Winter in the Bucegi mountains

Whether for the diversity of wildlife, or the variety of leisure activities the Bucegi Mountains are a must see.

Daniel Onea, 31.01.2013, 13:24

The Bucegi Mountains are said to be one of the favorite winter holiday destinations of Romanians. Stretching over an area of 300 square meters, this massif spreads out across three counties: Dambovita, Prahova and Brasov. The scenic landscape, the easily accessible marked mountain trails, the climbing routes and the numerous ski slopes in the resorts in the area make for a holiday offer which is too tempting to turn down.

The Bucegi Nature Park, located in the Bucegi Mountains, is a protected area with very high appeal among tourists. It is in fact one of the most visited mountain areas in Romania after the Danube Delta, with over 1 million 200 thousand visitors every year. The varied tourist attractions and scenery provide a plethora of leisure activities catering to all tastes. Horia Iuncu, head of the Bucegi Nature Park Administration, managed by the Romsilva National Forestry Administration, tells us more about ways to spend a winter holiday in the area:

Horia Iuncu: “Apart from the scenery and natural heritage, visitors can make the most of the tourist infrastructure made available by local authorities. The skiing area that has been recently upgraded to European standards is a plus. The Bucegi Nature Park is located in the Bucegi Massif in the Southern Carpathians, and covers an area of 32,000 hectares. The Park includes some of the most important Romanian mountain resorts, such as Sinaia, Busteni, Rasnov, Bran, Moeciu and the newest tourist resort, Padina Pestera, located at the very heart of the Park.”

According to Horia Iuncu, the Park’s administration is relentlessly trying to bring more tourists to this area so a special department has been set up with the purpose of raising people’s awareness, encouraging eco-friendly behaviors and trying to come up with new leisure activities without having a negative effect on the protected environment. Horia Iuncu:

Horia Iuncu: “We have taken a keen interest in this matter and we even have a project under way. The project, dubbed “Improving tourist infrastructure in the Bucegi Nature Park”, runs on European funds and is worth 4.2 million euros. We also plan to set up a tourist information center where anyone interested can find out everything they want to know about the area’s attractions, leisure activities, lodging facilities, maps and brochures.”

The Bucegi Nature Park is home to a large number of protected species. Horia Iuncu has the details:

Horia Iuncu: “There are several protected wildlife species in the park, such as the chamois, the bear, the deer and the heather cock. As for the protected plant species, there is the edelweiss and the red vanilla orchid, a rare type of orchid whose Romanian name translates as ‘the brave man’s blood’, as well as several species of trees. Each species holds an inestimable local value and we do our best to protect them. Bucegi boasts 42 natural monuments, among which the popular Babele and the Sphinx, and the steepest peak in Romania, Caraiman. There are also two small although beautiful lakes. One of them is the 100-hectare Bolboci Lake and the other is the Scropoasa Lake, that covers only 12 hectares, but which turn into a bird haven in wintertime.”

Winter is in full swing. This is why we make a stopover at one of the chalets in the area, a favorite among skiers, located on the Malaiesti Valley. Ion Adamuta, head of the Rasnov Mountain Rescue Office, gives us details about the skiing conditions there:

Horia Iuncu: “The snow layer is 1-meter high. Most of it is compressed snow, so there is no risk of an avalanche occuring. The Malaiesti Valley is one of the most beautiful in the country. The chamois can be seen here, as the area is quite wild. We also have marked climbing routes. Tourists from Germany, Austria, Spain, England and France are often among our guests.”

Irrespective of the hotel or guesthouse you pick, the meals have to be traditional. Horia Iuncu gave us some tips:

Horia Iuncu: “Given the fact that we are neighboring the Moeciu-Bran area, I strongly recommend tourists to sample a traditional dish called bulz, made of cheese and polenta. Farming activities are mostly based on animal breeding, and dairy products here are highly appreciated throughout the country.”

In a nutshell this is an area where nature lovers can see a lot of natural monuments, protected species of animals and plants, an area where they can take walks and enjoy everything that a modern mountain resort can offer.