (or
more) about Snagov Area.
Th is area includes the entire
Snagov Lake (≈16km) and
the surrounding forests
(>1400ha – parts of the
former Forest of Vlăsia).
Th is area (administratively)
includes the villages Snagov,
Gruiu, Ciolpani. Th is is the
area with a great cultural
heritage (monasteries, chur-
ches, monuments, customs,
traditions and craft s, an
inspiring and creative
place for a series of artists)
and a natural heritage (a
biodiversity with at least
four habitats, with a total of
over 2,700 species of fauna
and fl ora, of which over 120
are protected and 43 are even
on the red list – that means
they are internationally
considered endangered
and therefore with an
imperative obligation of
strict protection).
From the former large
Sarmatica and the former
impenetrable Forest
of Wallachia, this lake
remained their very
centre (the largest in the
Romanian Plain) and the
last pieces of the Forest of
Vlăsia (which still contains
many old trees).
Snagov Area (silently) wit-
nessed many impact events,
with a regional, national
and even international
relevance. Here, politicians
and leaders met, advised,
negotiated, threatened,
condemned and even
killed themselves over the
centuries.
I, Constantin Turmac I am
a native born in 1965, so I
spent my whole childhood
on the bank of the lake,
in the woods and in the
communities on one side
or the other of the lake. In
the past 40 years, I have
(already) witnessed 2-3
major changes that have
locally diluted (and lost)
many of the traditions and
cultural and natural riches
of the area. Th ere were
changes with good and bad
parts. Th is approach tries
to do something (at least
comprehends, preserves
and provides a transfer to
future generations) and I
have devoted a considerable
piece of my time in the
recent years to understand,
search, collect, organize, and
(currently) present objects
and information about the
history and heritage of this
area.
I see new generations
that cannot learn /
understand “what it was”
5Introduction
collections 02/message to the reader
(if someone would really
awaken their curiosity) as
if I could see generations
that “go” without telling
someone what, when, how
much was good in their life;
Or what they wanted to be
kept; Or what they believed
in and what they were proud
of; What Snagov was like
– in “their days”; Where
they had fun and how;
What were their favourite
places; What names they
had; What unusual events
they had; What celebrities
they saw in the area; What
they knew about them; In
which tragedies, suff erings
and joys – they took part;
How it (actually) was in
communism; And so on.
As a local, I know very well
the people, the customs,
the traditions, the beliefs,
the bad habits, the values
(as they became). And
this approach of Snagov
Foundation addresses more
the next generations than
the contemporaries (who
seem too troubled by the
violence of the changes in
the last 20 years - to give
suffi cient attention to such
issues).
Does Snagov have anything
(really) “special”?
I have found (aft er quite a
lot of research) that Snagov
area was a very important
religious, cultural, historical,
sports, political centre
(at diff erent times) so
that by exposing a set of
collections related to Sna-
gov area- on topics of
archaeology, ethnography,
cultural and historical fa-
mous people, Vlad Tepeş
(the Impaler), eco-tourism,
water sports – we are trying
to bring a picture (presented
chronologically), more
complete and clear - on the
impact, signifi cance and
relevance of Snagov area for
the culture and the history
of the region and even for
that of the whole country.
How can YOU help?
Th is booklet is a fi rst version
and the collections (the
mobile heritage) – need to
be enriched. Th erefore we
invite you to visit us and
tell us what needs to be
changed or added (and in
the next reviewed edition
we will mention you in a list
of contributors). You could
help us with new relevant
information / pictures
/ materials (or even to
recommend other persons
that can help us in our
approach).
Help repositioning and
upgrading Snagov area –
taking into consideration
the heritage signifi cance
(insuffi ciently known) and
the role it played during
the time in the history and
culture of the region and of
Romania.
6 What are Snagov Museum Collections?
collections03/A part of the Museum of local history in Snagov Area
What are Snagov Museum
Collections?
A part of the Museum of
local history in Snagov
Area
What do these collections
contain?
Th ere are collections (grou-
ped on themes) of images
(old cards, postcards, photos,
stamps, maps) together with
books and articles (related
to Snagov Area, events, per-
sons – in connection with
these places), enriched wi th
diff erent objects (many with
specifi c histories) – that try
to render something from
the history of this area.
Th ese « objects » collections
are grouped (regularly)
chronologically in A4 papers
that have a title (theme) and
a relevant “story” (that you
can guess or – if requested –
listen to).
Because the existence of a
“story” for each A4 page is
a request of qualifi cation at
the international exhibitions
(contests) (OPEN class in
FIP). And a part of the
collections exhibited take
part in such contests.
Snagov Foundation (Com-
mission D) has registered
since 2009 at the Ministry of
Culture (section Heritage –
Decision no.3229/ Heritage/
26.01.2010 - Direction
of Museums, Collections
and Visual Arts, National
Committee of Museums
and Collections) a set of
thematic collections specifi c
to Snagov Area, forming
“Th e Museum of local
history in Snagov Area”
trying to render and
save a part of the (oral)
culture, traditions, customs,
objects etc. – belonging to
the local people (before
globalisation).
Among the objectives, Sna-
gov Museum (along with its
collections) – provides:
1) a “place” of “deposit”
+ “exhibition” (for those
interested) – for diff erent
information, objects, trad-
itions, customs – all of
them, dimensions related
7What are Snagov Museum Collections?
collections 03/A part of the Museum of local history in Snagov Area
CHRONOLOGY of the
Museum Collections of Snagov Foundation
Legend:
Ci = Collections of international relevance [Vlad Basarab Țepeș/Dracula, Water sports, Biodiversity]
Cn = Collections of national relevance [Vlad Basarab Țepeș/Dracula, Water sports, Biodiversity]
Cr = Collections of regional relevance [Eco-tourism, ethnography, [Personalities, Archaeology]]
8 What are Snagov Museum Collections?
collections03/A part of the Museum of local history in Snagov Area
to the history / specifi c of
Snagov Area
2) a new attraction point
(tourist destination) - at
Snagov Foundation -
relevant to Snagov Area,
Muntenia and even
Romania (at least through
two collections – unique at
international level)
3) a place where you can
experience some traditional
activities related to: fi shing,
pottery, basketry, textiles
4) a place where you can see
species of fauna and fl ora
specifi c to the area (a pond
and a set of pipes and tanks)
5) a place where it is
exemplifi ed (presents)
i d e a s – s o l u t i o n s –
environmental technologies
both simple and modern
(future) – in the hope that
visitors will experience a
change aft er having seen
and aft er taking part in such
experiences.
9Istorie și Cultură în Zona Snagov
colecții 04/Ce legături sau contribuţii la istoria și/sau cultura...
Th e reconstitution ofhistory and culturalimplications of Snagov area remains a challengeTh at is because there is so little known and even fewer things have been presented to the public about Snagov.Th e cycles of increase and decline of Snagov were due to the special wealth (espe-cially natural - with excel-lent strategic and military confi gurations) of the area, coupled with the many dif-ferent uses conferred to this place by the diff erent lead-ers: a secret place of ref-uge, a place of housing the families, a place of political detention of the main op-ponents, a cultural and re-ligious centre, an adminis-trative centre, a destination with excellent infrastructure for the tourist leisure organ-ised for tens of thousands of people - or lately – a relaxing destination in the villas (for nomenclatures).Th e archaeology suggests that the area (though located deep in the middle of the
old forests) had continuity with the fl ourishing times about 4000 years ago and some 2000 years ago, when there was in “Coada Lintii” even a group of furnaces for working the metals and so the area was integrated at least in some wider eco-nomic circuits. And if the 30 archaeological sites around the Lake Snagov cannot tell us much about the life, the achievements and the hopes of the fi rst arrived people in the area and nor about the Getae, a new cycle (can be seen) that has started since the Slavs who came to the area in 600 A.D. (and from them came the name of Sna-gov).
Th e extremely rich natural heritage (the former mid-dle of the Forests of Vlasia, with the largest lake in the Romanian Plain, with the largest biodiversity - ex-cept for the Danube Delta) lead meantime to attract the celebrities in each pe-riod, to the accumulation
of many events, to the de-velopment of a minimum of the infrastructure (the island Vlad Tepes had walls, bridges, various groups of buildings), to the creation of religious or administra-tive or operational centres throughout the centuries.
As far as the cultural heritage is concerned, we might con-sider at least two categories:a) one developed by the local residents (who were most of the time troubled, abused, exploited by the “impor-tant persons” that needed manpower, support, various services provided locally). Th e heritage still observable through customs, particular-ities of the traditional craft s, in the clothing and lan-guage elements, or even in the behaviour elements etc. b) the one developed by the people coming to the area, as leaders, builders, various personalities (good and bad) - and that led to both mate-rial accomplishments and various cultural, religious, administrative achieve-ments - both locally and es-pecially at a larger scale (at the regional, national and even international level).Th e community and the lo-cal culture have (usually) been the most underrated by those coming in the area (al-ways with the larger military
10 Istorie și Cultură în Zona Snagov
colecții04/Ce legături sau contribuţii la istoria și/sau cultura...
and political force) to the ex-tent that the surviving locals have learned to hide their true thoughts and feelings and to “bow their heads “ in a convincing way. So that even up to these days, the locals call the newcomers “strangers” and they require many years and evidence of friendship until they accept them and until they share some of the stories, beliefs and customs with them.
Some of the elements of cultural heritage representa-tive for the local people are:a) toponyms connected into a rich mixture of sto-ries, events, legends, beliefs - correlated with various landmarks like the roadside crosses, the fountains creek watershedb) their own churches (when they were allowed by the monasteries and when they had the economic power needed) and the historical monuments (of Romanian and foreign heroes who died in various wars)c) craft s both specifi c (fi sh-ing, pottery, woven of twigs) and rural traditional (tex-tiles, animal breeding, etc). About which Antipa and Sadoveanu mentioned that include words and even ob-jects / unique techniquesd) combinations of decora-tions and colours (the thread on the fretworks of the hous-
es and the combinations of various ornamental fl ow-ers in the local courtyards)e) it was not aware (yet) the relevance of some writers (Anatolie Panis, Constan-tin Georgescu) or local ath-letes (Vasile Nicoara, Sanda Toma) or even local celebri-ties (who were valued com-munity leaders, or between the fi shermen in Snagov Vil-lage, either on the occasion of popular uprisings -from Gruiu etc.)
A set of elements which fl ourished in the corves of the community and in the economic relations based on cooperation and shared re-sources such as the pastures and there is remembered by some old people (over 70 years) – that were destroyed by communism and espe-cially by the massive disre-gard according to the peas-ants (compared with the workers) and to those who have at present (compared to those who do not have). So that, in the absence of their manifestations the existing evidence is ignored in the form of objects (by the bridg-es), old photos and docu-ments with more details etc.* For the four most repre-sentative local craft s, Sna-gov Foundation created the endowment, the conditions and the fi rst events – allow-ing those who wish to see,
understand, experience, in a pleasant way.
Some of the elements of the cultural heritage created by the newcomers (oft en with a considerable part of labour and local material resources): a) religious / historical monuments (the monas-teries Snagov, Caldarusani, Ţiganeşti),b) the places in the area are not marked, in which there were at least 6 armed strug-gles historically relevant,c) for very few person-alities “related” to Snagov area, there are places (or commemorative plaques). Yes, for: Vlad Tepes, Virgil Madgearu, Zelea Codreanu, Imre Nagy but not (yet) for Lucretiu Patrascanu, Dem Dobrescu, and at least other about 12 fi gures and other important events)d) for the professional water sports (where they won doz-ens of Olympic medals and Romania has been present for decades in the world-wide top) just recently there has been done a monument for Aurel Vernescu and the fi rst thematic collection by Snagov Foundatione) there are not mentioned dozens of meetings and events for cycling competi-tions (circuits), of époque car owners, of those who had motorcycles, of the postmen, of the Scouts, etc.
11Istorie și Cultură în Zona Snagov
colecții 04/Ce legături sau contribuţii la istoria și/sau cultura...
f) there are not marked the international meetings organised in Snagov and where there were made very important decisions (eco-nomically and socially)g) there are not adequately mentioned many saddest episodes such as the deten-tion of Jozef Beck, various assassinations, etc.
Snagov area was vigorously promoted in some short periods (and even with re-markable results) and in others it was protected, hid-den, minimised as far as the role was concerned, as im-portance, as associated ce-lebrities. For details / list of historical periods (+ details about the circumstances and the motivations related) we would like you to ask the guide for details (there is written material) and / or to sponsor the publication of more detailed works of local history, including a detailed chapter.
But (usually) the leaders from diff erent periods, pre-ferred to omit / ignore / reduce the role and the vis-ibility of Snagov area (in his-tory and even culture). Th at is because in their time, they had interests and activities in the area, which should not be (too) public from various reasons: a strategic hidden place, a place of political de-tention, a relaxing place (in violation of law, moral and social norms – by them or by their family members – for whom they did not want witnesses / public visibility).
If during the interwar pe-riod Snagov had themed routes, maps, publica-tions dedicated - aft erthe communists’ arrival and especially aft er 1989, the si-lence was relocated in the area.
So far Snagov Foundation has identifi ed more than 100 celebrities (rulers, historians,
religious fi gures, writers, governors and offi cials, etc.), 8 relevant and outstanding murders / executions, 14 at-traction points, over 30 im-portant books / publications about Snagov, more than 30 relevant historical, cultural, religious, military events. All these can (already) be seen (as fi rst presentation) as collections (represented chronologically). And this fi rst exposure represents only the beginning of the structuring of the multitude of (other) surprising infor-mation about Snagov area.
Th e fact is that by 2009 Sna-gov area (the area with for-ests and lake between the monasteries Caldarusani, Snagov and Tiganesti) had no cultural or touristic rep-resentation (e.g. museum / collections / thematic groups) despite the wealth of objectives, attractions, events and historical, cul-tural, religious and even po-litical references. And what was begun required many additions (in relation to the wealth and the potential represented).
12 Collection 01 “Local archaeology / Numismatics / Maps”
collections05/Local archaeology / Numismatics / Maps
Local archaeology /Numismatics / Maps
Background:
With this issue we try
to present and to better
understand the period since
it is known that the area
was inhabited by humans
(2200 BC - present). Th e
fi rst inhabited part was the
island area. It seems that
a very long time, people
lived in groups that kept
moving (regularly) from
one place to another, usually
chosen on the higher water
banks (e.g. “Coada Linţii”)
So there is a wide range
of “traces” (about 30
archaeological sites).
Several archaeological
pieces presented in
showcases, are borrowed
from the National Institute
of Archaeology “Vasile
Pârvan “. We have purchased
or received the others. But
we (still) have too few pieces
to understand enough about
the locals’ ancestors.
Th e archaeological pieces
exhibited are from three
main periods:
- up to year 200 our era
(including therefore the
parts from the Neolithic,
Bronze and Iron eras - when
there were major shops in
the area)
- during the fi ft eenth
century (the period of Vlad
Ţepeş)
- some parts from the war
of independence (1877) and
from the two world wars
We hope that next to these
objects to be added others
also (from other institutions)
and especially to obtain (as
donations) some parts and
those owned by the locals
(from “Maidan”, “Dealu
Morii” and “Coada Linţii “).
Th is collection is visual,
kinaesthetic, so very
convincing (and creates
a balance - to the many
images of other collections).
DESCRIPTION of the
collection:
1) archaeological pieces
exhibited in glass cases
13Collection 01 “Local archaeology / Numismatics / Maps”
collections 05/Local archaeology / Numismatics / Maps
(diff erent objects / tools of
thousands of years)
2) old maps (copies) –
we present a suite in a
chronological order, in
which it is marked the
Snagov Lake with a red dot
to understand and follow
the evolution of political and
administrative memberships
- the consequences and
implications.
3) pieces of numismatics
(exposed only during major
events; we have found that
seeing some coins (copies
– Greek and Roman,
similar to the ones found
on the island) from the
main historical moments
relevant – can help for a
better transposition during
the periods taken into
account. Th e coins can be
used (visually) as an “axis”
of time, as a continuity, etc.
Th is collection presents:
a) a description of the place
names (old names) for
diff erent places and parts in
Snagov Area
b) references to the
collection of Ethnography
and Celebrities
Th is collection includes:
1) a collection of books
of history, archaeology,
brochures and articles in the
domain
2) several grouped coins
(replica) (in certain periods,
that correspond to certain
locally important moments)
14 Collection 02: “ETHNOGRAPHY - local traditions - Snagov Area”
collections06/ETHNOGRAPHY - local traditions - Snagov Area
ETHNOGRAPHY - local traditions - Snagov Area
Background:
By the theme “Ethnography
and local traditions”
we intend to reconstruct
(and preserve) the specifi c
archaic life (peasant) in
Snagov area and in time
to achieve even a “living
museum”. Th e sources of
information are limited, so
that the approach is diffi cult
(but even though) – it is
much more interesting.
Within this area, you can
ask yourself some simple
questions:
1) why did the transition
from the stage of massive
oak forest (impenetrable) –
to current state occur?
2) what were the fi rst
persons doing in these
areas, what occupations /
craft s did they have, how
were they organized, how
did they evolve, what did
they specialize in, what
happened to them, what
have they become?
Compared to the relative
known habits of the Getae
living here 2000 years ago,
signifi cant changes have
occurred with the arrival of
the Slavs (in 600 AD) - from
where we have the name
Snagov (“sneg” meaning
“snowfl ake” ). Th e Slavs
being peaceful people,
tolerant, with preference
for agriculture - were able
to work and then even to
integrate into the existing
communities, contributing
substantially to population
growth and to promote their
values and habits. Th erefore,
in Snagov area, we fi nd
many names, place names,
15Collection 02: “ETHNOGRAPHY - local traditions - Snagov Area”
collections 06/ETHNOGRAPHY - local traditions - Snagov Area
customs, mentalities - with
obvious Slave roots (Snagov,
Dobre, Dobroşeşti, Nedelea,
Bugean, Gheorghe, etc).
Th e analysis of the
language, the words and the
utterances reveal interesting
diff erences even between
the neighbouring villages,
which was noticed by
Grigore Antipa and Mihail
Sadoveanu (who noticed
the use of diff erent words
and unique fi shing tools
by the local people - as if
they were isolated from
the rest of the country for
at least several centuries).
Th e whole ethnographic
setting went through
several distinct periods:
cohabitation (600-1600)
and homogenisation
(1600-1800), then creation
of a new identity (1848-
1907). In the interwar
period, Romania seemed
to strengthen its identity
and specifi c, but during the
communist period (1944-
1989) it followed a setback
due to the loss of aims and
core values.
Th ere were long periods
when there were strong
external pressures (the
Phanariot period, the
Communism period) and
relatively few periods (1848-
1944) in which they could
crystallize (more and better)
a local, regional and national
identity. Th e fact is that the
values , activities / craft s,
economic, social, cultural
growth - all were infl uenced
by these powerful external
pressures and by the too
little time for introspection,
maturity and own choices.
Th e intangible heritage
formed - is found in the
collections, craft s, objects of
the Snagov Foundation.
DESCRIPTION of the
collection:
1) Panels with images
(postcards, stamps, old
maps, photos, clippings
from publications and so
on). Information, images
and objects related to ports,
houses, objects, traditions
(in an area with a lake, reeds,
fi shing and forest) - which
16 Collection 02: “ETHNOGRAPHY - local traditions - Snagov Area”
collections06/ETHNOGRAPHY - local traditions - Snagov Area
presents a set of features
with the lake (fi shing) and
forest (hunting) and craft s
(pottery , weaving, knitting,
etc.) and a series of local
traditions.
2) A collection of
ethnographic items (pots,
tools, etc.) - exhibited per
themes, in a very visual
form
3) For trades: fi shing,
pottery, basketry and
textiles (including the loom)
there is a set of ready tools
and materials, so that we
can organize experimental
workshops for groups.
Th e collection presents:
a) local traditions and
customs
b) traditional occupations/
craft s: fi shing, agriculture
(cereal and livestock),
pottery, beekeeping, reed
and wood exploitation
(basketry)
c) aspects/images from the
village life
d) details about the evo-
lution in time of the po-
pulation, of the lands, of the
relationships at work, social-
economical infrastructure.
Th e collection includes:
1) Primarily, a short story /a
chronological presentation
of the transformation of
the former Forests of Vlăsia
in the current villages (a
very visual evolution of
the restriction of Forests of
Vlăsia – the growth of plain
Vlasia - and the growth and
diversifi cation of human
communities in Snagov area
(in the narrow sense - made
of three communes: Snagov,
Gruiu, Ciolpani, and in an
extended sense - consisting
of seven communes - by
including Grădiştea, Vlăsia
Mill, Baloteşti, Periş -
forming the northern part
of Ilfov).
2) Th e visual support in the
form of panels made in the
17Collection 02: “ETHNOGRAPHY - local traditions - Snagov Area”
collections 06/ETHNOGRAPHY - local traditions - Snagov Area
form of A4 drawings (about
32 - so at least 70 pieces:
postcards, stamps, photos -
relevant explaining texts)
3) a set of minimum 30
pieces (objects) – from the
everyday life of peasants /
of the local people: diff erent
ceramics (associated to
pottery in Piscu area and
Lipia), diff erent tools and
instruments (for specifi c
local activities: fi shing, car-
pentry, agriculture, textiles),
some traditional fabrics,
some wood furniture pieces.
Craft s that can be tested
(for groups, with a prior
appointment):
1) fi shing: demonstrations
and exercises for a good
fi sherman: various nodes
of diff erent materials /
making a boat and fi shing
tools (lines, fi shing hitches
for clams and crabs, hooks,
threads of silk, tethers, nets
/ gill nets, basket and pots,
host, anchor, fi sh landing,
etc.) / preserving fi sh
(smoked, salted, in glaciers)
/ reading the signs on the
pond
2) pottery: demonstrations
and exercises for a good
potter: comparing and
choosing the clays /
preparation - kneading
the clay and storing it /
manufacturing various
products – at the potter’s
wheel / making diff erent
fi gures (e.g. whistle) and
other toys - for children but
also for entertainment and
regular fairs
3) basketry: (made of
reeds, rushes, husk (maize
leaves), willow twigs)
demonstrations and
exercises for a twiner:
raw material recognition
/ harvest - training -
storage - preservation /
manufacturing diff erent
products in a rather broad
classifi cation (over 20
diff erent types of pieces)
4) textiles: demonstrations
and exercises for a good
weaver: raw material
recognition / knowledge
of harvesting operations,
storage, preservation, pre-
paration of raw material /
preparation - setting the
tools used (loom, schemer,
etc.)
18 Collection 03: “Good and “bad“ celebrities”
collections07/Good and “bad“ celebrities
Good and “bad“ celebritiesTh e theme “Good and Bad CELEBRITIES” presents a chronological perspec-tive on human presence in Snagov area and a few details about the most im-portant people, “bound” to Snagov area. “Link” de-fi ned in various ways: to love Snagov / to live / to visit constantly/ to suff er / to die / to contribute /to write – to compose /to build / to demolish – to destroy.Th e celebrities remembered are listed chronologically (usually on one A4 page) and if it was the case - with specifi c parts (that is with the most representative im-ages).Th e fact is that the person-alities in the communities are those that emphasise or change directions and trends, those that have con-tributions that empower the others - and it may be interesting to imagine the consequences of their ab-sence (or taking diff erent decisions by - or in rela-
tion to them). I wonder what would have changed.Th e division into good or “bad” – is at your choice, to be done in front of the collection (as a game), by putting a note in a box with the number of the panel and of the drawing - and we periodically make sum-maries of the votes found.So far, we have identifi ed over 100 celebrities of whom among them: nationally rel-evant (90), internationally (20) and locally (12).Snagov area has always been
targeted (and even inhab-ited) by country and region leaders (political, military, administrative, etc.) so there are various associated events, which are known only locally or in forms quite diff erent from those already “told “. Th ese range from murders, executions, “forced” detention / domi-cile / residence - to humor-ous and unlikely events like crocodiles and anacondas
lost in the lake and mysteri-ous legends.Th e fact is that many people with money and / or power, desired and had (usually for a relatively short period of time) - one property at Sna-gov. And depending on the time and on the moral / val-ues of those times (or pres-ent) - these celebrities were considered good or bad.It is believed that at Sna-gov there are negative charges and dimensions:Th us, no family / ruler could own so far (at the edge of the lake) a property for more than 25 years (without the emergence of various troubles / major problems) - reason for some legends / local explanations (perhaps related to the curses start-ing from the prince Radu the Handsome). And there are many violent episodes: many bloody battles took place in the area, many ex-ecutions took place on the
island Vlad Ţepeş, a whole convoy drowned at a cross-ing and recently Virgil Madgearu has been shot in
19Collection 03: “Good and “bad“ celebrities”
collections 07/Good and “bad“ celebrities
the park Snagov, Imre Nagy and Josepf Beck as well as Pătrăşcanu - had been house arrested in Snagov, there drown annually in the lake between 2 and 5 people.But there are also positive charges and dimensions:A number of writers and other artists - created / composed - even at Sna-gov. Most of the Romanian rowing world champions formed and trained them-selves at Snagov. A lot of celebrities (heads of the state, politi-cal leaders, heads of services and even notorious terror-ists - came to Snagov and made decisions with their peers, es-pecially during 1933 to 2008) even with an international impact. Th us, there is a long series of important moments at
a national, regional, Eu-ropean and even world level – related to Snagov.
DESCRIPTION of thecollection:1) Panels with images (post-cards, stamps, old maps, photos, clippings from pub-lications etc.) + short ex-planatory texts, presented chronologically, with the main local, national, in-ternational, good or “bad” celebrities - which were in connection to Snagov area2) Each celebrity is as-signed at least to a draw-ing A4 - in which there are presented images (cards, postcards, stamps, scanned photos and so on), quotes, interpretations and possible conclusions.3) some objects of several local and national celebri-ties (e.g. Sadoveanu’s um-brella, etc.)
Th e collection presents:a) primarily a vi-sual “timeline” organized into A4 drawings [at least 5 boards, that is at minimum 5x16 = 80 A4 drawings, that is over 150 of pieces included]b) only in multi-
media version (available on request) may be presented a regrouping - presenting
celebrities on the criterion of “profession” / “compe-tence”: writer, director, politician, leader, famous athlete, celebrity, historical fi gure, criminal character etc.c) if it was the case – the concrete / direct contribu-tion (positive or negative) to Snagov area [there are
several celebrities, including locally – for whom I made details of their contribu-tions]Th e collection still includes: a) a collection of books, bro-chures, publications - con-taining works, articles, ref-erences to these celebritiesb) some documentations (more detailed) about
20 Collection 03: “Good and “bad“ celebrities”
collections07/Good and “bad“ celebrities
Celebrities “belonging” to Snagov area
21Collection 03: “Good and “bad“ celebrities”
collections 07/Good and “bad“ celebrities
22 Collection 03: “Good and “bad“ celebrities”
collections07/Good and “bad“ celebrities
some of the celebritiesc) a game: the visitors fi ll in a form with several celebrities (top 3 pleasant, 3 negative, 3 who had negative contri-bution upon Snagov area, 3 who had positive contribu-tion and so on).
List of celebrities included in the collection (with various “connections” with Snagov area):
Seneslau (voivodeship), Basarab, Vladislav, Mircea cel Bătrân, Vlad Dracul, Vladislav II, Vlad Ţepeş, Radu cel Frumos, Basarab cel Tânăr, Vlad Călugărul, Neagoe Basarab, Mircea Ciobanu, D-na Ghica, Pe-tru cel Tânăr, Mihai Viteazu and Stanca (wife), Postel-nicul Cantacuzino, Matei Basarab, Constantin Brân-coveanu, Antim Ivireanul,
Mitita Filipescu, Nicolae Bălcescu, C.D. Aricescu, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Al-exandru Odobescu, Mir-cea Malaieru, Nicolae Gri-gorescu, Grigore Antipa, Regina Maria, Fisherman Niculae Vasile, Mihail Sadoveanu, Ioan Alexan-dru Brătescu-Voineşti, Panait Istrati, Constantin Băicoianu, George Enescu, Prince Nicolae, Nicolae
Local celebrities
23Collection 03: “Good and “bad“ celebrities”
collections 07/Good and “bad“ celebrities
Caranfi l, Dem Dobrescu, King Carol II, Prince– king Mihai, Nicolae Iorga, Iuliu Maniu, Brunea Fox, Zelea Codreanu, Virgil Madgea-ru, (a series of interwar magnates owing around 30 villas in Snagov), Mareşalul Ion Antonescu, Josef Beck, Manfred von Killinger, Lucreţiu Pătrăşcanu (l14), (Russian military and po-litical nomenclature), (Imre Nagy + his colleagues), (the nomenclature of Gheorghiu Dej + his guests: Iosip Broz Tito, etc.), (the nomencla-ture of Nicolae Ceauşescu + Nicolae Doicaru + Ion Mihai Pacepa + their guests: Carlos, Yas-ser Arafat, Gaddafi , etc.)Writers, historians, local
teachers: Anatolie Paniş, Constantin Georgescu, Ion Dumitriu-Snagov, Dumit-ru Vintilă, Alexandru NeaguArtists: Geo Bogza, Con-stantin Codrescu), Vlad Muşatescu, Margareta Pâs-laru, Florin Piersic, Irina Petrescu, Sergiu Nicolaes-cu, Ştefan Iordache, Vio-leta Andrei, Fanuş Neagu, Dan Piţa, Dinu Tănase, Ion Băieşu, Ana Szeles, Angela Similea, Nicolae Corjos, Ovidiu Iuliu Molodovan, Sebastian Papaiani, Michael JacksonSportsmen: Aurel Vernes-cu, Măcean Tiberiu, Sînceac Anton, Radu Nicolae, Pon-gratz Ştefan, Leon Rot-man, Mihai Ţurcaş, Atanase Sciontic, Simion Cuciuc,
Hilde Lauer, Simion Is-mailciuc, Dumitru Alexe, Ion Dospinescu, Gheo-rghe + Toma Simionov, Macarenco-Ciobanu-Ticu-Popa, Ion Bârlădeanu, Ivan Patzaichin, Vasile Diba, Sanda Toma, Elisabeta Lipa, Rodica Arba, Elena (Horvat) Florea, Angela Alupei, Constanţa Burcică, Georgeta Damian, Viorica Susanu, Georgeta Andru-nache, Bjorn Rune Borg, Nadia Comăneci.
24 Collection 04: “Monasteries and Churches” - in Snagov Area
collections08/Monasteries and Churches - in Snagov Area
Monasteries and Churches - in Snagov Area
Th e theme “MONASTERIES
and CHURCHES” (1408-
up to present) presents
(briefl y) representative ima-
ges and short events related
to the main three places of
worship in Snagov Area:
1) Vlad Ţepeş Monastery
(or Snagov) situated on the
island in the middle of the
lake (could be visited also
by boat)
2) Căldăruşani Monastery
(of monks)
3) Ţigăneşti Monastery (of
nuns)
Th ese places represent
material achievements of
administrative and econo-
mic power concentrations
(in diff erent periods) and
therefore evidence of a unit
and cultural continuity
(values).
Chronological appearance
of the three monasteries
(Snagov - 1408), Căldăru-
şani - 1638), Tigăneşti -
1805) can be analyzed in
conjunction with the de-
forestations of the Forests
of Vlăsia, the emergence
of new trading roads, the
mills on the river Ialomiţa
and then the change of
their importance, the
development of nearby
communities, the various
princes preferences for one
or the other, the changes
in tax systems applied by
the monasteries to the
surrounding communities
(and the number of slaves -
Gypsy - used).
Each monastery has
both its history and
interdependence with the
others (as alternatively there
was favoured one over the
others, diff erent estates
were moved from one to the
other and gathered together
important wealth from
which an important part was
sent to Athos annually. Th us
only when (on one side)
the local communities have
grown enough (in terms
of population and sense
of self / identity) and (on
the other side) the coercive
power (Phanariot - feudal)
of the monasteries lowered
enough, starting from
1850, it was possible the
appearance of churches in
the villages around the lake.
Currently, in the three
communes: Snagov, Gruiu
and Ciolpani (a combined
population of about 18,000
inhabitants) there are about
10 churches, quite diff erent
from each other and with
their own story.
It can be very interesting
to follow (e.g. in the case
of the monastery Snagov),
how it has evolved over time
as both main and auxiliary
25Collection 04: “Monasteries and Churches” - in Snagov Area
collections 08/Monasteries and Churches - in Snagov Area
buildings (including the
protective walls, the bridge
and the tunnel - from
the island to the shore).
At least for the locals, the
Church is an institution and
an important place. For the
true peasants (who left for
the pool or in the woods,
making a cross fi rst and then
a prayer / a request with a
promise), the Monasteries
and the Churches in the
area represented the base
– the community centre.
Hence, from the perspective
of becoming local, the
understanding of the local
monasteries and churches
development is related to
the adjustment of customs,
to the ethnographic
diversity, to the great shocks
and social dramas.
DESCRIPTION of the
collection:
1) Panels with images (post-
cards, stamps, old maps,
photos, clippings from
publications and so on).
Information and images
related to the secular and
religious history of these
religious places (which
also had an administrative,
military, political, cultural
role and there were even
a place of detention and
executions)
2) For each monastery,
there is a panel (16 A4
drawings) - as visually and
chronologically as possible,
with references to a few
m om e nt s / h app e n i ng s /
celebrities/ objects / the most
important in their existence.
Th e visitor is encouraged
to note the information
provided in this place, to
refl ect and prepare better
before visiting the actual
locations concerned. Th ere
is a separate presentation
(panel with 16 drawings
A4) and of the most relevant
churches in the area.
Th e collection presents:
a) details about the
evolution in time of
religious places (and of the
change in organisation -
administration, of the role
and activities / services
provided by the community
and by the others)
b) some atypical / unusual
stories - locally collected
(and some which were
unfound in any other
written form so far!)
Th e collection includes:
a) a set of cards/brochures
/guides made at diff erent
times
*) [Optional] Th e visitor
is invited to “fi ll in” some
“missing” steps/information
/events (as some boards will
even have a question or a
suggestive image, indirectly
related to the subject)
26 Collection 05: “VLAD BASARAB ŢEPEŞ / DRACULA – HISTORY and LEGEND”
collections09/“VLAD BASARAB ŢEPEŞ / DRACULA – HISTORY and LEGEND”
“VLAD BASARAB ŢEPEŞ / DRACULA – HISTORY and LEGEND”
Th e reigns of Vlad Ţepeş
were in the years 1488,
1456-1462, 1476. In the
years aft er his death, it
continued to be published
(by the new printing system
- Guttenberg) defamatory
leafl ets (e.g. Dracula Waide).
In less than 200 years, his
memory has faded at both
European and national level.
But with the advent of the
novel “Dracula” by Bram
Stoker (1897), it appeared
internationally the fi ctional
Dracula, associated to Vlad
Basarab the Impaler, which
begins (as an induced eff ect)
to be rediscovered and
reconsidered nationally. Th e
fact is that at an international
level, the propagation /
increase rate of the brand
Dracula (and the reposition
as the leader of all the bad
characters) accelerated
(especially since the advent
of fi lm Dracula 1931 -
Bela Lugosi). Internally,
since 1906 (the National
Exhibition Jubilee), due to
the new nationalist current
- Prince Vlad Ţepeş has (re)
gained additional symbolic
meanings of justice
(associated with Tudor
Vladimirescu etc).
It is surprising that
Romania has never
run any internationally
program / measure as
taking / repositioning /
fructifi cation of the doublet
Vlad Ţepeş Basarab (the
real prince) <-> Dracula
(the fi ctional character with
negative valence), although
internationally there
were held international
congresses in which it was
concluded that the brand
Dracula remains Romania’s
role to take, invest and
develop projects related to
these topics.
Th e collection belongs
to the OPEN class (that
includes postcards, stamps,
coins, papers, manuscripts,
pictures and so on - all
related to the subject
pursued) and contains
5 panels that means 80
A4 drawings (so about
200 pieces). Th e related
researches conducted inclu-
ded: old maps, original
documents, treaties of
history, images and pictures,
diff erent records etc. Th e
collection exemplifi es
at least 15 new aspects
(relative to the reference
bibliography, consisting of
over 20 reference books - on
these topics).
Each drawing illustrates
27Collection 05: “VLAD BASARAB ŢEPEŞ / DRACULA – HISTORY and LEGEND”
collections 09/“VLAD BASARAB ŢEPEŞ / DRACULA – HISTORY and LEGEND”
a story, a fact, a situation,
a conclusion. Th ere are a
number of unique pieces
(a few hundred years old).
Th e main objectives asso-
ciated to the collection are:
1. to present as true,
visually, unique and
pleasing - but based on
research, documents, mail,
documents from many
diff erent sources and
countries - and the aspects
of the life and activity of
the ruler, considered by
historians ‘cruel but fair’.
2. to defi ne as precisely
possible the diff erence
between the historical
character Vlad Dracula the
Impaler (Ţepeş) and Count
Dracula in the novel of
the same name written by
Irishman Abraham Bram
Stoker
3. further development /
increasing of the collection
- by including new themes
/ topics
4. to continue the parti-
cipation in exhibitions and
international events (up
to date the collection has
gone around the world and
got about 20 gold, wermail,
silver medals – arriving in
countries like USA, Japan,
Korea, Argentina, Brazil,
Belgium, Denmark , Poland,
Bulgaria, Hungary, Spain,
Turkey, etc.)
Th rough this collection it
is demonstrated that Vlad
Ţepeş was a bloody ruler
because he was pressured
by the circumstances:
a) subordinations / alliances
alternating (voluntary and
enforced) in the form of
vassalage between Budapest
and Istanbul along with
paying tribute to Istanbul
(due to the changes in the
balance of power – on the
background of Crusades
suites and Ottoman attempts
to conquest Europe)
b) internal struggles bet-
ween the coalitions of the
boyars who were supporting
(alternatively) the Daneşti
28 Collection 05: “VLAD BASARAB ŢEPEŞ / DRACULA – HISTORY and LEGEND”
collections09/“VLAD BASARAB ŢEPEŞ / DRACULA – HISTORY and LEGEND”
family, and respectively the
Draculeşti family.
c) the period’s customs
(characterized by cruel,
bloody, public punishments)
d) stopping the long series
of betrayals of the boyars (in
the last 58 years, an average
reign was about 2 years)
e) the desire of the ruler to
insure the independence
of Hungary and Wallachia
(Wallachia + southern
Transylvania), the insurance
and the administrative
conditions’ compliance
(customs, taxes, roads and
strict commercial circuits,
rules etc.) to generate the
income, to gather and the
local community
f) fair relationships between
people (with confi dence and
predictability) – taking into
account the archaic values
collapse in the community
under the pressure of
numerous barbarian hordes
that roamed the area in the
last hundred years
Dracula topic is very
appreciated especially in
England and in the USA
where it is already part of
the local culture and there
are also world congresses
held.
In these groups, however,
it seems to be little interest
in the reality (origin) of the
subject and even greater
concern for the impact and
the potential of the subject
to certain audiences, eager
for strong emotions.
PALMARES:
Silver won in the last three
years at the exposures in
the EU (2012 in Maribor -
Slovenia, 2011 at Balaton
- Hungary, 2010 at Plovidiv
- Bulgaria), in 2009 Vermail
exhibition from Bucharest
History Museum - Şutu, as
representative collection for
the 550 years anniversary
documentary of Bucharest
(also by Vlad the Impaler).
Previously, awards in
Washington - U.S. and other
5 countries. Th e collection
is regarded as the most
representative collection in
the country, on Vlad Ţepeş
Basarab theme.
29Collection 06: “Eco-Tourism of Snagov Area”
collections 10/Eco-Tourism of Snagov Area
Eco-Tourism of Snagov Area
In the interwar period
in Snagov area there was
created an eco-leisure
capacity of 20,000 seats
in the Park and Snagov
Beach, to which during
1948-1982 it was added
the infrastructure with a
capacity of about 15,000
seats, so that in 1990 there
should have be reopened
the resort (closed in 1982
by Ceauşescu) and the local
community to benefi t from
jobs, consistent income,
money from fees for local
development projects etc.
In place of these justifi ed
expectations, Snagov
became a resort / an isolated
community, with thousands
of villas built chaotically, a
sort of “luxury bedroom”.
Th rough the collection
presented, you are invited
to fi nd what there (still)
exists as infrastructure and
to think of what could (still)
do - for the good of all.
But really, when and how
did it begin the moving
from some ancient villages,
perfectly organized and
adapted to the archaic rural
life cycles (sustainable), at
the current status “modern”
but with massive forgetting
of the traditions and roots,
with the loss of the pastures
shared, with the sale of all
the land around the lake
to other persons (who had
taken the reeds away and
concreted the banks and
thus the ecosystems were
broken) so that the length
of the lake of about 16km,
on both sides until they
left about 10 trips to the
lake for locals and those
unequipped?... Maybe nice,
safe unsustainable and
mostly jobless (perspective).
I have learned through
researches that between
30 Collection 06: “Eco-Tourism of Snagov Area”
collections10/Eco-Tourism of Snagov Area
1906 and 1908 it was sold
for the fi rst time some land
with the aim of building
villas, sale brokered by the
local resident, a member of
the family Lăiţa, which over
the next 20 years became
famous and specialized in
the sale of about 20 lots, all
on the lake side.
And yet, could one fi nd other
details? What were the main
stages, changes, contexts,
gains / losses, impact on
the local community?
What has happened over
time with those who came
/ bought / frequented the
protocol villas in Snagov?
Why could no family
possess the properties next
to the rivers for more than
25 years, without major
disasters? Are there (and
what kind of) any strong
curses in the area? (like
that of Radu the Handsome
etc.). Could it have an
eff ect? What other resorts –
does Snagov area resemble
to (even as potential)?
Th e collection of postcards,
pictures and books about /
from Snagov area (covering
a period of about 90 years in
about 40 pieces: especially
postcards, photos, old
documents). Primarily,
there is a short story /
chronological presentation
of the transformation of
Snagov area in a “virgin”
part in the years 1908, in
the area under the 40 villas
(in 1940), then with less
than 200 villas (1989) and
over 700 riparian villas at
present. Snagov is a spa area,
a natural reservation (which
includes two protected
areas, several forests of the
former Forests of Vlăsia)
and an important wetland,
due to a lake with a length
of about 16 km.
Special climatic conditions:
the average temperature is
with 6-8 degrees Celsius
lower than in Bucharest,
while the oxygen and
humidity level is higher than
in Bucharest and Ploieşti.
Th e biodiversity has a total
of over 2,700 species of fl ora
and fauna, of which about
120 protected species listed
by the European Union. Of
which about 42 are on the
Red List.
31Collection 06: “Eco-Tourism of Snagov Area”
collections 10/Eco-Tourism of Snagov Area
Even since 1933, in Snagov
there were inaugurated
Snagov Beach and Park
(it can be viewed even the
offi cial opening to which
attended King Charles II,
Prince Michael, Nicolae
Iorga, Iuliu Maniu, Dem
Dobrescu and so on). Th is
resort has been added
to the major attractions:
Snagov Monastery (Vlad the
Impaler) and Snagov Palace
(built by Prince Nicholas).
Th us, lately, Bucharest and
Ploieşti inhabitants have got
to come more than 20,000
per weekend (in the 1930s).
Only aft er the strengthening
of the unions in Romania
(aft er 1958) and the
construction of an additional
number of houses, the
tourist and recreational
infrastructure (e.g. the
railway complex - Astoria)
returned to a new peak of
visitors during the weekend,
of about 7,000-11,000 .
In the 80s, Ceauşescu
drastically reduced the
access to the area and there
were even demolished
several tourist destinations.
From 1950 until now, the
main visible activity and
worthwhile was held in the
sports facilities of rowing,
32 Collection 06: “Eco-Tourism of Snagov Area”
collections10/Eco-Tourism of Snagov Area
which brought Romania
the most medals at the
Olympics and at the World
Championships. In the
1990 – 2006 period there
were privatized most villas
so that at present it is again
possible to explore the area,
with many resources and
attractions - of national and
international interest.
D E S C R I P T I O N
of the collection:
1) Panels with images
(postcards, stamps, old
maps, photos, clippings
from publications and
so on). Information,
images and objects related
to the destination / the
brand / Snagov resort
grouped chronologically
per key locations.
2) An overview of all eco-
tourist attractions that have
ever existed in Snagov area.
3) A collection of books,
brochures, articles -
grouped per locations
/ areas in a very visual
way (with quite diff erent
presentation modes)
4) Old movies related to
Snagov area eco-tourism
(viewed on request by
groups – with a prior
appointment)
Th e collection presents:
a) the main tourist
attractions and leisure
off ers in Snagov area, from
a historical perspective
b) sequences of images
(postcards and old photos)
of the main locations / tourist
destinations in Snagov
area - how they evolved
/ devolved over the time
c) postcards, photos,
envelopes, stamps, various
references and statistics
about the potential and the
degree of using the resources
/ attractions of the area.
d) details about the
involution / the decay of
Snagov tourist destination,
related to reconfi rmations
of the potential that it has.
33Collection 07: “Water Sports”
collections 11/ Water Sports - History and national and international perspective (Snagov Kingdoms)
Water Sports - History and
national and international
perspective (Snagov
Kingdoms)
History of rowing in
Romania started in 1864
when a group of young
students from Timisoara,
returned from their studies
abroad, established, for their
own pleasure, the company
of little boats “Regatta”
where they were practicing
recreational rowing.
On 25-June-1933, with
the offi cial opening of
Snagov Park and Beach
there occurs in Snagov the
formal establishment of
the fi rst national centre for
rowing. Offi cials: Charles II,
future King Mihai, Nicolae
Iorga, Iuliu Maniu etc.
During the Second World
War the rowing activity
stops. Aft er the war in 1945,
the activity is resumed by
organizing annual National
Championship, Arad -
1945, Galaţi - 1946, Orşova
- 1947, Constanţa - 1948
and since 1949 it has been
established at Snagov.
From the years 1950 – 1960,
on the banks of Lake Snagov,
the sports facilities of the
sporting clubs Dinamo and
Steaua were established,
which were Romanian real
nurseries of water sports,
kayak- canoe, rowing.
In only a few years (due
to the outstanding results
achieved), Regatta (Inter-
national) Snagov has
become a traditional compe-
tition (continued then
for about 40 years) taking
place on Lake Snagov on an
annual basis. In a restricted
version, the national annual
championships on the Lake
Snagov have the role of
intermediate verifi cation of
our athletes before the major
competitions: European and
World Championships (and
the Olympic Games).
Th e great Olympic
champions (over 200
34 Collection 07: “Water Sports”
collections11/ Water Sports - History and national and international perspective (Snagov Kingdoms)
medals) of Romanian
rowing were training on
the surface of Snagov
waters. Water sports have
held the top spot as the
number of Olympic medals
in Romania between 1954
and 2010. Th us, they
represent a visibility vector
/ international / national
promotion vector and even
a country brand.
Water sports facilities – on
the Lake Snagov:
1) Th e Old Facility- Th e
National Sports Complex
NICOLAE NAVASART
2) Th e New Facility – Th e
National Sports Complex
SNAGOV
3) Dynamo Facility- Th e
sports facility Ghermaneşti-
Snagov
4) High school – High
school Snagov - LMK
(Mihail Kogălniceanu) =
Junior Olympic Center
5) Yacht Club Snagov -
Established in the interwar
period (and abolished by
the communists)
Th e oldest known fi lm
to date, with images from
the Snagov, is dated June
25, 1933, when the water
festivals were organized
at Snagov Beach and was
made the inauguration of a
rowing station (of the legion
of scouts). Th e decree issued
then: “It is established a
water day in one of the
Sundays, in the second half
of June, for all schools in
the vicinity of water and
with the help of cultural and
sporting associations that
adhered to this initiative.”
Th e daily program consists
of: trips, swimming and
canoeing competitions.
Special lessons, cultural
meetings, public conferences
with problems related to
our waters. Th ere are pages
of newspapers, exhibitions,
projections and books sales
from the literature of the
water domains. - Minister
D. GUSTI
35Collection 07: “Water Sports”
collections 11/ Water Sports - History and national and international perspective (Snagov Kingdoms)
So that Snagov Foundation,
according to the decree
forgotten (found) made
(and has) the only exhibition
and presentations (as visual
collection) related to this
sport in Romania.
DESCRIPTION of the
collection:
1) fi ve panels with images
(postcards, stamps, old
maps, photos, clippings
from publications etc.), over
60 A4 drawings, over 100
pieces submitted.
Information, images and
objects related to water
sports on the Lake Snagov.
Grouped chronologically
(decades - Olympics) and
optionally (further) per
sports, sports facilities, etc.
2) Collection of books,
brochures, articles - in a
very visual form
3a) a chronology of Lake
Snagov competitions (espe-
cially of the Kingdoms
Snagov, including the inter-
national ones!)
3b) some statistics and
presentations (comparison)
of the evolution of water
sports awards in Romania
Th e collection presents:
a) the main sports: canoeing,
kayaking, rowing (at least 5
A4 drawings)
b) the main athletes (who
have obtained outstanding
results)
c) the main sports facilities /
locations where the athletes
are training on the Lake
Snagov
d) a set of pieces of philately
– of a great value (some
with signatures of the major
champions)
Th e collection also includes
(shown only during special
events):
1) several medals and fl ags
- for competitions and
Premiers made
2) some specifi c objects of
this sport
3) several short fi lms
36 * Other Collections *
collections12/Other Collections
Collection:
“Biodiversity in the complex
Snagov Reservation”
Th e whole area is actually a
natural park (in the interior
gardens of the inhabitants
come a lot of creatures that
the others may sometimes
see only in the zoos).
Th e existing biodiversity
includes over 2,700 species
of fl ora and fauna in
diff erent habitats (4 are
dominant), with over 120
protected species and 43
species on the red list.
If the complex Snagov
Reservation was established
in 1952 (with over 1400
hectares - and that was not
abolished), in 2000 there
were defi ned two other
neighbouring protected
areas: “Snagov Lake” and
“Snagov Forest” (which
actually must be unifi ed,
because they have common
habitats).
Snagov Foundation presents
(at the headquarters or to)
visitors:
a) a POND with three tanks
(28,000 litters of water) with
over 40 species of wild fauna
and fl ora (that give the Lake
Snagov a pretty good shape).
Th e maintenance system
includes two TROUGHS
with 8 sections where there
can be seen closely diff erent
species (depending on the
season – on the life cycles of
various species of fauna and
fl ora) and several ongoing
experiments
b) some AQUARIUMS with
species extracted from the
POND (facilitating various
observations, experiments,
maintenance - development
works)
c) a set of INFO BOARDS
(with all the fi sh in the Lake
Snagov, crayfi sh, clams,
snails, special plants)
d) over 10 multimedia
presentations related to the
main habitats and species
existing in the area
e) a collection of pieces
(postcards, sayings, stamps,
public information and
education and conservation
used in the last century) –
presented in the form of
A4 drawings (the panels are
exhibited on the walls)
f) various materials and
media, awareness, education
means
g) a collection of images
and posts made by children
(“Th us Yes / So do not!”
h) samples of fl ora (like an
HERBARIUM) - currently
being completed (because
the approach will take
several years)
i) samples of fauna (like
an INSECTARIUM) -
currently being completed
(because the approach will
take several years)
Compared to the PASSIVE
information provided by
the means listed previously,
Snagov Foundation pro-
vides a set of activities
(even small laboratory
works, with handouts and
associated tools) made at
the headquarters’ POND
(with the available species)
and in conjunction with
visiting tours – information
in the habitats of Snagov
area.
Collection:
“Communism in Snagov”
Th e Ceauşescu family
lived about 23 years, about
seven months per year
in Snagov (where they
did “the commute” to
37* Other Collections *
collections 12/Other Collections
“the workplace”). But in
the area there were “run”
nomenclature people in the
over 120 lakeside villas, who
were assisted / guarded by
dozens of agents, policemen,
soldiers, etc. Here also
dozens of international
celebrities has come (good
or bad) for over 40 years.
And because some of the
administrative and service
staff is local, during the time
a lot of events, stories, and
impressions accumulated
– which present from a
diff erent angle and light,
the celebrities and some of
the key events of the period.
Th e collection (developing)
consists of: a set of pictures
/ images, objects, books and
listening (from the guide)
some of the stories collected
locally.
Collection:
“Collectivisation in the
commune Snagov“
Additionally to the tragedies
and abuses associated
with the collectivisation,
even in Snagov village it
was on the movie “Th e
progress” aft er the only
book written on the subject
(even by Marin Preda).
Th us, in the village some
residents were beaten and
taken up while some others
participated as extras in
the central school, in the
“enthusiastic” fi lming
activities and festive with
brand actors (e.g. Colea
Răutu etc.) and contributed
to realizing a model /
standard for some other
places (particularly for
documenting the process
and to “inform” future
generations).
Sequences in the fi lm are
extremely important to
the community but from
another perspective: they
contain many images and
scenes with the houses, the
areas and the people who
were keeping alive the local
traditions.
And it was also Snagov the
place where it was written
(by Anatolie PANIS) the
only book “Th e decay”
showing how (strangely
– the same people who
made the collectivisation
by force) “work” according
to principles and (now)
democratically realize the
backwards (to privatize).
So it follows a series of sad
conclusions (refl ecting
the opportunism and the
lack of deeper values and
principles in humans)
and some very funny.
Th at is (very) Romanian.
Th e collection (developing)
consist of: a series of
movie clips (“Th e course”),
a collection of relevant
excerpts from “Th e decay”, a
fi le with information about
CAP in the area and part of
tangles (problems) created
(and many unresolved even
today).
Collection: “Schools in
Snagov area (history and
achievements)”
In 2010 we celebrated 100
years since the establishment
of the fi rst school in Snagov
(village) and 50 years since
the establishment of the
High School. So that there
accumulated so many
promotions (and number
of educators, teachers, head
teachers, principals) – on
whom we can come back and
mention with understanding
and appreciation those who
deserved the most (and note
what can be used in the
future).
Th ere are also graduates with
remarcable achievements /
destinies.
Th e collection (developing)
consists of: a set of pictures
38 * Other Collections *
collections12/Other Collections
with graduates’ promotions,
several school monographs
made partly by some
teachers in the previous
decades and several pieces
of clothing (uniforms and
accessories).
Collection:
“Th e demolitions in Snagov
area” (as 441 houses - only
in Snagov commune - were
demolished during 1986-
1989). Th is painful subject
must be documented-
presented - understood -
assumed, as only this way
we can understand “what
it was” and what “should
be” and return to a system
of values (not just to a new
“adaptation” to the “new
times”).
For this matter, we request
concrete photos, details and
documents – that should
materialize the concrete way
in which a dictatorial system
was able to determine /
motivate / coerce other local
residents and to destroy
their properties.
Th e collection (developing)
consists of: the list with
demolished persons, a
book written by Anatolie
Paniş (on this theme),
some photos, stamps and
envelopes associated.
Collection:
“Interview (with old people
/ local people) – people who
know Snagov area”
Th e oral culture remains
an important vector in any
community. And even if the
facts (the reality) may get
deformed (the perceptions,
the interests, etc.) it still
remains relevant and ex-
tremely interesting the pre-
sentation way (the story)
and then the specifi c of an
area.
Th e collection (developing)
consists of: the list of
interviews and recordings
(mostly) audio of several
memories, interviews, stories
realised by older locals.
Collection:
“Scans of various articles
related to Snagov area”
[1989-present]”
Th e community of Snagov
continues to be troubled
by the (non) actions taken
by most other institutions
(central, regional) that
manages the properties,
the businesses and various
resources in Snagov area (and
having usually a negative
impact on the residents).
a) all the numbers (about
10 years) of the newspaper
“SNAGOV – a political,
social, cultural paper of
Ilfov County” conducted
by Anatolie PANIŞ (and
a few numbers made by
Constantin GEORGESCU).
Th ese are accessible via the
link to the Facebook album
of Snagov Foundation.
b) a collection of links from
the media in the past few
years, with references to
cases / people / events –
related to Snagov area
Collection: “Books and
publications” which contain
information about Snagov
area (bibliographic lists)
Th e collection (developing)
consist of: a collection of
books, scans and materials
that relate to Snagov area
(partially in digital form).
So that at least 300 pages
containing over 40 very in-
teresting selections relevant
to Snagov area could even
be published in a book.
Collection: “Remarcable –
memorable residents”
As every community has
“its people” and we use to
“remember “those who
explore the extremes.
Th us we have the people
who are performing in
diff erent professions / trades
(writers, actors, engineers,
economists, military and
other professions) and even
ordinary people who have
contributed at least once or
who had a moment of glory
- memorable.
Th e collection (developing)
consists of: a panel about
these people.
And you can (mostly)
contribute to adding others
(or other details - versions).
39Other Attractions in Snagov Area
collections 13/Other Attractions in Snagov Area
Other attractions inSnagov area
Snagov museum collections
can be linked to specifi c
thematic local circuits.
Th us, can be seen / located
(by historical and cultural
thematic tours):
1. Th e Snagov Lake and
Forest - where unusual
happenings took place
over the time and where
the natural heritage (the
biodiversity) is one of
the most important at
a European level. Here
themed circuits of shooting,
greening, survival etc. can
take place.
2. Th e three major
monasteries in the area
(Snagov, Căldăruşani,
Ţigăneşti) and the local
churches
3. Monuments and triptychs
of Heroes
4. Film Castle – the fi lming
sets where fi lm celebrities
have passed (both
Romanian and foreign)
5. Snagov Palace
6. Th e place where
Ceausescu lived
7. Party’s villas
8. Traditional adobe houses
covered with reeds (e.g. the
house where Sadoveanu
came for fi shing) and even
participate in workshops
/ traditional workshops:
pottery, basketry (fi bre),
fabrics, fi shing.
9. Sports grounds where
Olympic champions were
born and even attending
water sports competitions
(about 4 per year).
Most of these attractions
can be seen only from the
outside, with no access / clear
visitation arrangements.
Exploring the Snagov area
can be done by boat, holiday
train, bicycles, and kayaks
and / or on foot (using a
map).
SNAGOVMUSEUM
COLLECTIONSPartners:
Snagov FoundationCustodian of the Natural Protected Area “Snagov Lake”
(Snagov Tur)
Sponsor:Administraţia Fondului Cultural Naţional
Author:Constantin Turmac
ISBN – 978-973-0-13815-3©copyright Fundaţia Snagov
www.fundatiasnagov.ro
Aria Naturala Protejata
“Lacul Snagov”
SNAGOV Tur
ANPLS