Romania's Carpathians - The Pleasure of Freedom

The Carpathians, denominated in ancient times "Corona Montium", form a third of the country's territory, and represent the second European mountain chain after the Alps. Even if they are not as high as the Alps, The Carpathians are equally picturesque and spectacular.

Placed as an arch inside the country, the Carpathians are formed of three mountains chains (Oriental, Southern and Western Carpathians), each of them with its particular beauty and hospitable landscapes.


The Oriental Carpathians stretch from the north-eastern frontier up to the Prahova Valley. They are the longest volcanos chain in Europe, comprising the massifs Oas, Gutai, Tibles, Calimani, Harghita, Bodoc and Baraolt.

The second mountains chain, the Southern Carpathians, is placed between Prahova Valley and the Timis-Cerna corridor. Here there are the highest mountain peaks in Romania (Peak Moldoveanu in Fagaras Massif 2544 m, Negoiu 2535 m, Parângu Mare 2519 m, Peleaga 2509 m, Omu 2505 m).

The Western Carpathians are placed in the west side of the country, between the Danube and Somes. They are famous for their caves - Scarisoara (where there is a millenary glacier, unique in Europe) and Pestera Ursilor - the Bears Cave - (name inspired by the bear fossils discovered here).

Anywhere in the Carpathians aria one can find mountain resorts intended for winter sports or summer holidays, resorts with thermal waters and rarely therapeutic elements, with a modern infrastructure of hotels, villas, Alpine chalets, camping, telecabin, telechair and accessible roads.

Skiing is one of the tourists' favourite activities, as there are modern, specially arranged tracks, lit up in the night. Among the most known tracks there are those on the Prahova Valley and the surroundings (Sinaia, Azuga, Predeal, Poiana Brasov), those on Valea Jiului and from the Massif Semenic.
The glacial circles in the massifs Fagaras, Rodna, Retezat and Semenic, placed at 1900-2000 m, allow winter sport practise until the end of the spring.



The mountaineering and the alpine climbing are perfect sports in these mountains. The most important alpine climbing centre of Romania is in Busteni (in the Massif Bucegi).

The pollutant civilisation did not touch the Carpathians Mountains yet. The secular woods, the invigorating ozone rich air, the mountain paths between pretty alpine chalets are strong motivations for the nature loving tourists.


Other attracting elements are the reservations and the natural parks that shelter rare animals - the lynx, the bear, the Carpathian stag, the European bison, the black goat etc.

Hunting is another sport that can be practised in the Carpathians. Amateur hunters take great pride in the trophies obtained "fighting" with the wild boars, bears, hares or the pheasant and wild ducks species.

The roads intended for mountain cycling, the glacial lakes, the caves hiding a wonderful world, the strange forms of peaks and rocks, the cascades and mineral water springs are other reasons to visit the Carpathians.

The famous mountain resorts of Romania - Sinaina, Predeal and Poiana Brasov, Tusnad, Vatra Dornei and Sovata, Baile Herculane and Calimanesti-Caciulata, Paltinis and Borsa -are all departure points for charming trips in the mysterious world of the Carpathians.