The overturned village, the place that became a tourist phenomenon in Romania: the story of the young man who turned an idea into a successful business
The small overturned village in Gorj County has turned into a spectacular tourist attraction that attracts more and more visitors. Since 2018, after a single overturned house went viral, a young entrepreneur expanded the concept, which has since become a tourist attraction.
Alexandru Luțan, known to those close to him under the nickname “Ducu”, is the one who initiated the project. He says the inspiration came from discussions online, where many users were comparing the idea to similar attractions in other countries. It was precisely the desire to create something different that motivated him to develop the concept and turn it into a much larger project.
The overturned village Photo: FB/The overturned house
“From the point of view of the execution of the work, the work was titanic, but when you do something with passion, everything becomes easier and you work with love. I often spent between 12-16 hours working on this project, sometimes alone, sometimes with the help of one of my friends, but my goal was to finish my dream as quickly as possible.” reported the young man on the overturned house website.
Nowadays, the overturned village in Poienari township, in Gorj county, has become a magnet for tourists. Each cottage is built upside down, and the interior is arranged so that visitors can take spectacular photos.
Nearby is another point of interest – a forest with trees painted in bright colors, which completes the atypical setting. The paint used is ecological and also has the role of keeping insects away, combining the aesthetic with the useful, according to the observer.
The success of the project has attracted the attention of tourism agencies, which now include the objective in the circuits of Oltenia, alongside attractions such as the Polovragi Monastery.
How it all started
Alexandru's story begins modestly, with a small stall where he sold kurtoş right at the entrance to the monastery area. The relationships formed then with the tour operators proved essential for the further development of the business.
“I used to give them a kurtoş each and we remained friends. They helped me a lot after I built the house, especially with the tourist groups”says the entrepreneur.
To support his dream, the young man temporarily went to work in England, where he worked in two places for four months. He invested the money he earned in equipment and promotion.
The project was by no means easy. Alexandru says that he even worked 12-16 hours a day to see his dream come true. Construction of the first cottage began in 2018, after he bought the land and sketched out the idea in a math notebook.
The outer part was made together with two friends, with no experience in the field, while the resistance structure was made with the help of a specialist.
Beyond the tourist success, Alex also conveys a message for those who want to start their own project:
“Follow your dream! If you have an idea, you don't have to give up on it, no matter the field. Work, even if it seems hard. If you believe in yourself, you will succeed.”he said.
