National Park Piatra Craiului

A little heaven on Earth



With a spectacular 25 km limestone ridge, giving way to spruce forests and glacial lakes, drama is everywhere in Craiului National Park. Wolves, bears, deer, eagle owls and 17 species of bat are at home in these woodlands and crags, first declared a nature reserve in 1938. Bordered by glacial lakes, the ridge is regarded as one of the most beautiful sights in the Carpathians. The two-day north–south ridge trail is both challenging and rewarding. Starting at either Plaiul Foii in the northwest or Curmatura in the northeast, hikers climb up to the ridge along the narrow spine of the range. The descent at the southern end leads into a karst landscape of deep gorges and pitted slopes where water penetrating the rock has carved a series of caves.
The traditional villages of Magura, Pestera, Ciocanu, Sirnea, make for interesting starting points for the routes on the eastern slope and for getting in touch with the traditional Romanian way of life.

Fast facts
Location: Southern Carpathians (Arges and Brasov counties) Size: 91,000 acres Best known for: The most spectacular ridge in the Carpathian Mountains. The backdrop scenes filmed here for the movie Cold Mountain. Natural features: Caves, Meadows, Rocky steep walls, Spruce forests Activities: Caving, Hiking, Horseback riding, Horse carriage / sled strolls, Rock climbing, Wildlife and Bird watching


This page was created by Raluca-Andreea Popescu ⛰️🐻