Recommended routes through Romania

Itinerary: Oradea – Albac – Cimpeni – Turda – Cluj Napoca

Day I

The route , which also through Apuseni Mountains pass, drives through a land rich with attractions with many karst formations (doline, avens , wells, caves). Also has the land a historic interest: here had taken place the peasant rising in 1784 under Horea,Closca and Crisan , in 1848-9 Avram Iancu has led the revolutionary actions. Further worth being mentioned the variety of popular un folkloric aspects.

Oradea: Archaeological discoveries has proved that the land was populated since Neolithic . But only after the establishment of the catholic church started Oradea to develop; it is first documentary mentioned in 1235. Was an important center for the workers movement from In 1870 here was established the center for handicraft workers , 1890 the organization of socialist party and in 1894 has the first syndicates appeared.

We have visited the next attractions:

The museum of the Land of Cris – it is in the former bishop palace established, an imposing building in baroque style, constructed after the plans of the Austrian architect ;

Cetatea – the first fortress was raised in 11-12 century – in 1241 the tartars destroyed it, in 14 century was again built; the last renovation was made in 18 century when was used the Vauban Style.

The church with moon– it is named so because in the tower exists a sphere (with the help of a mechanism made in 1753) which indicates the moon phases.

Cetatea

The church with moon

The museum of the land of cris

We left Oradea on DN 76 going south. We have met on the route many old wood churches 1 and water mills 2 (Corbesti 1 , Lunca Sprie 1&2, Copaceni 1), the dendrologic park from Simbata, the ruins of an old medieval fortress (1594), the picturesque view from the entrance in the Crisu Negru Gorge.

We drive towards Beius: that was an old romanian center which turned into a powerfully cultural establishment from 1828 when Oradea’s Bishop, Samuel Vulcan, made a high school for the young romanians, the only one for that time in the west of the country. We eat at Europa Restaurant. We start visiting the surroundings after the lunch: Remetea village with an orthodox church of wall stones (end of XIII-th century, foundation of the Romanian voivodes); Meziad and from here to plateau and cave Meziad, then by feet towards Iadului Valey and Iadolina Waterfall 2-3 hours.

Iadolina Waterfall

Meziad cave entrance

We spend the night in Stina de Vale spa-resort in Hotel Iadolina.

Day II

We drive towards Pietroasa village – it is a center of folkloristic and ethnographic importance: saw watermill, valuable folk costumes, woven carpets. From here it is access to Cetatile Ponorului karst natural reservation and to Padis plateau – Cetatile Ponorului chalet (1280m) on forest road.

After the lunch we followed the path till Cheile Galbenei , a spectacular stone canyon with a tumultuous waterfall. Going along the waterfall, this become again quiet, but the view didn’t lose its beauty. The magnificence of the lime walls and the valley bewitched us

We carry on the path till Focul Viu Cave. Rich masses of snow enter inside the cave during the winter months through a hole in the cave roof. A cone of ice 5-6 m height rises up. On sunny days, when the sun at noon shines through this hole, then the cone gets the appearance of an living flame.

We spent the night in Cetatile Ponorului chalet.

DayIII

We drive back towards Pietroasa village and from here towards Chiscau – we have visited the Bears Cave with many water forms and bones of Ursus spelaeus

Rieni Village – nice woodchurch with right corners plan and Tower at antenave constructed by Ilie Tulea (1753); old watermill.

Sighistel Village – it is a starting point the trip on Sighistel Valey (protected area)- it is an areal rich in caves (Coliboaia,Corbasca,Dracoaica,Magura,Tibocoaia);

Girda de Sus Village –picturesque land; costumes, folk architecture; wood churches; starting point to Scarisoara Cave 2-3 hours on a forest road. We have visited this also. Inside Scarisoara Cave can be found an ice crust holding a total volume of 75000 m³. The age of the glacier was established as more then 3000 years. We return.

Sighistel Valley

Scarisoara Cave

Albac Village – it is the place where Horia, the leader of the peasant rise from 1784 was born.

Dealu cu Melci – the hill with snails, geological protected areal.

Lupsa – the land of former goldmines, built by the dacians and later by the romans; also we find an orthodox church, foundation of the Romanian knez Vladislav, hall style with gothic influences and a wooden steeple; ethnographic collection (established in 1952 by Pamfil Albu teacher) with 6000 objects (old field tools, house tools, wood tools for trade; mining, weaving, costumes, pottery )

Baia de Aries areal – here were gold extraction since dacian times; in 1325 it is mentioned as a small mountain town; close to Poienita Peak we visited the “Lake without bottom”.

Salciua de Jos village; access to Huda Lui Papara cave and the old church-monastery under the stone

-Junction to Cheia village (4 km); we visited the plateau and the gorge named Cheile Turzii, protected areal; 2000m length gorge which was corroded by the Hasdate river into the lime stones of Trascau Mountains; along the gorge are caves which were populated by prehistoric men; the vegetation includes 997 species, and few of them are endemic.

We spent the night in Cluj Napoca– Faget Camping

Day IV

Cluj Napoca visit

Cluj is an old city – city was mentioned in 124 the first time and actually receives the status of a colony. Also in the middle eve the city developed further because here was a junction of commercial routes . In the 12 – th century here settle down the german merchants. Cluj was the capital of Transylvania from 18 century , whereas the city and the whole Transylvania since 1867 belonged to Hungary. In 1940 was the north of Transylvania and also Cluj annexed to Hungary – it followed bloody fights against the Romanian population.. Today Cluj is a significant university city with green peripheries and a new center reconstruction.

Whoever looks over the center city should look over Cetăţuie also. We see there the concrete block of the luxury hotel Transylvania. From there one can see fast the complete center and the river – as well as new, big Buildings right under the Cetatuie with striped glass which made one think about a province Chinese city. Around this hotel lies a nice park.

In the city center the church Sfântul Mihail (church of Hl. Michael) from 15 century dominates those gothic buildings of Piata Unirii. The high neo gothic tower is newer – this was built in 1859 and is for sure the highest construction of the inner city (you can see also the panorama).

If you go south of Blvd. Eroilor gen Osten, you can come straight with two other places: Ştefan cel Mare Square on the right and Avram Iancu on the left. In the first one can see the attired building of the National Theather.

Opposite to the theather in Avram Iancu square lies the Orthodox Church of Cluj, which as well from outside and also from inside is very impressive.

We have eaten in a romanian restaurant with a friendly and warm atmosphere and we were served with a variety of different local dishes: Romanian wine or the traditional burned grapes wine “Tuica” kept in pot, and prepared by famous Corund “art workers”; we had as well other traditional dishes: staffed cabbage rolls, spicy grilled skinless sausage, tripe soup.

Airport transfer at the end with friendly greetings!!!