In Comana, Giurgiu county, a short walk from the monastery founded by Vlad the Impaler in 1461, the craftspeople at the Paper Mill make paper, spin wool, and shape clay by hand, the way it was done centuries ago. The Paper Mill and the Crafts Village sit on Dealul Morii, on the bank of the Neajlov river, right at the edge of Comana Natural Park. 

The project started from a simple idea: bring back handmade paper, the technique used before industrialization, and make it accessible to anyone passing through. The craftspeople make paper from recycled materials, in workshops open to visitors. Over time, letterpress printing, bookbinding, hand-loom weaving, reed mace work, pottery, and woodwork joined the paper workshop.

Visitors don't just watch. They can make their own sheet of paper, print a postcard on the letterpress, or try traditional weaving, guided by the resident craftspeople. Children from age 3 have workshops suited to their age, from handmade paper up to traditional embroidery for the older ones.

The complex is open to the public on select Saturdays, from 12:00 to 18:00 — the exact schedule is posted on their page. Admission is 20 lei for adults and 15 lei for students, retirees, and people with disabilities, and children under 3 get in free. A guided tour costs an extra 30 or 25 lei. Groups of more than 15 people can book separately, by email or phone. Joining the interactive workshops costs a separate fee, which includes the object each visitor makes.

Many pair the visit with a stop at Comana Monastery, a short walk away, or a walk through the Neajlov Delta, the largest inland delta in Romania, part of the natural park surrounding the area. Most people drive there themselves; the trip from Bucharest takes just under an hour.

For school groups or families wanting an organized program, the Crafts Village takes bookings any day of the week, with custom workshops arranged in advance by phone or email.