Romania Quest - The definitive guide to Romania - Apuseni Mountains

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Apuseni Mountains - Caving

Apuseni Mountains are the western range of the Romanian Carpathians. They are low mountains, the highest altitude can be reached on the Curcubata Mare peak (1849 m). Nevertheless this mountain area is one of the most visited in the entire country, due to the spectacular karst landscape to be admired here. You will find all kind of karst landforms: gorges, sinkholes, intermittent springs, and more than 400 caves, many of them ranking among the most valuable natural monuments in Romania.
The main destinations in the Apuseni Mountains are Stana de Vale, the Padis area, Vladeasa and Turzii Gorges. These attraction points are connected by tourist trekking und hiking routes. If you are looking for mountain adventures. or if you love caving activities you have here the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable adventurous vacation. During wintertime you can prove your abilities in skiing or snowboarding on natural slopes. You should nevertheless keep always in mind, that you are in the mountains, where the weather can change very quickly and you can find yourself in the situation of facing thunderstorms. That's why it is absolutely necessary to be well equipped and to be in a good physical condition.
Apuseni Mountains are very rich in traditions, the beautiful villages spread on the hills have an unique charm, to be found nowhere but here. For the ones interested in the culture and traditions of the inhabitants, the visit of the villages on the Aries Valley is a must.

Rachitele Waterfall

Scarisoara Cave

Vladeasa Mountains

Vladeasa Chalet

The Padis area is without doubt the most famous in the Apuseni Mountains and the most spectacular karst phenomenon in Romania. You will encounter in a relatively small region a large number of impressive karst landforms.
The complex Cetatile Ponorului (Sinkhole Citadels), formed of three immense calcareous groups, located in a depression completely surrounded by mountains, is definitely a must see. The central calcareous group reaches the altitude of about 100 m. In the Cetatile Ponorului Cave you will find a waterfall and underground flooded natural galleries. The round route to Cetatile Ponorului takes about 5 hours from the Padis Chalet.
From the Padis Chalet you can also start a round route to the Galbena (Yellow) Valley, one of the most picturesque route in the Apuseni Mountains. From the main trail you can make a detour to the Focul Viu glacier, a veritable nature marvel. The round route takes about 10 hours.
A shorter route is the one to the Somesul Cald Gorges. It takes only 4 hours and actually includes the sightseeing of two natural monuments: Cetatea Radesei Cave and the Somesul Cald Gorges.
Another picturesque route is the one to the Vartop pass, with a stop at Groapa ruginoasa (The rusty pit), an immense swallow hole.
The ones that love caving activities should not miss the caves on the Sighistel Valley. The most important are the Coliboaia and Magura caves. You can reach them coming from Padis, or from Sighistel village.
From Padis you can reach in about 5 hours the mountain resort Stana de Vale, on a trail that offers the best view over the Bihor and Vladeasa Mountains.
An alternative would be to go from Padis Chalet to the Scarisoara Glacier. The route takes about 6 hours and ends with an unique experience: the visit of the largest ice cave in Romania. Please don't forget to wear warm clothes! The cave is located near the locality Garda de Sus, where you can find accommodation.
The Padis area is not the only one in the Apuseni Moutains that is worth to be seen. The Bihor Mountains offer many other picturesque routes. For example from Vartop pass you can start a hiking route to the Curcubata Mare Peak (also known as Bihorului or Biharea Peak), the highest one in the Western Romanian Carpathians and continue to the Gaina (Hen) Peak, renowned for the folkloric festival and market "Targul de fete" ("Girls market") organized here every summer. The Curcubata Mare Peak is also accessible from the locality Arieseni.

Another outstanding sightseeing point is the Ursilor (Bears') Cave, famous not only for its length but also for the high number of karst formations. The guided visit lasts 45 minutes and begins with the Bears Gallery, where were discovered remains of the extinct cave bear. The easiest way to reach the cave is from the locality Chiscau.
From Stana de Vale you can get in about 3.5 hours to the Meziad Cave, one of the biggest in Romania, with a length of 4774 m. The calcareous stalactites and stalagmites create a fairytale world. This cave can be visited only with a guide. However the huge entrance hall is accessible without a tour, so if you happen to arrive at the cave outside the open hours it is still worth a visit.
Another sightseeing point to be reached from Stana de Vale is Moara Dracului Waterfall, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Apuseni Mountains. A trip on the Iadului Valley from Stana de Vale to the Lesu Hostel is also a must. You are passing through the contact zone between the lower Padurea Craiului Mountains and the higher volcanic Vladeasa Mountains, and have the opportunity to admire 3 beautiful waterfalls (Saritoarea Iedutului, Valul Miresei, Iadolina) and to have a fantastic view over the Lesu Lake.
Vladeasa Chalet is another important destination for mountaineers, especially during wintertime. The Chalet offers shelter and from here you can organize enchanting trips to important sightseeing points as the Rachitele Waterfall, or enjoy the Vladeasa Mountain round route. The most accessible way to Vladeasa Chalet is from the locality Bologa. If you are in Bologa you should visit the ruins of the Bologa Citadel and the beautiful church.
Another picturesque area in the Apuseni Mountains are the Ramet Gorges, located in the central part of the Trascau Mountains. You can come from Aiud (here you can visit the Citadel) up to Ramet village (20 km and no transport means), from Ramet village you can continue to the Ramet Chalet or to the abandoned Cheia hamlet, the beginning of the route through the Ramet Gorges. Another alternative is to come from the Intregalde Chalet (the chalet is not functional) or from Abrud, passing through Bradesti. Despite the difficult access it is worth the trouble to come here, due to the breathtaking landscapes the gorges reveal to the mountaineers. A good condition is a prerequisite for this hiking route.
The most famous gorges in the Apuseni Mountains are the Turzii Gorges, a botanic and geologic nature reserve and a veritable paradise for climbing and caving activities. On the right side of the gorges there are 17 caves (for example: Pestera de dupa Munte, Pestera de la gura Hajdatii), on the left side 5 caves. Some of them were used as shelter by humans in prehistoric times, as the archaeological discoveries attest.
The Turzii Gorges can be easily reached from Cluj-Napoca and Turda cities. The spectacular landscape, the easy access and the modern tourism infrastructure make these gorges to a favourite destination not only for speleologists, geologists or geographers, but also for a great number of tourists.
Last but not least in this description is the geologic and botanic nature reserve Scarita-Belioara, that shelters very rare fauna and flora species. You can get here from the mountain resort Muntele Baisorii (only 3 hours on foot) or from Aries Valley (on Ocolis or Posaga Valley). In Posaga you can visit the Posaga hermitage.
During your trips through the mountains you will have the opportunity to discover the way of life of the inhabitants. The charming villages, with beautiful houses spread on the hills, covering a large area are characteristic for the Apuseni region. You will find them nowhere in Romania but here. In the Patrahaitesti village, part of the locality Arieseni, you have the possibility to visit artefacts workshops and admire and hear the sound of the famous alphorns.