Truly Unique Places in the Apuseni Mountains

The Apuseni Mountains are among the most interesting tourist destinations in the whole country. Every year thousands of tourists opt for this area when planning a holiday. The unique scenery, welcoming hosts and the diversity of the natural setting are just some of the reasons visitors choose to come to these lands.

The Apuseni Mountains have been the home of the Moți since the earliest times. In the past the locals’ main occupations were animal breeding and mining.

Below we present the most interesting tourist attractions in this area.

1. The Northern Apuseni Mountains

Geographically, the Northern Apuseni Mountains lie in the western part of the Transylvanian Plateau, and the average height of the slopes reaches 1,400 metres. According to tourists, here you are in the heart of nature, an area where you break away completely from the digital age and can be charmed by the beauty of the scenery, the fresh mountain air and the evergreen forests.

Mountain tourism is much appreciated by travel lovers, precisely because they can admire wild natural settings and spend more time outdoors.

2. The Scărișoara Glacier

Natural tourist attractions are in great demand today, and in the Apuseni Mountains there is an impressive number of caves. Caves can sometimes also shelter glaciers, as is the case with the one at Scărișoara. The entrance to the cave is truly unique, through a shaft about 60 metres in diameter. In practice, tourists carefully follow the path carved into the rock and go down metal stairs to see the largest glacier in the country.

3. Bears’ Cave

Although it was only discovered in 1975, Bears’ Cave is among the top sights in the Apuseni. Its name is not symbolic, but comes from the numerous fossils found by archaeologists. According to them, cave bears, a species that died out more than 15,000 years ago, often sheltered here.

4. The Bride’s Waterfall

What could be nicer than visiting a waterfall? The Bride’s Waterfall is remarkable because the water falls from a height of over 18 metres. The limestone formations that have formed right next to the water are also unique, and make you think of a fairy-tale landscape.

5. The Ponor Citadels (Cetățile Ponorului)

Symbolically called the “Everest of Romanian speleology”, the Ponor Citadels are part of the largest karst complexes in Europe.

If you love mountain sports and have climbing experience, you can try to scale the wall that is more than 100 metres high. Otherwise, you can enjoy a walk in the middle of nature, far from everyday stress.

In conclusion, the Apuseni Mountains offer numerous ways to relax for people who want to rediscover the beauties of nature, whatever the season.

Read also: The Carpathian Mountains, the emblem of our country