The life-size ark, the dinosaurs and the zoo, all in one place
In Lăzărești, in the commune of Schitu Golești, someone built a life-size Noah's Ark. It is the centrepiece of an edutainment park that is one of a kind in Romania and Eastern Europe, and around it has grown everything that keeps children busy for a whole day: live animals, dinosaurs as big as a house, workshops and playgrounds. From Mălinului it's about 30 minutes by car.
The dinosaurs are built to full scale, and the park bills its T-Rex as the fiercest in Europe. The zoo has ponies, camels, kangaroos, ostriches, alpacas, goats, sheep and birds, and the Reptile House is home to tarantulas, monitor lizards and snakes.
There is also the Egg Museum, the largest in Muntenia, the Insect Hotel and the Enchanted Mill, the only windmill standing in a lavender field. On top of that come the little train, pony-cart rides, painting and sculpture workshops and a restaurant in the park.
It's a day out made for families with children, and for school groups too. The park promotes itself for Școala Altfel and Săptămâna Verde, the Romanian schools' activity weeks, so it also works well for camps staying at the resort.
About 20 km on the DN73 towards Pitești, then Strada Gării in Lăzărești. Roughly 30 minutes by car from the resort.
Half a day for the ark, the dinosaurs and the zoo. Add the workshops and a meal in the park and it becomes a full day.
Open 10:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday and 10:00 to 19:00 at weekends. Casual, sporty clothes are best. Check opening hours and prices on arcaluinoe.eu before you set off.
