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Tag: apuseni mountains

Apuseni Nature Reserve

Located
in Transylvania, western Romania, Apuseni Mountains stand out not just through
their altitude, but the plethora of opportunities for leisure activities they
offer. Here, the beauty and rarity of karst formations, one of the rarest in
Europe, have led to the creation of a protected area over a surface of 76
thousand hectares. Alin Moș is the director of the Apuseni Mountains
administration.

It’s
an easy-to-access area, since its alpine sections rarely exceed 1,800 meters.
There are ridge areas without big differences in terms of altitude, and the
trails aren’t that difficult so as to require any special training. Apuseni
Nature Reserve has been an appealing place ever since the early 19th
century. A number of visitation programs have been developed here over the
years. The onset of the 20th century saw the first tourist circuits,
especially in certain sections where ladders and railings could be set up. The first
balconies in birds’ eye’s view spots were created over 100 years ago. At the
time, Apuseni was less accessible to the wider public, more savage and less touched
by civilization. Today, the central part of our reserve preserves its appeal
particularly for that reason.

Apuseni
is the third-largest nature reserve in Romania, Alin Moș, the director of the
Apuseni Nature Reserve administration told us.

We
continue to protect and preserve everything pertaining to long-term interactions
between man and nature. We have large human settlements in the reserve, over
10,000 people living in three counties: Bihor, Cluj and Alba. Much of the
reserve’s surface is the historical region calledȚara Moților. In
that respect, the local culture and traditions are the main attraction in the
area.

Karst
formations are one of the highlights of Apuseni. These are structures resulting
in the formation of caves, sinkholes or gorges. A site of international
importance is the Scărișoara glacier cave. Alin Moș told us more.

It
is world famous, particularly after 2009, when a series of studies made a new
measurement of the ice within the cave, which is estimated at over 130,000
cubic meters, making Scărișoara the largest underground ice cave in the world.
It’s also one of the oldest in Europe, over 4,000 years old. The Scărișoara Glacier
Cave features unique ice stalactites and stalagmites, creating a particular
appeal for visitors. Starting 2021, sections of the cave will undergo
rehabilitation works, so as to improve tourists’ safety and comfort.

The
Ponor natural citadel is another important tourist objective and an emblem of
Apuseni. Alin Moș with the details:

It’s
a karst formation of special importance. It’s basically the junction of three
sinkholes, measuring one kilometer in diameter, which make up a cave. There’s a
70-meter-high portal by its entrance. The first thing that fascinates tourists
is the grandeur of this natural monument, surrounded by spruce old-growth
forests. The landscape in itself is breathtaking, making for a unique visiting
experience.

The
Apuseni Nature Reserve is actually home to over 1,500 caves. Many of them run
very deep. Until recently, Apuseni had the deepest cave on national record,
second only to a cave in Piatra Craiului. Most of them are close to visitation,
although others are open. One of them is the famous Bears’ Cave. Right now, it
has one of the most developed infrastructures in Romania, hosting as many as
100 thousand guests every year. Most people who come here also stop by to visit
one of these caves, Alin Moș, the director of the Apuseni Nature Reserve told
us.

Our
office focuses on developing new visitation experiences. In 2009, the European
Commission designated Apuseni as a European Destination of Excellence (EDEN).
Subsequently, we got involved in many projects aimed at supporting local
communities and entrepreneurs in the development of eco-friendly businesses,
including in the field of tourism, accommodation units and local products. Many
of these got certified with the reserve’s logo. When someone buys such a
product and sees the Apuseni Reserve logo, they know the product is 100%
natural.

As
you can see, Apuseni makes for an ideal destination for the entire family,
particularly in the summer season. (V.P.)

6 May 2021
Arieseni Tourist Area

The commune of
Arieseni is one of the entrance points to the Apuseni Nature Park. The active
tourism offer is very diversified, ranging from summer-time hiking to ski
touring in winter, along established tourist routes. One can also practice
climbing, cyclo-tourism, and alpine skiing on the Vartop ski slope during the
cold season. Also, one shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the caves where
the access of tourists is allowed, and, weather permitting, people can enjoy
canyoning, rafting and kayaking in fast waters. Also, the area boasts important
cultural and heritage assets.

Today’s
installment in our regular Traveler’s Guide series is devoted to the
prize-winning contest Alba Iulia – the city of the Union. Our contest marks
100 years since the territories predominantly inhabited by Romanians got united
in a national state. As for the area we’re heading towards today, Arieseni in
the Apuseni Mountains, traditions have not been altered by modernity there.
Customs and traditions make a fascinating show for each tourist, but
traditional cuisine should not be ignored either. All dishes are prepared with
ingredients from the farms of the local guesthouses. And you shouldn’t worry
about your silhouette either, according to Carmen Preja, a tourism advisor with
Alba Iulia’ s National Tourism Information and Promotion Center.

Carmen Preja: You
can burn all the excess calories you stored by visiting all sorts of tourist
sites, especially the natural ones, such as Dealu cu Melci ( the Snake Hill),
the Pisoaia Waterfall, Detunata Cheala and Detunata Flocoasa, which are
botanical and geological reserves, and extraordinary karstic formations. There
is a Nature Park of the Apuseni Mountains, and we have been working very well
with the rangers in the area, who have very beautiful headquarters and can
offer additional information about tracks and routes. Summer is perfect for
hiking and a growing number of tracks has been homologated and marked as such.
The Mountain rescue Service – Salvamont – takes care of them and we hope we can
live up to the standards that are normal for our times. As regards winter
activities, there are ski slopes, and lots of facilities. Tourists have access
to little wooden chalets with modest amenities, but also to four or five-star
units, which can provide sauna, Jacuzzi and other special services.

Dealul cu Melci -
the Snake Hill – is more than just a simple curiosity. It is a palaeontological
nature reserve of national interest. From a geological point of view, It is a
unique area, approximately 60-70 million years old, and traces of 35 mollusk
species have been found there. Back in the day, the territory was covered in
the warm waters of a sea, the Tethys Sea, providing the necessary conditions
for such creatures to live. It was only the sediments that were left, which got
petrified in time. However, one should not miss another two important sites.
Speaking about that, here is Carmen Preja once again.

Carmen Preja: The Scarisoara Cave is home to Europe’s
second largest glacier. It is a special karst phenomenon nobody should miss.
Also, we should not forget about the Avram Iancu Memorial House, where the
items on display remind us of various objects that our grandparents had in
their homes. The area is very picturesque, and the hosts’ hospitality is
extraordinary. I strongly recommend that you come and visit these places.

Ioan Mocan is the
owner of the ‘Casa Motului’ guesthouse, and one of the sponsors of our
prize-winning contest. He will help us learn more about the Arieseni area.

Ioan Mocan: The area is rich in cultural, historical
and natural sites and assets: caves, waterfall glaciers, churches, monasteries.
For instance, Rosia Montana is more than, 2,000 years old. It hosts an
underground mining museum, unique in the world. We also recommend that you
visit the town of Abrud, which, again, is more than 2,000 years old. The young
can also hike all their way to various sites and can go rock climbing. For instance, they can climb the gorges
known as ‘Cheile Galbenei’ or ‘Cetatile Ponorului’ (the Ponor Fortress),
towards ‘Groapa Ruginoasa’. Groapa Ruginoasa
is a natural phenomenon, actually an erosion of the land, which grows by 2
meters every year. It is spectacular and it resembles the Grand Canyon in the
US. I would also recommend the Vartop Glacier. It is natural and it is not lit,
so visitors need flashlights to enter. The glacier is home to some insects that
cannot be found anywhere on the surface. It’s extremely interesting.

The Apuseni
Mountains area is well-known for its crafts, wood carving in particular. In
Tara Motilor, for instance, there are 200 years old houses. The locals speak of
an ancient secret: correlating the phases of the moon with wood carving. But
there are also other things that are of interest in the area, as Ioan Mocan,
the owner of the ‘Casa Motului’ guesthouse told us.

Ioan Mocan: Even
here, in Arieseni, there are two museums and also there are ladies who work at
home and make various items. Their husbands, too, make traditional wooden
objects, using old carving techniques. So, visitors can watch the items
displayed in museums, but they can also learn how to make such items, in
people’s homes. And this is valid for other places too, such as Avram Iancu,
Vidra, Tarsa or Poiana Vadului. The largest event in the area is the rural
tourism fair in Albac. Craftspeople from Transylvania and from all over the
country come to the fair. Also, we have the wood carver’s day hosted by the
commune of Horea around August 15th.

Ioan Mocan has
also told us that tourists come from all over the world:

Our
guesthouse is a 4-star facility, with 30 rooms, all equipped with wireless
internet. Upon request we organize traditional evenings, with traditional songs
and dances. We also organize mountain trips and we provide transportation in
8-seat vans. Tourists can also play table tennis and we also have a conference
room. We’ve had tourists from Japan, Brazil, Costa Rica, South Africa, from all
the countries in Europe, and also from Iraq, Iran, Israel, the US and Canada.
We are also organizing events to celebrate the Union Centennial. For instance,
we invited the Alba Iulia Philharmonics and they gave an one-hour concert.
People had tears in their eyes, they could not believe that something like that
was happening on top of the mountains in Romania. So, I warmly invite all the
RRI listeners to come to Romania, come to Alba Iulia, and of course,
participate in the contest.

To end, let us
remind you that the deadline for the participation in our contest is June 30th,
2018. Good luck to you all!

24 May 2018
Tourist attractions in Bihor

Bihor County is home to the
beautiful town of Oradea, known for its many heritage buildings, as well as to
one of the best-known spa resorts in the country, Baile Felix. Also in Bihor,
those who are passionate about Spelelology and mountain climbing can feel at
home in the Apuseni Mountains. Equally important is the fact that the county
hosts on a regular basis events reflecting the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural
character of the region.

The head of the Bihor National
Tourist Promotion and Information Center Adrian Dubere told us why both
Romanian and foreign tourists should choose Bihor county as a tourist
destination.

Adrian Dubere: They will definitely be impressed with the many tourist
attractions in Oradea, in particular the Union Square, which has been recently
refurbished, surrounded by many heritage buildings. One of them is ‘Vulturul
Negru’ (Black Eagle) Palace, emblematic for the Art Nouveau style. One landmark
is the Moon Church, which is equipped with a still functioning one-hundred
years old mechanism, which indicates the phases of the moon. Going down the
road, towards the Sion Synagogue, which has been refurbished too, one reaches
the citadel of Oradea, with its moat, museum and lots of elements
characteristic of the medieval style and art. Tourists will be very much
impressed with the many events that are hosted by Oradea: the Medieval
Festival, the Harvest Days, the European Music Open Festival. We have also
turned the Street Food Festival into tradition. In the center of the town,
around the main squares and monuments, there are lots of pubs and cafes,
particularly enjoyed by the young people, as well as clubs for them to party at
night. And also for the young people we
have lots of festivals, such as TIFF and Next, which have become famous already.

The center of Oradea is also home to the
beautiful buildings of the State Theatre and the Philharmonics. The two
buildings play host every weekend to various events, concerts, shows and
performances in both Rumanian and Hungarian. Adrian Dubere, the head of the
Bihor National Tourist Promotion and Information Center says we should also
visit the two spa resorts that are not far from Oradea.

Adrian Dubere: Not far from Oradea, one can reach, by car, taxi or bus the
‘Baile Felix’ spa, where there are treatment centers catering for all tastes
and pockets. The other resort worth visiting is ‘1 Mai’, which also has
treatment centers and aqua parks. Our spas are quite famous. There are many
events organized in this spas, to entertain both children and adults, so that
tourists are never bored.

Mr. Adrian Dubere also has
recommendations for those who are interested in an active vacation.

Adrian Dubere: ‘There are several options for these tourists. For instance, we
have the Beftia cave, located approximately 2.3 km from 1 Mai Spa. We also have
the beautiful wild areas of Padis, in Piatra Craiului massif, where nature is
impressive, with its many caves, Via Ferrata and the trekking routes of various
degrees of difficulty, fit for all ages.
For those interested in spending a quiet vacation, the holiday village
of Vartop would be the perfect place, as there tourist can enjoy tranquility
and various sports, both in summer and in winter. For instance, they can do
mountain biking, trekking, and climbing. Also, families can find here the right
places to taste the local, traditional cuisine. So, the offer is rich and able
to cater for all tastes.

Fortunately, as Adrian Dubere told us,
there are still places in Bihor country where traditional craftspeople can be
seen at work.

Adrian Dubere: In Vadul Crisului there are craftspeople who can be seen while
working, potters in particular. There will be a pottery center set up in that
area soon and tourists will be able to try this craft for themselves. Then, the
Beius area is representative for the craft of making dowry chests and there are
some craftspeople left who can demonstrate how such a chest is made. We also
have the famous horn violin, which is specific to the area. So, you can watch a
craftsman making this type of violin too. Also, one should not miss the Pie
Festival. There are other customs and traditions that we are trying to revive
through various events.

If you get to Oradea,
don’t forget that any holiday can start from the Tourist Information Center.
Here is the head of the center Adrian Dubere once more.

Adrian Dubere: The center is open every
day, Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 5 pm, and is located in the center, near
the ‘Regina Maria’ Theatre. Our tourist information and promotion center
provides information about tourist attractions, accommodation, means of
transport, and guides that can help them discover the attractions in Oradea and
the surroundings. We have guides specializing in culture and religion. So, we
can provide tourists with all the information they need, from flights to and
from the Oradea International Airport to tourist information brochures and
other materials. We’ve welcomed many tourists at our center, many coming from
as far as Australia and Korea. We’ve also had tourists from Poland, the Czech
Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands. There are also
many people flying here from England, Spain and Italy, and we have got an
extremely positive feedback from them. They all have been very much impressed
with our culture, traditions, architecture and rich history. Also, it is a well
known fact that Transylvanian cuisine is extremely rich and diverse.

So, if you are
planning your holidays, Bihor County is the right place to enjoy cultural
diversity, history, spa treatment, breathtaking landscapes and so much more.

10 May 2018
Skiing in the Apuseni Mountains

Located in
western Romania, the Apuseni Mountains are the perfect destination for winter
sports. Two resorts in this area, Vartop and Arieseni, are particularly popular
with skiers.

At this time,
preparations are under way in these resorts for the upcoming Snow Festival to
be held here on the 19th and the 20th of February. A
yearly event, the Snow Festival is organised by the Nucet local authorities
together with the Bihor County Council and the businesses from the Vartop
holiday village, says Pinter Istvan, the head of the Salvaspeo mountain rescue
service in Bihor county, who also told us more about the local attractions:

Vartop is very
busy at this time of the year. The resort has three ski pistes. They don’t go
to very high altitudes, in fact the highest goes up to 1,800 metres, but their
topography is very diverse. The Apuseni mountains in general are known for
their underground and ground-level karst formations. There is a lot of snow and
the ski tracks are in good condition. Temperatures have gone up, but this
hasn’t affected the state of the tracks. At the foot of the ski slopes you will
find rental centres for winter sports equipment. Ski lessons are also
available. Marked routes will take tourists to the area’s most interesting
sites, such as Piatra Graitoare, Varful Bihor, Groapa
Ruginoasa and Pietrele Negre. There are also special routes for
climbers, as well as a 200 m long Via Ferrata route. The Varciorog waterfall
and the Scarisoara ice cave are to be found nearby.

Located in
Vartop, Piatra Graitoare can be translated into English as the Speaking
Rock. The name comes from the fact that an echo is created that sounds like a
voice. Four ski pistes can be found in this area, with all levels of
difficulty. The longest, which runs for 1,340 metres, is that for intermediate
skiers. The ski lift runs between 8 am and 8 pm. The price of a weekend pass
for 12 rides is 17 euros. Groapa Ruginoasa is another interesting
tourist site. It is a round cavity made up of calcareous rocks like a wound in
the mountain, as the locals describe it. The site is located in the Apuseni
Nature Park. Nearby, you will find the Valea Seaca canyon, a stretch of
gorges and waterfalls perfect for mountain climbers. In February, however,
Vartop becomes the favourite destination of ski lovers:

The Snow Festival
is held between the 19th and the 21st of February. During
this event we’ll have lots of activities on the ski slope, from snowboarding
demonstrations to torchlight downhill skiing and music concerts. Access is free
of charge. Many foreign tourists visiting the Apuseni Mountains tell us they
are impressed with the wilderness of the natural landscape in these parts. The
area’s karst formations, with many canyons and caves, are a great attraction
for visitors. There are also many accommodation facilities. The whole area is
developing fast, in particular Vartop and its surroundings. Visitors can find
accommodation in guesthouses and hotels, depending on their preferences. The
Apuseni Mountains is the perfect destination for tourists both in winter and
summer.

The area is
considered by many skiers one of the best in Romania, the slopes being covered
by snow from December until April. The ski lift boarding point is located at an
altitude of 1,189 meters while the disembarkation point is at 1,445 meters. The
difference of altitude at slope level is 256 meters and the length of the piste
is 1.1 km. Adrian Varga, a representative of the association of guesthouse
owners in Vartop, says investments in the region started 14 years ago:

There is a new
holiday village on the border between the counties of Bihor and Alba. In winter
we have the ski tracks, while in summer, all kinds of activities are available.
The landscapes are wonderful in summer and the air is very clean. The ski lift
system is operational. Tourists can choose from different activities, including
carting, Tyrolean traverse and swimming. In winter they can ski or go for a
ride in a horse-driven sleigh. There are rental centres that rent good skiing
equipment and skiing lessons are also available.

Another attraction
in the area is the Via Ferrata. This is a climbing route for beginners
stretching on 200 meters. Accommodation in guesthouses during the winter
season, including breakfast and climbing equipment, costs between 27 and 45
euros.

4 February 2016