Natural Crafts Romania

Route 12C, which links the charming village of Bicaz with Gheorgheni and Transylvania, crosses the gorges rightly considered the most beautiful in the country. They were formed by the erosion of limestone rocks. The winding road, which follows the River Bicaz, is dominated by gigantic monolithic walls emerging from the forest. Piatra Altarului, the most spectacular, is 1,120 metres high and takes its name (Altar Stone) from the ceremonies once celebrated here by the Dacians. You then reach Lake Roșu.

Near Moneasa, it is a remarkable cave for its stalactites and stalagmites of all sizes.

This is where its source is from the Ruisseau health centre.

Located in the Ciomatu massif, at an altitude of 950 meters, Lake Sfânta Ana was formed in the crater of an extinct volcano. It is the only lake of its kind in Romania. Circular in shape, its waters are crystal-clear. It is not fed by springs, but only by rainwater. The surrounding area is particularly pleasant, with abundant flora and distinctive rock formations. Pilgrimages in honor of Saint Anne, on July 26, and spa treatments attract many tourists to the shores of the lake.

These forest-covered mountains are home to a rich fauna, including a large bear population. The region is criss-crossed by enchanting hiking trails, starting at Piatra Fântânele. It's best to have a good map before venturing out. The highest point in the Bârgău mountains is Heniul Mare (1,610 m). If you're traveling to Moldavia from Bistrița, you'll find a number of routes (by car, bus or train) that cross the massif and offer superb scenery. This is particularly true of the road to Vatra Dornei, which crosses the Tihuța pass.

On the outskirts of the city, white mountains surround a 30-metre deep lake. Several tens of meters high, these salt mountains (muntele de sare) have been sculpted by the rain, which has given them pretty shapes, curves and waves. The salt crystals form a multitude of needles. This natural monument, classified as a geological reserve, was created by the collapse of a salt mining gallery, which caused a landslide and ripped open the mountain. Careful, when the sun hits, the salt, shiny, becomes quite blinding.

The gorges of the Galbena (Cheile Galbenei) offer a breathtaking spectacle: deep gorges, secret corners, forgotten clearings, innumerable waterfalls... It is an ideal place for hiking, even if some paths are sometimes dizzying and uneven. Climbing or canyoning are also options, for the more adventurous. One of the trails starts from Cabana Padiș (9-10h, yellow dot marking). You will pass through the cave of the Feu vif glacier (Ghețarul Focul viu), which takes on an astonishing reddish hue at certain times of the day.

Nestled in the forest at an altitude of 1,105 metres, it contains an enormous block of ice some 4,000 years old, set in a 48-metre-deep cave. It is one of the only caves of its kind in Europe. It was first explored in the ^19th century, then by Emil Racoviță in the early ^20th century. You'll see magnificent natural ice sculptures, which change with the seasons. Access to the cave is via stairs, some of them very steep and vertiginous. Be sure to bundle up: even in summer, the thermometer barely rises above zero.

The citadels of Ponor(Cetățile Ponorului) are a fascinating natural site, popular with speleologists. It's one of Europe's most grandiose karstic landscapes, with waterfalls and astonishing formations, along an underground river that runs through a 4 km tunnel. It's reached by a beautiful hike, very rugged in places, starting from Cabana Padiș (12 km, 6h, blue dot marking). Boulders over 70 m high mark the entrance to the cave. To explore it, it's best to be accompanied by experienced cavers.

The creation of the Iron Gates Dam has disrupted the entire local ecosystem. In order to preserve the fauna and flora of this region, the Iron Gates Natural Park was created in 2000, covering an area of more than 100,000 ha, along the artificial lake. Numerous species then took advantage of the warm and humid climate to settle or develop. More than 5,000 species have been recorded, including the Hermann's tortoise and the dreaded horned viper.

This atypical cave lies just west of Mangalia, in the village of Limanu, on the edge of the pond of the same name. Stretching over 4 km, it is by far the longest cave in the region. Formed by a maze of rectangular galleries, some of them man-made, it is believed to have been inhabited since prehistoric times and to have served, over the millennia, as a place of worship or refuge. Numerous animal species have also been discovered, mainly invertebrates, but also bats, foxes, turtles and polecats.

The 7.5 km-long Red Lake(lacul Roșu), with an area of almost 15 ^km2, lies between the Sfântu Gheorghe and Sulina arms, some 5 km from the Black Sea. Those interested in ornithology will be able to admire pelicans, egrets, swans and other species. The lake and its surroundings are also known as one of the best areas in the delta for carp and pike fishing. Carp lovers will head for the Puiu-Roșu canal, while pike enthusiasts will choose Lumina and Puiuleț lakes.

On the Caraorman bank lies the small village of the same name (which means "dark forest" in Turkish). Both Ukrainian and Romanian are spoken here. To the west lies an 840-hectare forest reserve with the same characteristics as Letea: different varieties of climbing plants flourish here, clinging to age-old trees, including venerable oaks. The Caraorman forest is also an important nesting area for birds. The surrounding sand dunes can reach 10 m in height.

Located to the north of the Sulina Arm, it's one of the delta's largest lakes, covering an area of almost 1,000 ha. Spelled Fortuna or Furtuna (meaning "storm" in Romanian), its name derives from the fact that, in bad weather, its waters become very turbulent, making the area potentially dangerous. It's one of the most spectacular spots for birdwatching: swans, pelicans, eagles, egrets, cormorants... Many boat excursions pass through here. It's also a popular fishing spot.

It will delight lovers of hiking and mountain flora. The Rarău refuge, accessible by car in summer or on foot (4h), is the starting point for many hikes. The Pietrele Doamnei, a pretty rock formation, is within easy reach, as are two nature reserves: the Todirescu reserve protects numerous mountain flowers (tulips, chrysanthemums...). Further on, the Slătioara reserve is a primary forest of beech and fir, considered Europe's oldest coniferous forest, with 50 m-high, five-hundred-year-old spruces.

Around 18 km west of Câmpeni, in the village of Nemeși, this 25-meter-high waterfall dominates the valley. It's in spring that you'll find the most impressive spectacle, when the rivers that feed the waterfall are at their highest. Nearby is the Snail Hill (deal cu Melci), a stretch of mountain that is home to over 35 species of fossilized molluscs. In the nearby village of Incești, you can visit the birthplace of national hero Avram Iancu, who played a major role in the 1848 revolution.

The Retezat mountains are famous for their alpine meadows, cirques and numerous glacial lakes (over forty), making them one of the country's most beautiful massifs and a favorite with hikers. They are also known as "the fortress", due to the number of peaks over 2,200 m (over sixty). The highest peak is Mount Peleaga (2,519 m), followed by Mount Păpușa. Created in 1935, Retezat National Park was the country's first national park. It includes the Retezat, Godeanu and Țarcu mountains. Around 2% of the plant species present are endemic. The park is also home to numerous animal species, including 1,000 species of butterfly, chamois, deer, otter, bear, lynx, etc

The main access points to the park are Gura Zlata, Cârnic and Câmpu lui Neag. The Gura Zlata cabana is accessible from Hațeg by a road, in poor condition in places. You can even drive as far as the artificial lake of Gura Apelor. The Gura Zlata cabana is the starting point for hikes to Lake Zănoaga (5h, red triangle), from where you can continue to Lake Bucura (3h more, red dot), bypassing the protected area, or to Gura Apelor (2h more, blue cross). Other hikes are possible from Gura Apelor, for example to Poiana Pelegii (5h, blue dot, easy), then to Cabana Buta (4h more, difficult). Numerous trails, of varying difficulty, start from Cabana Pietrele, south of Nucșoara (road to Cârnic 4 km away). A few trails also start from Râușor, a resort accessible by car.

The road between Reghin and Toplița follows the river Mureș, which passes between the mountains Călimani and Gurghiu, offering beautiful scenery. The village of Răstolița, where you will see a beautiful wooden church dating back to 1800, is the most interesting gateway to the mountains Călimani on this side. The nature park covers 25,613 ha of a mountain area, the highest peak of which is the Pietrosu (2,102 m). Mountain flowers such as edelweiss and coniferous forest fauna (70% of the park area) are very well represented here.