Radio România Internațional

Tag: hiking

  • Life and advice on Via Transilvanica from Christine Thϋrmer

    Life and advice on Via Transilvanica from Christine Thϋrmer

    In one of her
    sleepless nights Christine Thϋrmer learnt about Via Transilvanica and set out on
    this journey alone, as she’s always done boldly and fearlessly. And instead of
    learning how to ask for things in Romanian or to thank she chose to learn only
    two words, ‘singura’ the Romanian for ‘alone’ and ‘urs’, which is ‘bear’ in
    Romanian. She hiked through the area while the road wasn’t marked yet and
    befriended Alin over a pint of the local plum brandy called ‘palinca’.


    Christine: When I came here first I couldn’t speak a single word. I believe
    that any route teaches you something, you may learn things on the way. So, in
    Romania I learnt the word ‘singura’, alone because the lady who welcomed me
    when I arrived had cooked a meal for four persons and I had to say pas. Had to
    tell her that I was alone and can eat for two people but not for four. The
    second word was ‘urs’ the Romanian for bear because there is still this danger.
    So, this is what my Romanian sounds like, ‘alone, bla,bla, bla, urs, urs.


    Alin Uşeriu,
    coordinator of the Tăşuleasa Social Association, initiator of the Via
    Transilvanica project, also known as the road you cannot get lost on, recalled
    how happy he was when he met Christine:


    Alin Useriu: I
    have fallen in love with Christine forever because the project we coordinated
    and implemented in the past five years needed an ambassador like someone from
    heaven and Christine proved to be that very ambassador. She is actually the
    first woman to have finished Via Transilvanica because she walked over 60
    thousand kilometers around the world. Then she dedicated an entire chapter to
    Via Transilvanica in the book she wrote. We couldn’t get a better international
    ambassador for this route and because she reaches out exactly to the people who
    must come to Via Transilvanica she is also very present here. We are glad that
    she liked it and that she keeps pointing this hiking route to her very numerous
    readership. Furthermore, she is also very generous. She presented us with her
    first book, which we have translated because we wish to build this social category
    of hikers who can found themselves on such picturesque roads like Via
    Transilvanica. So we are going to launch a book by Christine shortly!


    Alin Uşeriu told
    us why Christine’s book is worth reading


    Alin Useriu: Christine
    has just come back from Japan and she says that our route has a correspondent
    in Japan now. I can say there was no better decision in my life than to set out
    on a long journey. I went to Camino de Santiago, but after I had met Christine
    I realized that I wasn’t actually prepared for that trip. I was carrying a 17
    kilo backpack and I was trying to reach the destination before everybody on
    that way. Christine came and told me, ‘your backpack should not weigh more than
    5-6 kilos. You have to leave at home all the unnecessary things, including
    those in your head.’ That was my first right step so to say, and the moment
    zero of my becoming a real rambler on Via Transilvanica. It was a true deep
    spiritual experience for me.


    Meeting you is
    the most important thing, Alin went on to say adding:


    Alin Useriu: This
    is what a long-distance walk does: it allows one to meet oneself, at a certain
    point. I arrived in Caraş Severin and at a certain time I realized that ivy is
    my favourite plant because unless it had a tree, a building or other structure
    to climb on, it would grow on the ground like other plants. And I believe that
    this credo of ours, Via Transilvanica, made this route possible in five years.
    And I was in good health to cover all these 14 hundred kilometers and meet
    people who said, ‘how wonderful it was for this to happen in our location!’
    Christine has her own stone in the town of Cugir. It’s a very pretty stone
    carved by a Bulgarian, Ivan Ivanov and features a woman standing on the globe,
    as she actually is, a globetrotter who surrounded the earth one and a half
    times! I believe the most important word here is cooperation. Because if we
    want to have a better world we need to cooperate with each other and find
    solutions. And this is what we are so beautifully doing here at Via
    Transilvanica, a project, which has even attracted such an experienced hiker as
    Christine. The Road that Unites People’ is a slogan we took very seriously and
    have been cooperating to have a journey and road we cannot get stranded
    on.


    Christine Thϋrmer wants to
    encourage women to set out on this adventure because they are those who are
    waiting for the right time: to get ready, get money and all or get fit and in
    this way they become unable to enjoy the trip altogether. Her message is that
    if she, who is neither fit nor slim, who is actually overweight, wears glasses
    and has flat feet can, we all can.


    (bill)

  • Long-distance hiking and cross-cultural bonding

    Long-distance hiking and cross-cultural bonding

    Via Transilvanica is Romania’ s longest hiking trail. It
    connects sites that have been included on UNESCO World Heritage List. Via
    Transilvanica is also a vital connection between the local communities and various
    aspects of the heritage, including both built and natural legacy, but also the
    immaterial tradition. Via Transilvanica is rated as a most remarkable achievement
    for the Romanian Heritage, so much so that the European Commission granted Via Transilvanica
    the European Heritage Award 2023.


    Anna Szekely is Tasuleasa Social’s executive manager and
    the author of the Hiker’s Guide to Via Transilvanica. Anna told us it is Romania’s
    first long-distance hiking trail, running through the entire Romanian territory,
    north to south-west.


    This long-distance hiking trail was created
    in a bid to show Romania’s entire beauty and ethnic and cultural diversity. It
    was thought out in such a way that the hiker or the cyclist, or whoever comes
    to visit Romania, should discover Romania the way it is. First of all, I’ve
    told that before and I will say it again, it is also very important that we, the
    Romanians, rediscover the beauties of the country as we’re not aware of them
    just as yet. We cut through 400 communities with Via Transilvanica. These communities are very diverse and along the way
    we get to know more than 18 ethnic groups. We’re speaking about a stunning
    cultural and ethnic diversity. The heritage, we come across it everywhere, every
    step we take. Also, we cut through lots of rural areas, of which some are
    almost abandoned. There are villages on the brink of extinction, with a couple
    of elderly people who are still there but we don’t know for how long. And yet, since Via Transilvanica crosses those
    particular regions, the youngsters are invited to return to those areas. The
    rural areas have a tremendous diversity, we can find all sorts of traditions,
    food, we can have our fair share of very impressive culinary and cultural
    experiences.


    On the official site, at viatransilvanica.com,
    hikers even have a blog of their own, they even have an interactive group on Facebook,
    labeled Transilvanica Official Group.

    Anna Szekely:

    There people open the
    page and ask how they can take a hiking trail, they find their hiking companions,
    they also ask technical questions. There are very many useful pieces of
    information, yet most of them can be found in the Hiker’s Guide they can access
    on our website. The guide is translated into five languages. I really love
    speaking about it, as I am the one who wrote it. Together with my women
    colleagues, we documented the entire trail and we compiled this guide where all
    the needed pieces of info can be found, for those who are into taking up a long-distance
    trail. Also, it is downloadable for free. As a rule, we redirect everybody to
    the blog, so they can get info on accommodation, on the trail, of the trail
    map, on the regions, on the areas we cross. We have a verbal description of
    that, but we also have lots of technical data that re very important for a
    trip.


    Accessing the Hiker’s Blog, the tourist can find it easy to
    pick the segment of the trail he wants to take, as the trail is divided by
    days. So, a one, a two-day or a weekend-long hike can be planned, or a
    fortnight-long, or even for the entire trail. Even the organizers themselves
    answer the more technical questions. With details on that, here is Tasuleasa
    Social’s executive manager and the Author of The Hikers’ Guide to Via Transilvanica,
    Anna Szekely.


    There we teach prospective hikers to plan
    their hike in such a way that they should avoid getting lost, also planning
    their overnight stays, we inform them on the places where springs can be found,
    shops, or the emergency numbers. There are all sorts of very useful pieces of
    information. And we did have a great many foreign hikers. We ‘ve had most of
    them this year. We have foreigners from all over the world: from Australia, from
    Canada, from the United States of America, from Great Britain, from Germany,
    Switzerland, Spain, France. They have been very impressed with how the trail is
    marked. Let me also say one of our first foreign hikers was Christine
    Thurmer, who, two years ago, was a thru-hiker for the trail. She is one of the world’s
    most hiked women, with a record of more than 60,000 or 65,000 kilometres she walked
    around the world, on long-distance trails. She was the first woman to have had a
    thru-hike of this trail all by herself. She was the one who provided the greatest
    and the best feedback, for us, saying that through the andesite milestones
    marking every kilometre and which have various sculptures, we practically have
    the world’s longest fine arts and sculptures exhibition.


    Specifically, there are 1,400 such milestones marking a
    truly unusual hiking trail, and a full one, at that, in terms of the experience
    we can have, says Tasuleasa Social’s executive manager and the Author of The Hikers’
    Guide to Via Transilvanica, Anna Szekely. The uniqueness of Via Transilvanca has
    also enjoyed recognition since it was declared the winner of one of the
    European Awards for European Heritage, the Europa Nostra Awards in 2023. The
    Awarding ceremony was held in Venice in late September, with the vice president
    of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas,
    attending. The public’s award was granted also in late September. So Via Transilvanica
    was the most highly-appreciated European heritage project, for which 27,000 people
    cast their votes in favour.


    It is
    a great honor for us to enjoy international recognition, with that coming from the
    European Commission itself, and we keep our hopes alive we can live up to everyone’s
    expectations. I invite anyone from abroad or from Romania to come over and become
    familiar with the beauties of the country as they do their hiking, since it is
    one of the best and soundest ways to know the highs but also the lows of a
    country. This the best way to know and love Romania.


    Through its 1,400-kilometer-long trail, Via
    Transilvanica crosses 400 de localities and 10 counties, being divided into
    seven cultural historical regions. The trail connects 12 sites included on
    UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The construction of Via Transilvanica lasted for
    about five years, being completed with the support of 8,000 volunteer workers.

  • Carpathian Mountains’ flora and fauna

    Carpathian Mountains’ flora and fauna

    There
    is a growing number of tourists who are set to discover the Carpathian
    Mountains’ wildlife, thanks to several special tours they’re willing to take in
    the mountains. Going on such tours enables them to understand hidden details,
    to watch the wild animals in their own habitat, while in the summer, tourists
    can enjoy the beauty of the Carpathian Mountains’ flora. Tours can be personalized
    and completed with visit in the rural regions, to the traditional craftsmen or
    to several tourist assets of a particular area.


    Cosmin Zgremția is a forestry engineer by profession. Since
    2014, he has also been a specialized flora and fauna guide. Ever since he was a
    child, Cosmin imagined the forest resembled an outdoor museum. Later on, he
    found out Romania had a surface area of 6.5 million hectares of forest, an
    immense surface area, that is, which he himself, as a forestry engineer, could
    have never imagined as a whole. Therefore, given the country’s so great
    forested area, Romania has become increasingly known, internationally, as a destination
    of exploration of the natural wildlife.


    Cosmin Zgremția:


    I have been doing sylvan tourism, which
    is part of ecotourism, and I do believe in the value of conservation through
    eco-education. Actually, I ended up being a tourism guide out of love for
    nature and thanks to my profession. I was quick to discover that those auxiliary
    services which according to us are attached to silviculture were poorly put to good
    use by my fellow forestry workers. In 2011, when I was a hunting fund manager as
    part of Brasov Municipal City’s Hunting Fund, I came up with the idea of opening
    to the lay public the hunting observatories for bear observation tours. That’s
    how my tourism career started. Gradually, I have grown fond of that, more and
    more. I noticed I had a penchant for explaining all those intimate details of bears’
    lives, and of the forest in general. So I decided, having resigned from the
    position I had with the Forestry Directorate, to dedicate my entire life and
    activity to that particular field of ecotourism.


    All
    visits Cosmin has been organizing are thematic visits.


    One such tour enables visitors to observe the wildlife fauna. What we do,
    actually, is follow the animals’ traces. We stand a 90% observation chance for
    the common species and 10% for the protected species: bear, wolf, wild cat.
    Another tour gets us explore the rural environment, it is part of a thematic
    visit blending details about trees, plant species into details pertaining to
    the Romanian cultural identity. Another tour takes you on a visit to a chalet.
    Such a visit is made in the company of a specialized guide, a nature scientist, and
    includes several stopovers. The most popular visit is the thematic walk through
    the forest. It is like a safari where you have
    stopovers every ten meters. Plant species are observed, certain bird species,
    even insects. I have been trying to speak about each separate species. I want
    to involve everybody. Therefore, the experience is like an outdoor documentary,
    where participants really get involved. It is a giant leap we take, from watching
    a documentary on the telly to actually being part of it. The most spectacular option
    could be a tour in the Fagaras Mountains. Its difficulty is a little bit
    greater, but you can have the chance to watch the bears but also the chamois,
    in the wildlife. Practically, each time we go out in the wilderness I use the environment
    to offer tourists the required info and instil the love of nature in them, at
    once pursuing my aim, eventually, that of eco-education.


    Some of the tourist who opt for such wildlife observation
    tours also have the required photo technique. They are keen on having snapshots
    of bears, woodpeckers and even wolves in their natural environment. With details
    on that, here is our guide today, Cosmin Zgremtia, once again.


    Each species can be taken pictures
    of. There are optimum periods, for taking pictures or for observation. For example,
    you stand very little chances to photograph a bear in the wilderness, in winter.
    Therefore, the bears’ photographing season usually begins on April the 10th
    and ends on September 15, when the bears retire for their winter slumbers. Actually,
    latterly, towards winter, bears are less active during the day and more active during
    the night, before they retire. If they want to live a wild experience, my guests
    need to have the minimum required equipment for hiking. Which means boots with
    a grippy sole, proper trousers, three layers of clothing, for the abdomen and
    the chest and something to cover their head with. As for my challenge as a
    guide, I want to have in-shape tourists.


    First of all, tourists are always impressed with the
    information they get. Cosmin Zgremtia once again:

    Secondly, they are impressed by the interaction
    with the wildlife, with the forest as such, what also impressed them is the way
    they felt they connected to nature. And, thirdly, they are impressed by the way
    I treated them and how they felt among the locals. In the tours I offer, I try
    to integrate my guests in the naturel environment but also in out authentic Romanian
    community. In effect, I am trying to offer Romania an identity
    as regards its natural resources, but also culture-wise. Most of the tourists
    come from Great Britain, they are followed by French and Italian tourists, but
    we also had guests from Australia, even from New Zealand and even from North America,
    the United States.


    Cosmin told us most of the tourists he accompanied were
    foreign and that he would like the Romanian tourists to take an interest in such
    tours. However, such an interest may stem from a certain kind of education in
    the field of tourism.


    Practically, most of my tourists are
    foreign citizens because they already have that particular upbringing, that
    kind of education. They can identify the key words in the description
    of the tourist programs and are quick to accept a trip into the wild. Moreover, the foreign tourists’ faith in a tourist
    guide is stronger.


    If you contact the national tourism information and promotion
    centres across Romania, especially those located close by the nature or
    national parks, you’re sure to get data about a tourist guide who can accompany
    you in the exploration of nature, so that you can have a truly special
    experience. (EN)

  • Romania’s beautiful mountain scenery

    Romania’s beautiful mountain scenery


    Today we’re heading towards the Calimani Nature Park in northern
    Romania, an asset where tourists are welcomed with a very generous offer. In
    winter, the ski touring is practiced, while in the summer you can go hiking for
    fauna-watching purposes. Moreover, since 2013, the administration of the park has
    opened a modern visiting center where educational exhibitions are mounted,
    promoting the tourist assets of the region. It is also here that the products
    are presented, manufactured by local craftsmen. Then you can take up a theme
    pathway, especially arranged for a two-hour journey in the invisible world of
    the Saru Dornei Tinov. Liviu Hutanu is Calimani National Park’s tourism activities
    official.

    Liviu Hutanu:


    It is one of the Calimani Massif’s
    protected areas, encompassing the upper third part of the Calimani Mountains. It
    has been declared a protected area since 2000. Here we protect numerous species
    of plants and animals, their habitats. We have been trying, to the best of our
    abilities, and in addition to the preservation activities, to develop long-lasting
    tourism or ecotourism, to use a trendier term. It would be unfair for us to block
    access to so many natural assets. The purpose of a natural park is preservation,
    but also the promotion of tourism in a given area, yet that is being done without
    affecting the preservation part of our work.


    Ski touring through the snow can provide unforgettable
    experiences. In the company of a park ranger specializing in the observation and
    interpretation of nature, you’re highly likely to discover traces of wild
    animals, you will be initiated in the secrets of the life and habits of the beasts
    in the forest. The route will be selected taking into account the timeframe the
    tourists opted for and in keeping with the weather conditions, over
    December-May. It roughly takes a seven-hour hike to carry the program, which
    also includes a rest break and a traditional snack. The fee for that starts from
    120 Lei and varies, in keeping with the number of people participating.


    Liviu Hutanu:

    We have more than 120 kilometers of
    tourist routes. We also have two theme pathways: the theme pathway of the 12 Apostles
    and the one in the former Calimani Sulphur exploitation. We have a marathon
    route, Via Maria Terezia, of which one third stretches
    along the protected area. Camping sites have been arranged, in the strategic
    points, near springs, we also have three tourist shelters. Actually, the
    tourist infrastructure has been properly taken care of and appropriately marked,
    especially for backpacking hikers. Therefore, we promote the non-polluting and
    environment-friendly activities..


    But what are the most important tourist objectives in
    the Calimani Nature Park?

    Liviu
    Hutanu:


    The most-often visited
    such asset, which is also the most beautiful one, which is also included on our
    logo, is the 12 Apostles Nature Reserve. Here you can find a cluster of rocks,
    of various shapes which, in time, have been given all sorts of names, stirring
    visitors’ imagination. We have, among others, The Marshall, Nefertiti, the Lion.
    Of these rocks, the one standing out and which is the most photographed, is
    named The Old Man. It is a big rock, 30, 40 meters tall, which, if viewed from
    three different angles, has the face of an old man. Most of the times it has
    been compared to the Sphynx in the Bucegi Mountains. It is a natural asset, but
    we also have an anthropic tourist asset. It is the Sulphur pit. It was opened
    in 1976. Thanks to the excavations there, since the Calimani Mountains are
    volcanic mountains, a cross-cut section could be created, of a volcanic cone. We
    can thus have the chance to see how the inside of a volcano looks like. It is
    something almost unique in Europe.


    Every hiking activity should begin from an information
    point. Here is Calimani Nature Park’s tourism activities official, Liviu Hutanu,
    speaking about that.


    Available for tourists is the Calimani
    National Park Visiting Centre as well as the other information points, with our
    park rangers being always there. The visiting center is one of the main attractions
    of the Dorna Country eco-tourism destination. The ecotourism destination
    certification was granted four years ago by the Tourism Ministry. The center
    has been thought out in a bid to enhance the destination’s attractiveness, but
    also with a view to increasing the park’s capacity to secure an accessible communication
    with the visitors. The latter are being kept abreast of the hiking routes, tourist
    assets, or the restrictions that are in place in a national park. Here tourists
    can find an educational exhibition focusing on the assets of the park, there is
    also a corner of the items hand-crafted by the locals. In the courtyard, a
    theme hiking route has been arranged, along which the area’s craftsmanship
    activities are presented. The Saru Dornei Tinov Reserve can be found close by.


    For the near future, the Calimani National Park Administration
    has been carrying a couple of projects which are ongoing. Liviu Hutanu once again.


    We intend to set up a research center
    in the former Sulphur exploitation. We also want the center to be a Salvamont,
    Mountain Rescue Service basecamp. We also want several children’s playgrounds
    to be set up there, for the holiday camps we have in the region. On the
    territory f the park, as we speak, we have only one mountain biking trail and
    we intend to create two more such trails. We welcome all to come visit us, from
    the bottom of our hearts. Those who would like to visit us need to know the
    Calimani Mountains are not very steep, the trails are relatively easy to take
    and even accessible for families with children. The scenery is unaltered and we
    have hundreds of hectares of primary forests. We brag about the fact that you
    can walk around the park for three, maybe four days without meeting other human
    beings. So, for all those who want to live a wildlife experience, which is at
    once accessible, the Calimani Nature park is one of the best options for them.


    The invitation has been launched, In the hopes that we have
    talked you into visiting the Calimani Nature Park, next time we’re waiting for
    you with a new tourist destination.

    (EN)


  • Romania and its breath-taking mountain scenery

    Romania and its breath-taking mountain scenery


    We’re heading, today, to one of Romania’s most spectacular
    mountain massifs, Piatra Craiului. It is the place where you can have the breath-taking
    glimpse of the chamois, officially declared nature monuments.The first step
    towards the protection of the area had officially been taken in 1938, when a
    nature reserve was founded in the region. Today we ‘re about to discover a wide
    range of tourist routes and natural attractions. All of them are accessible, since
    that mountain massif lies only 25 kilometers from the city of Brasov. Mircea Verghelet
    is the director of the park administration.

    Mircea Verghelet:

    It is one of Romania’s 13 national
    parks. In terms of surface area, the park straddles the counties of Brasov and
    Arges, lying in the vicinity of the Rucar-Bran pass, a road with a very special
    scenery. You can see the Bucegi Mountains on one side, while the Piatra Craiului
    Mountains can be seen on the other side. To the west, we have two valleys, Brasov
    County’s Barsa valley and the Dambovita river valley in Arges County. Practically,
    the Piatra Craiului National Park is surrounded
    by these two passes. The mountain is very spectacular. It is a limy ridge. It
    is Romania’s only limestone area lying at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters.
    It has a unique feature, meaning that the layers of limestone, a sedimental
    stone that was formed on the bottom of the sea, are vertically placed, as a
    result of the tectonic movements, mainly in the northern area. Normally, these
    limestone layers are found on a horizontal position. So, very spectacular forms
    of reliefs were thus formed, with steep areas, with vertical walls, with valleys
    and detritus areas.


    In
    Piatra Craiului, quite unlike other regions across the country, since hunting
    has been officially banned for almost all species, the chamois are very friendly
    with the tourists. They even take pictures of the chamois with their cellphones,
    with no strong zoom-in objectives needed. Sometimes, the chamois are four,
    maybe five meters close to the tourists. For those who can climb all the way up
    to the ridge areas, mainly in the summer, running into the chamois can be a
    great joy, and the pictures become memories they take home with them.

    The director of the Piatra Craiului National Park
    Administration, Mircea Verghelet:

    There are 44 tourists
    routes, marked and approved, with various degrees of difficulty. First, there
    are the routes surrounding the massif at its foot, in the forested areas,
    which are more accessible. Then I should like to mention the routes cutting
    across the gorges. We’ve got the limy canyons in the northern area, but also in
    the southern area. To the north we’ve got the Zarnesti precipice, an area
    famed because of its escalation opportunities as well. To the south, we’ve got
    the Dambovicioara Gorges, the Brusturet and the Dambovita Gorges. A forest road
    or public or communal roads cut across these gorges, just like in the southern
    area. The routes are more accessible down below. As we’re approaching the
    ridge, especially on the western slope, which is steeper, the routes become
    more difficult. For the summer, tourists need to have the equipment required
    for climbing: boots, raincoat, a cell phone so that they can announce the
    Mountain Rescue Services if unpredictable events occur. Then it is very important
    that they have water. In Piatra Craiului, there are no water sources in the
    ridge area. However, for the winter season, we recommend those who want to take
    the usual hiking itineraries and do not have the skills required for climbing,
    to follow only the routes at the foot of the mountain. The trails in the ridge areas
    are off-limits for the lay public.


    Before setting out on a hiking route, you should get
    info about the trail.

    Mircea Verghelet:


    You can visit our Internet
    page, at pcrai.ro, where you can search a map for the visiting itineraries. You
    can see them using Google Earth. Also, we have a printed copy of a tourist map
    you can purchase from us. Our visiting center is one of Romania’s most modern
    such centers. Its layout is that of a tourist itinerary, to be taken if you want
    to get acquainted with the Piatra Craiului massif. We’ve got lots of
    interactive gadgets as well as a map of the massif, on which various images are
    screened, that including a 3D version of the tourist routes.




    Also, all sorts of dioramas are available, structured according to various topics, flora, fauna, the history of the escalation in Piatra
    Craiului, other protected areas across Romania, insects, caves, detritus and
    suchlike. Every diorama is interactive as well and you can see a presentation and
    several photographs. Before the pandemic, we used to have roughly 7,000
    visitors a year. We hope that, after tis period, we can return to the initial
    figure. A great many of them come in the summer, from Romania but also from
    abroad. They come to get info, also seeking advice if they want to visit the
    park.


    At the moment, the Piatra
    Craiului National Park Administration has two projects, currently in their implementation
    stage, jointly carried with the other parks of the Carpathian arch belonging to
    the member countries of the Carpathian Convention.

    Mircea Verghelet:


    One of them has to do with
    the carnivores’ accessways between Piatra Craiului and Bucegi. As part of the project,
    we also had several monitoring cameras. We managed to film all species of
    carnivores, but also the other species in the park. All these takes can be
    accessed on our Facebook page, enjoying a great number of visitors. Also, right
    now we are going to initiate a project carried for the revision of the Piatra
    Craiului National Park’s management plan. This should be the third management
    plan we’ve had. We also intend to focus on birds, in the future, since the area
    has also been declared important in this respect. We invite all those who would
    like to visit a mountain region in Romania to come to Piatra Craiului, since it
    is a one-of-a-kind such area. Many people say it is the most beautiful mountain
    in the country, and beyond that. We believe that our facilities, our shelters,
    our trails, the visiting center, all that can provide a unique experience.


    We have extended out invitation to all of you. Please make
    sure you visit us next week as well, when we’re heading towards the
    south-western part of Romania. Our destination will be an area which is less
    promoted, but which is famous for its wild nature, the Jiu River Gorges National
    Park.

    (EN)


  • The Retezat-Hateg Country

    The Retezat-Hateg Country

    The
    Retezat – Hateg Country lies in Transylvania’s south-eastern part. It includes
    three of Romania’s historical areas, Banat, Transylvania and Oltenia. The
    region is home to a rich historical past: caves, with evidence of human
    presence dating from the Paleolithic age, ruins dating from the Dacian-Roman
    times, small medieval citadels and towers, old churches, but also houses or
    small houses, residential areas of local noble families. Anca Rusu is the
    manager of the Retezat – Hateg Country tourism
    destination. She told us our destination today was one of Transylvania’s most
    beautiful regions.

    Anca Rusu:


    It’s the foreign tourists who have become extremely familiar with the
    notion of Transylvania. Considering
    the experience we had at the international fairs we participated in, we found
    out tourists do not have that many data when we speak about Romania, but when
    we say Transylvania – the region between the mountains, on the map, they can
    immediately point to our thereabouts as well. A trip to the Retezat – Hateg
    Country is a journey in time. On a rather small territory, they can find a world
    that had disappeared 70 millions of years ago, they can face real-size
    dinosaurs, can explore volcanoes and traces of long-lost seas. As for the
    recent times, they can see mountain-scapes, lakes and carnivorous plants, all
    remains of the Ice Age, 10,000 – 12,000 years ago. They can enjoy the traces ancient
    Romans left in Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana, but also the worship sites of early
    Christianity in Romania, such as the church in Densus. Also speaking about the
    region, we just cannot ignore the traditional food prepared by the locals. We
    recommend the famous Salaj sausages, ‘virsli’ in the local idiom, and, in a bid
    to round off the experience, they can also try the ‘vinars’ which is a glass of
    plum brandy, always prepared using the Rachitova plums.


    There
    is a great number of hiking or backpacking routes in Hateg Country and Retezat.

    Anca Rusu:


    We tried to keep count of them, and, so far, they are as many as 70.
    These tourist hiking routes are certified, they are managed by the
    administrators of protected areas jointly with the Salvamont Public Service,
    they can also be thematic routes, usually telling a story. However, the most
    important thing is the fact that our area is Romania’s only such area where you
    can find an overlapping territory of three large protected areas, nature or
    national parks. I’m speaking about the Retezat National Park, which is
    Romania’s first national park, the Hateg Country UNESCO International Geopark, and the Grădiștea Muncelului
    Cioclovina Nature Park, which is very familiar thanks to the Dacian fortresses
    compound in Orastie Mountains. The soil tourists step on is a very special one,
    while the respect for all that as well as their behavior while being there, in
    that wonderful place, is of utmost importance for us and for the locals.
    Extraordinary nature or man-made values are to be found there, they are so
    special that in 1979, they enjoyed official recognition by UNESCO, as a reserve
    known as The Man and the Biosphere for an area in Retezat, then there is the UNESCO
    International Geopark, recognized for
    Hateg Country’s depression area, then there is also the Dacian fortresses
    compound in Orastie Mountains, protected by the law and internationally
    recognized by UNESCO.

    The
    manager of the Retezat – Hateg Country tourism destination, Anca Rusu, told us
    a great many of the tourists who get there did not booked a long-enough stay
    for their purposes. Therefore, as soon as they discover the richness of the
    tourist assets, they keep coming back, again and again. The list of the area’s
    tourist assets is generous, yet no less generous is the list of activities they
    can perform there.

    Anca Rusu:

    The area is very important for lots of activities. Trends in tourism
    have changed a lot this year, because of the pandemic. If they happen to be in
    the region at this time of the year, we recommend tourists to have a light backpacking
    trip taking one of the routes in the three protected areas. We recommend
    one-day routes, for them. For instance, a backpacking trip to the Malaiesti
    Fortress or a backpacking trip to the Lolaia waterfall, located right at the
    entrance of the Retezat National Park. Also a backpacking tour on the theme
    route towards the Fundatura Ponorului, in the Sureanu Mountains. The scenery is
    breathtaking there, in an area known as the photographers’ heaven.


    Make
    sure you don’t miss cultural destinations either, Sarmizegetusa Regia,
    Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana, the fortresses, the castles or the old stone
    churches.


    Anca Rusu:

    We have everything in the region. For those who are more into
    adrenaline-rush activities, we recommend a hang-gliding flight in Clopotiva,
    which is one of Romania’s best spots for hang-gliding. If they are lucky,
    there, tourists can find the vice-champion in hang-gliding, Toma Coconea, one
    of Romania’s leading athletes and an ambassador of the Retezat – Hateg Country
    tourism destination. For families with children, the House of the Volcanoes is
    a must-see, it can be found on the territory of Densus commune, where they can
    explore a string of educational programs and can play at the little
    paleontologists, rubbing shoulders with the administrators of the place. It is
    very important for them to know that, at this time of the year, they need to
    book their visit to the objectives in advance, in order to maintain the safety
    measures everybody has heard about.

    As a rule, there are two main categories of
    tourists in the area, according to the manager of the Retezat – Hateg Country
    tourism destination, Anca Rusu. There are those who want an active tourism for
    themselves, and the families with children who reach the Retezat-Hateg Country
    Geopark. However, no matter what they prefer, we recommend tourists to pay a
    visit to a culinary point if they want to make the most of the local food, and
    to one of the local craftsmen, if they want to become familiar with the
    traditions of the region. Also, you should know that a great many of the events
    that used to be staged here have been rethought and rescheduled, so that everybody’s
    tourism experience can be complete.

  • Tourist hiking routes in Macin Mountains

    Tourist hiking routes in Macin Mountains

    Early autumn is beautiful in Romania, and some of us may be lured into taking up hiking in the northern part of Dobrogea, Romania’s south-eastern region. We’re speaking about Dobrogea’s Macin Mountains. They may have the height of a hill, yet the Macin Mountains offer very special landscapes and amazing geological forms; you can see all that for yourselves if you take up the mountains’ accessible hiking routes. You may wish to travel to the area; if you do that, you can also include a trip to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve in your journey, or even a holiday in the Delta. We sat down and spoke to the director of Macin’s Tourism Promotion and Information Center, Dan Staicu, who provided the details of a hiking route in Macin Mountains’ Pricopan Mountain top.



    The visit should start from the Tourism Information and Promotion Center, where tourists cam find info and presentation materials, compiled with the support of Macin Municipality. The one close by the town, the Pricopan Mountain top, is a hiking route marked with a blue strip, which starts off somewhere in the vicinity of Macin, from the 2D National Road, next to a wooden wayside cross. It takes you four and a half hours to complete the hiking route, which is an easy one, to which picture-taking and rest breaks are added. The spectacular geological forms which took shape 225 million of years ago will delight tourists’ imagination with genuinely otherworldly shapes, while the ridge of the Pricopan Massif offers vast belvedere views of the Macin depression, of river Danube, of the Luncavita depression and the cities of Galati, Braila and Reni. Some of the relief outcrops in the region are really uncanny, including the Sphinx of Dobrogea, eroded monoliths resembling the Babele, and we may also run into rare plant species in the area, which are of national importance, the Dobrogea bluebell flower or the Dianthus, with its bluish-green leaves and pink flowers. The habitat also includes such reptiles as the Dobrogea tortoise and the Dobrogea green lizzard. The tortoise is a protected species.



    They may not be covered in vast forested surface areas, yet the Macin Mountains and the meadow areas surrounding them are home to other big mammals, such as the roebuck, the fox, the golden jackal or the wild boar.



    Some of you may not be interested in a one-off hiking experience alone, so if you want to have a holiday proper in the area of Macin Mountains, you should know that in the town of Macin and the locality of Greci, one of the hiking set-off points, there are several tourism accommodation areas. Also, the National Directorate for Macin Mountains National Park has set up a camping area right at the foot of the mountain, traditionally known as the healing fountain. According to the director of Macin’s Tourism Promotion and Information Center, Dan Staicu, going hiking in Macin Mountains is recommended in spring and autumn. Tourists can take another hiking route, starting off from the locality of Greci, thus reaching Macin Mountains tallest peak.



    Dan Staicu:


    The Tutuiatu peak is another asset in the region, we come across it along the route with the same name. This hiking route starts off from the center of the locality of Greci and is marked with a blue triangle. Along this route, on the western side of Macin Mountains, we come across the Macin Mountains’ tallest peak, as I’ve told you already, the 476-meter high Tutuiatu Peak, which took shape around 295 million of years ago. The bird’s eye view you get one you reach the peak is vast and spectacular. From there, you can see the Pricopan Mountain top and the peaks of Macin Mountains’ main ridge, the cities of Galați, Măcin, Brăila, the Greci depression, the Iacobdeal peak and the Chervan Tulcea nature reserve. Also from there, we can see the arm of the old Danube, the Macin arm, as it is today known. The forested area along the route offers landscapes including Balkan, Mediterranean and central-European forests. In spring, from April and all through to May we can admire the Dobrogea peony, a protected flower species. Also on this route, the National Directorate for Macin Mountains National Park set up two camping areas, one in the Italians’ Spring, the other one in Valea Seaca. The tourists who reach the area can find accommodation in Macin, but also in Luncavita, since the route sets off from Greci and ends in Cetățuia – Luncavița, they can also find accommodation in guesthouses in Greci where camping areas are still available.


    There are 12 hiking routes in Macin Mountains, they are easy to moderate and can be completed in one day, with a 12-kilometer long route being the longest one.


    You don’t have to walk carrying a backpack in order to notice the large surfaces area covered in vineyards, or the wine cellars, where you can taste quality wines.



    Dan Staicu:


    Speaking of Romania’s oldest mountains, you should know that the Sarica Niculitel vineyard is Dobrogea’s oldest, having three wine-growing centers, Macin, Niculitel and Tulcea. In Macin, you can discover the secrets of a wine cellar in a tasting session for the most exquisite wines. You can listen to the story straight from those who make the wine, they are people who put in a lot of passion in the art of wine-making. As you’re sipping your wine, you can listen to the fine tales of the history of wine in Macin, about wine-making techniques, about how the wine is served, about how to identify the wine sorts, and about which wine sort best goes with which dish, and suchlike. Indigenous as well as international grape varieties are grown in the vineyards, while of the Romanian sorts, I should like to mention Feteasca Regală, Feteasca Albă, Tămâioasa Românească, Feteasca Neagră.



    Apart from the wines and local cuisine, Dobrogea is also attractive thanks to its traditions, its legends and especially thanks to its multiculturality. No less than 18 ethnic communities live in Dobrogea, the most numerous of which being the Turkish, Tartar and the Lippovan Russian communities. Also numerous in Dobrogea are the Greek, Bulgarian and Italian communities.


  • Tourist Attractions in Gorj

    Tourist Attractions in Gorj

    Rafting, canoeing, spelunking, rappelling and ziplining, climbing, mountain biking, skiing are some of the activities included in the most popular tourist packages. At the same time, old monasteries have always been a point of attraction for visitors to the county. Gorj is a county with great potential for tourism, and it has all the necessary ingredients, according to Oana Palos, spokesperson for Gorj County Council:



    “As a mountain county, we have plenty of possibilities for adventure tourism all year long, in both summer and winter. In the mountains of Gorj there is an area known across the country, the resort of Ranca. Winter sports lovers can ski here. We have six ski slopes, a ski lift and you can also do mountain climbing, paragliding, snowboarding, and bobsledding. However, the reigning sport is rafting. From this point of view, Gorj County is exceptional. Experts say rafting here is excellent. Transalpina is the highest road in Romania. And, though it is said that the road touches the clouds, it is in fact the old road used since Roman times by our shepherds, making the connection to the Sibiu area.



    Adventure tourism, as well as monastic tourism and cultural tourism are popular in the area. Monastic tourism is diverse, due to the many monasteries in Gorj County, built in centuries past, according to Oana Palos:



    “One example would be Tismana Monastery, the oldest hermitage in the south of the country. There is a great tourist circuit, very much appreciated by tourists across the country. The rest of the world is just starting to find out about us, because, in addition to the other tourist destinations, Gorj is starting to take important steps in promoting itself. We get more and more foreign tourists. The city of Targu Jiu stands out with its Heroes Avenue, where we find the works of the great Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi, famous across the world. We have a city break package for Targu Jiu. We also have a county package, covering most tourist objectives.



    The cultural agenda in Gorj County is well put together, with various cultural manifestations for tourist promotion, as well as entertainment. Throughout the year, every month, tourists get to enjoy the beauty of the scenery and the local cuisine. They can spend wonderful moments at events taking place year long, with a long tradition.



    “In the summer, events are mostly folkloric. I would mention the International Folklore Festival, held each August, with lots of foreign guests. On the streets of Targu Jiu you can see people in traditional costume from many counties. The months of August and September are full of events that bring people outdoors, we have a whole chain of events. Of these, I would mention especially the ‘Visit Brancusis Home program, which has grown by the year, enjoying great success. If you want to visit Gorj County in autumn to enjoy the multicolored scenery of Transalpina, you can also get to know the rural areas, where they preserve centuries-old traditions, and where people observe closely the local holidays. You can enjoy local delicacies on Harvest Day, which in fact goes on for several days, and throughout the events you can enjoy traditional events and the famous local wine. It goes well with the local cheese, made by the shepherds in the Transalpina area. We also have a festival dedicated to folk music and literature. We have a variety of cultural events, attracting people with various interests, from academics to tourists who want to spend a few relaxing days in the Gorj area.



    This interesting area is famous for its wild forests. In Gorj there are lots of nature reserves, where you can hunt and fish. There is also a place that is less known and promoted, though much appreciated by the locals.



    “We are talking about the only spa in the county where you can take a few moments for your peace of mind, and take care of your health. The place is called Sacelu, and has been documented as far back as Roman times. Here you find lots of vestiges of Roman baths. The place is not that well known, we have barely started to promote it, but it is famous among locals. It is well worth a visit, here you can recover mentally and physically. It is a special place precisely due to its Roman baths, which can give a run for its money to many spas in Romania.



    There you have it, rafting, kayaking, canoeing, climbing, and skiing, all in one place. In Gorj you can find carefully put together tourist packages, with various levels of difficulty, for beginners and experienced adventurers alike. For foreign tourists, these come in addition to the local history, culture, and beautiful traditions.


    (Translation by C. Cotoiu)


  • Tourist Attractions in Gorj

    Tourist Attractions in Gorj

    Rafting, canoeing, spelunking, rappelling and ziplining, climbing, mountain biking, skiing are some of the activities included in the most popular tourist packages. At the same time, old monasteries have always been a point of attraction for visitors to the county. Gorj is a county with great potential for tourism, and it has all the necessary ingredients, according to Oana Palos, spokesperson for Gorj County Council:



    “As a mountain county, we have plenty of possibilities for adventure tourism all year long, in both summer and winter. In the mountains of Gorj there is an area known across the country, the resort of Ranca. Winter sports lovers can ski here. We have six ski slopes, a ski lift and you can also do mountain climbing, paragliding, snowboarding, and bobsledding. However, the reigning sport is rafting. From this point of view, Gorj County is exceptional. Experts say rafting here is excellent. Transalpina is the highest road in Romania. And, though it is said that the road touches the clouds, it is in fact the old road used since Roman times by our shepherds, making the connection to the Sibiu area.



    Adventure tourism, as well as monastic tourism and cultural tourism are popular in the area. Monastic tourism is diverse, due to the many monasteries in Gorj County, built in centuries past, according to Oana Palos:



    “One example would be Tismana Monastery, the oldest hermitage in the south of the country. There is a great tourist circuit, very much appreciated by tourists across the country. The rest of the world is just starting to find out about us, because, in addition to the other tourist destinations, Gorj is starting to take important steps in promoting itself. We get more and more foreign tourists. The city of Targu Jiu stands out with its Heroes Avenue, where we find the works of the great Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi, famous across the world. We have a city break package for Targu Jiu. We also have a county package, covering most tourist objectives.



    The cultural agenda in Gorj County is well put together, with various cultural manifestations for tourist promotion, as well as entertainment. Throughout the year, every month, tourists get to enjoy the beauty of the scenery and the local cuisine. They can spend wonderful moments at events taking place year long, with a long tradition.



    “In the summer, events are mostly folkloric. I would mention the International Folklore Festival, held each August, with lots of foreign guests. On the streets of Targu Jiu you can see people in traditional costume from many counties. The months of August and September are full of events that bring people outdoors, we have a whole chain of events. Of these, I would mention especially the ‘Visit Brancusis Home program, which has grown by the year, enjoying great success. If you want to visit Gorj County in autumn to enjoy the multicolored scenery of Transalpina, you can also get to know the rural areas, where they preserve centuries-old traditions, and where people observe closely the local holidays. You can enjoy local delicacies on Harvest Day, which in fact goes on for several days, and throughout the events you can enjoy traditional events and the famous local wine. It goes well with the local cheese, made by the shepherds in the Transalpina area. We also have a festival dedicated to folk music and literature. We have a variety of cultural events, attracting people with various interests, from academics to tourists who want to spend a few relaxing days in the Gorj area.



    This interesting area is famous for its wild forests. In Gorj there are lots of nature reserves, where you can hunt and fish. There is also a place that is less known and promoted, though much appreciated by the locals.



    “We are talking about the only spa in the county where you can take a few moments for your peace of mind, and take care of your health. The place is called Sacelu, and has been documented as far back as Roman times. Here you find lots of vestiges of Roman baths. The place is not that well known, we have barely started to promote it, but it is famous among locals. It is well worth a visit, here you can recover mentally and physically. It is a special place precisely due to its Roman baths, which can give a run for its money to many spas in Romania.



    There you have it, rafting, kayaking, canoeing, climbing, and skiing, all in one place. In Gorj you can find carefully put together tourist packages, with various levels of difficulty, for beginners and experienced adventurers alike. For foreign tourists, these come in addition to the local history, culture, and beautiful traditions.


    (Translation by C. Cotoiu)