Food at the ‘Răvășitul Oilor’ Festival in Bran.

The ‘Răvășitul Oilor’ Festival in Bran is not only a pastoral celebration but also a feast of authentic Romanian flavors. At the foot of Bran Castle, where merchants and shepherds once gathered at the old customs point, tables are now filled with cheese, cured meats, and rustic dishes cooked as they were generations ago.

The star of the festival is undoubtedly fir bark cheese (brânza în coajă de brad), a specialty of the Bran area. Wrapped in strips of fir bark, this cheese absorbs the woody aroma and resin, creating a unique, bold flavor that has been cherished for centuries.

Visitors can also enjoy:

• Balmoș, a creamy polenta dish made with butter, sour cream, and fresh sheep’s cheese;

• Bulz cooked on the embers, polenta stuffed with cheese, roasted directly over fire;

• Sheep pastrami, either smoked or grilled, often paired with freshly pressed grape must.

  
  

Traditional Romanian shepherd foods at the Răvășitul Oilor Festival in Bran – fir bark cheese, balmoș, pastramă, and rustic dishes on wooden platters.

Every bite tells the story of the shepherd’s life, of transhumance, and of Bran’s deep-rooted mountain traditions.