European Bison House Visitor Centre

Welcome!

Enter the fascinating world of the European Bison

The bison is the largest land mammal in Europe, and its role in nature is just as impressive. It creates open spaces in the forest, manages vegetation through grazing, carries seeds and supports other species to thrive by creating a suitable environment for them. At the same time, the European Bison is an important tourist attraction for the areas where they have been reintroduced, generating income for local communities.

At the European Bison House Visitor Centre you can discover in detail the amazing life and history of this majestic animal.

Hunted to extinction in the past, they have been absent from the Făgăraș Mountains for almost 200 years. Foundation Conservation Carpathia has reintroduced them to the area and is monitoring them to ensure their successful return.

The Visitor Centre is in the village of Voinești, Lerești commune, Argeș county. Information is presented in the form of interactive installations, appealing to all ages. During your visit you can find out:

How the European bison contributes to maintaining and increasing biodiversity
What it feeds on
How it relates to other species
How it has become a symbol of national pride
Where it can be found in Romania and other European countries

… and many other curiosities.

The centre was built with care and respect for nature by Foundation Conservation Carpathia, with the support of the European Commission through the LIFE+ programme and the Arcadia Foundation. It is the first in a network of visitor centres that are being built by Foundation Conservation Carpathia in the communities around the Făgăraș Mountains. In this way we are developing the visitor infrastructure of the future Făgăraș Mountains National Park and encouraging visitors to contribute to nature conservation.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE CENTRE

The architecture of the centre is inspired by the traditional mountain village style. On the outside, the proportion of the building, the roof and the ornamental details respect the tradition of the area. Inside, modern aesthetics and technology convey information about nature in an attractive way. In this way, the European Bison House Visitor Centre contributes to the preservation of the cultural identity of the municipality and blends harmoniously into the landscape.

Visitors to the main exhibition follow an interactive trail through which they gradually discover the fascinating world of the species, culminating in an ‘encounter’ with a life-size specimen. The attic hosts educational activities and movie screenings.

The centre is equipped with photovoltaic panels and uses green energy
The construction process supported the local economy by using local materials and labour
The roof is made of shingle handcrafted in community workshops

OPENING HOURS AND ADDRESS

Centrul de Vizitare Casa Zimbrului

Teracota – DJ734 148, Sat. Voinești
Commune Lerești, Jud. Argeș
postal code 117 432

To get there easily, search on your GPS for the European Bison House Visitor Centre or click here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PJtAUZBw9seHMsut6

We will be delighted to welcome you at the Visitor Centre between the following hours:

Tuesday – Friday

09:00 – 12:00

14:00 – 18:00

Saturday – Sunday

10:00 – 13:00

14:00 – 18:00

Monday

Closed

You can park in front of the Cultural Centre, on the main street, across the street from the intersection of DJ 734 and Teracota Street. From there it’s a three-minute walk to the Bison House.

WHAT TO DO IN THE FĂGĂRAȘ MOUNTAINS

The Făgăraș Mountains still offer untouched landscapes, challenging mountain trails to explore and plant species long extinct in other parts of Europe. The natural forests, which cover almost 65% of the Făgăraș Mountains, are a paradise for lynx, bears, wolves, bison, chamois, beavers, black goats, deer, roe deer, wild boars, badgers and foxes. Here you can also spot numerous bird species!

At the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains, the villages are laid out like a beautifully arranged string of beads. Farmers still preserve the rhythms of nature, which guide them in their work throughout the year. Sheep-farming is one of the oldest human activities in these places, and the tradition of transhumance is still respected by the shepherds who still take their sheep to the highest mountain peaks during the summer.

You have many options for spending time in the area:

Nature observation and understanding tours (you can hire a local guide and stay in a wildlife observatory)
Hiking along mountain trails
Taste local recipes at a local gastronomic spot
For a cultural experience, stay in one of the guesthouses around the Făgăraș Mountains
You can stop at the visitor centres developed by Foundation Conservation Carpathia around the Făgăraș Mountains: the Beaver House Visitor Centre, the European Bison House Visitor Centre, opening in April 2025
You can bring home products made in the area to contribute to the development of local producers

FIVE LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE EUROPEAN BISON

Europe’s largest land mammal: an adult can weigh up to 920 kg
Despite its size, it’s a fast animal that can run up to 40 km per hour
A herbivore, it eats grass, bark, acorns, lichens and shrubs. An adult can consume 30 to 50 kg of food per day
It can help fertilize the soil and even regenerate the forest by carrying seeds in its fur or faeces
Compared to the bison, which is native to North America, the European bison is taller, has longer legs, shorter body hair and more tail hair

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