Trovanți grow in size because of the deposition of mineral salts from groundwater that migrates through the porous structure.
The name 'trovant' comes from the Romanian word 'trovanti', which essentially means 'cemented sand'.
Many of the stones exhibit concentric internal structures, similar to the growth rings found in trees.
The Buzău Land area is a UNESCO Global Geopark due to these unique geological formations.
Some trovanți in Romania are known to be 'mobile' due to the sliding of the soft, clay-rich soil on slopes during heavy rain.
Local folklore often refers to these stones as 'growing stones' or 'babele' (old women) due to their human-like or eccentric shapes.
The Trovanți of Ulmet are geological concretions of varying sizes and irregular, often bulbous shapes formed through the cementation of sand in sedimentary deposits. Located in the Buzău Mountains, these 'living stones' are renowned for their appearance of growth, which is a result of mineral accumulation layered over time. The site features clusters of spherical, ellipsoidal, and strangely distorted stones emerging from the soft sandstone slopes. They originated during the Miocene epoch, roughly 6 to 10 million years ago, when the region was covered by a sea. Erosion of the surrounding softer sediment gradually exposes these harder, limestone-cemented cores. The site is part of the Buzău Land Geopark, an area recognized for its unique geological and cultural heritage. Visitors follow a marked trail through a forested area that leads directly to the primary cluster of these geological curiosities.
The central cluster on the main ridge provides the most iconic view of the stones against the valley backdrop.
Wear sturdy hiking boots as the path to the stones is steep, unpaved, and can be slippery after rainfall.
Carry plenty of water and snacks, as there are no facilities or vendors located directly at the site.
Download an offline map, as cellular reception in the remote Buzău mountain area can be intermittent.
Avoid visiting immediately after heavy rain, as the clay paths become extremely difficult to navigate.
Do not touch, climb, or attempt to break the trovanți, as these are protected geological monuments.
