For mountain lovers, Brasov is the starting point for trips and hikes to the Piatra Craiului, Postavaru, Piatra Mare and Bucegi Mountains. If you want to have a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the city of Brasov, go up the Tampa peak. On sunny days, when the sky is clear, you can see the whole Brasov depression. Another attraction of the area is the mountain resort of Poiana Brasov, which is the ideal spot for winter sports lovers and a world famous tourist destination.
In today’s instalment of Traveller's Guide, we’ll take you to the Piatra Craiului National Park. The Piatra Craiului massif was declared a national reserve on March the 28th 1938. The director of the National Park administration, Mircea Verghelet will be our guide to the area:
”The Piatra Craiului National Park boasts several exquisite geo-morphological structures, among which a calcareous ridge, the only such ridge in Romania which is located at an altitude upwards of 2,000m. There are also karstic formations and gorges, which are located both in the northern and southern parts of Brasov county, such as the ravines and precipices in Zarnesti. Apart from these geo-morphological formations, Piatra Craiului also boasts a rich and varied flora, actually a third of all floral species in Romania grow here. For instance, the Carthusian pink, which is an endemic species, grows only in the Piatra Craiului Mountains. The area also boasts a rich fauna. Visitors are particularly attracted by the chamois and big carnivorous mammals.“
The precipices on both sides of the ridge are an attraction point for rock climbers and not only. Some of the favourite routes followed by experienced mountaineers are located between the Turnu Peak and the Piatra Craiului peaks, where genuine hung gardens have been formed. Mircea Verghelet:
”The park administration together with the mountain rescue teams in Zarnesti and Campulung try to maintain all tourist routes at best standards, both those leading to the ridge and those which go down the eastern and western slopes. There are also several shelters. Three of them have been laid out near the ridge and others at the bottom of the mountain. They are meant to provide shelter to tourists, in case of extreme weather phenomena, such as thunderstorms. These shelters are not meant to accommodate tourists, but only to protect them. The Dambovicioara Cave, which is a favourite attraction for tourists has been modernised. “
Tourists can find accommodation in all villages and towns around the park, both in the Brasov and Arges counties. The Brasov county has a group of guides who have been exclusively trained by the park administration. The park personnel can also offer guided tours, for a small charge. The park administration has also started a bear watching program, which already enjoys great success. The bears live in the vicinity of the park, and the group of visitors is accompanied by a guide. Organisers also provide the tourists with transportation to the bears’ habitat. A bear watching session costs 15 Euro per person, except for transport costs and a small fare for the guide. Mircea Verghelet has said the Piatra Craiului massif cannot be missed by any mountain lover.
“We are open for all tourists. All facilities are ready to receive their guests. Piatra Craiului is gradually taking off its snow veils, and starting in early May, the summer tourism season is beginning, at least at the foot of the mountain. But I do have one recommendation to make. Piatra Craiului is not an easy mountain to climb. Tourists must be careful with their equipment and footwear, they must calculate their trekking time so as to avoid spending the night in dangerous areas, and must make sure they have enough water and they stay on the established trails.”
Tourists interested in history and rural tourism ought to visit Prejmer. This village, located near the town of Brasov, was first mentioned in official documents in 1240, and the medieval citadel in Prejmer is truly amazing, as administrator Cristina Balog tells us.
“Within the citadel walls there is a particularly beautiful church, a 13th Century Gothic church initially built in the shape of a Greek cross by the Teutonic Knights. At present its shape is that of a Latin cross, as the western part of the church has been extended. It is one of the largest peasant citadels in Transylvania. The citadel itself, which is built around the church, dates back to the 15th Century. It has a total of 272 rooms, which could hold between 1200 and 1500 people. We invite RRI’s listeners to visit the museums inside the citadel. We have an old school which has been refurbished, a kitchen, a loom, a very beautiful village museum, a photo exhibition mounted by the foundation that still helps us administer the citadel. There is a lot to see here. I hope I made you a little curious.”
Access to the Prejmer citadel costs 8 lei (about 2 euro). Visiting hours are 9 AM to 5 PM, Mondays through Fridays, and on Sunday tourists may attend the Lutheran Evangelical mass, in German, held in the old church. And since we talk about places that are rich in history, we asked Cristina Balog whether there are local legends that tourists can find out in Prejmer.
“When I was a child, we were told not to look at the fires that may be seen around the citadel. They said those fires signal the places where the Teutonic Knights’ treasures are buried, and whoever tries to dig them out will be cursed. I would always stay away from anything that glowed near the citadel walls at night. But what I’d like the most is for tourists to enjoy their time in Prejmer. I was born here and I may be subjective, but with all modesty, I can tell you it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.”
Even without Teutonic treasures to dig out, we can guarantee that you have a chance to enjoy this breathtaking scenery. All you have to do is to take part in our contest and give correct answers to our questions. Good luck!
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2010-09-06
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