Apuseni Natural Park, Romania
| country: | Romania |
| location: | Apuseni Natural Park |
introduction to Apuseni Natural Park, Romania
Why should you visit?
Tucked away in western Romania, in the Apuseni Mountains, lies the amazing Apuseni Natural Park. The region combines a magnitude of unmatched natural landscapes with well-diversified ecosystems. Going back to Roman Times, the Apuseni Mountains' aura of gold drew people from far off lands. Today, this aura has been replaced by green for-ests, blue waters and white limestone. The remarkable sunsets that this re-gion is named after, along with timeless local charm, make Apuseni a mys-tical place to visit. Sub Title: What can you do here?
With over 1500 caves located in the park, Apuseni is an explorer's paradise. Hodobana, a massive underground labyrinth that meanders more than 21 kilometers, is a "must-see" attraction, as is the Zgurasti Cave, which shelters a spectacular underground lake. There is also the Valea Rea, which is one of the world's most significant caves, containing over 35 different types of minerals.
Another unique phenomenon in the park's landscape is the Groapa Rugino-asa. This colossal ravine has a diameter of about 450 meters and is over 100 meters deep. It was formed by water erosion that cut through the layers of sandstone and red-violet clays. Apuseni is also home to an excess of alpine sports. Hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing are just a few of the many sports that draw visitors to the area.
What makes the Apuseni Natural Park special?
Due to the ever-changing mountain climates, the Apuseni Natural Park never sits still. The region is constantly evolving, with peat bogs emerging in the higher altitudes. The park is also home to over 1,550 different plant species. Spruce forests fill the mountain sides, while wild cherries and black walnuts grow in the meadows. One of the most extraordinary places in the park is the Padis-Cetatile Po-norului Karst visitor area. It's an area comprised of steep rock walls, wild running water and deep caves. Recently, carnivorous wildlife, which was previously unknown to science, was discovered in some of the mountain's caves. These discoveries, com-bined with the already vast numbers of bear, lynx and wolves, make the region a truly remarkable habitat for wildlife.
What makes it sustainable?
Tourism continues to steadily grow in the region andthe Apuseni Natural Park has been able to meet this challenge. Developing tourist areas like Vladeasa and Albac offer top-notch accommodations and easy access to the park's attractions. Having four distinct seasons is also a plus to the region. Tourism is spread out evenly through the year, allowing programs to be implemented to ensure the rehabilitation of the park's hiking and skiing trails. Romania has also reached out to other countries to discuss new and evolving environmental issues and measures. Apuseni Natural Park is a special place and the gov-ernment plans on it remaining this way.
What to look for in:
Spring: Water rushing down melting mountain tops Summer: Trekkers winding their way down deep caverns Fall: Leaves changing colors as the days grow shorter Winter: Extreme skiers in search of untouched powder
Highlights of the Apuseni Natural Park
Take a canoe trip through breathtaking canyons Spend a summer afternoon at a mountain festival Go rock climbing up limestone walls
At the bottom of the Capatānii Mountains, a group of five destinations presents its ethno-cultural, linguistic and environmental diversity: awe-inspiring gorges within picturesque forested areas, orchards, bat caves, the Horezu enamelled pottery, as well as traditional cuisine and souvenirs influenced by local shepherd culture.
Tucked away in western Romania, in the Apuseni Mountains, lies the amazing Apuseni Natural Park. The region combines a magnitude of unmatched natural landscapes with well-diversified ecosystems. Going back to Roman Times, the Apuseni Mountains' aura of gold drew people from far off lands. Today, this aura has been replaced by green for-ests, blue waters and white limestone. The remarkable sunsets that this re-gion is named after, along with timeless local charm, make Apuseni a mys-tical place to visit. Sub Title: What can you do here?
With over 1500 caves located in the park, Apuseni is an explorer's paradise. Hodobana, a massive underground labyrinth that meanders more than 21 kilometers, is a "must-see" attraction, as is the Zgurasti Cave, which shelters a spectacular underground lake. There is also the Valea Rea, which is one of the world's most significant caves, containing over 35 different types of minerals.Another unique phenomenon in the park's landscape is the Groapa Rugino-asa. This colossal ravine has a diameter of about 450 meters and is over 100 meters deep. It was formed by water erosion that cut through the layers of sandstone and red-violet clays. Apuseni is also home to an excess of alpine sports. Hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing are just a few of the many sports that draw visitors to the area.
What makes the Apuseni Natural Park special?
Due to the ever-changing mountain climates, the Apuseni Natural Park never sits still. The region is constantly evolving, with peat bogs emerging in the higher altitudes. The park is also home to over 1,550 different plant species. Spruce forests fill the mountain sides, while wild cherries and black walnuts grow in the meadows. One of the most extraordinary places in the park is the Padis-Cetatile Po-norului Karst visitor area. It's an area comprised of steep rock walls, wild running water and deep caves. Recently, carnivorous wildlife, which was previously unknown to science, was discovered in some of the mountain's caves. These discoveries, com-bined with the already vast numbers of bear, lynx and wolves, make the region a truly remarkable habitat for wildlife.
What makes it sustainable?
Tourism continues to steadily grow in the region andthe Apuseni Natural Park has been able to meet this challenge. Developing tourist areas like Vladeasa and Albac offer top-notch accommodations and easy access to the park's attractions. Having four distinct seasons is also a plus to the region. Tourism is spread out evenly through the year, allowing programs to be implemented to ensure the rehabilitation of the park's hiking and skiing trails. Romania has also reached out to other countries to discuss new and evolving environmental issues and measures. Apuseni Natural Park is a special place and the gov-ernment plans on it remaining this way.
What to look for in:
Highlights of the Apuseni Natural Park other EDEN destinations in Romania
Horezu Depression (2008)At the bottom of the Capatānii Mountains, a group of five destinations presents its ethno-cultural, linguistic and environmental diversity: awe-inspiring gorges within picturesque forested areas, orchards, bat caves, the Horezu enamelled pottery, as well as traditional cuisine and souvenirs influenced by local shepherd culture.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Have you ever sat at your desk during a busy work day and felt your mind drift off to another place? That special spot on Monday was a beach some-where in the Mediterranean. A few days later your mind ventured to a castle on top of a hillside. The experience was so vivid that you could almost smell the fresh mountain air.
Each day the clock ticks and you yearn for a holiday free of the hustle and bustle of city life. You want a destination that is known for its local charm, its beautiful landscapes and fascinating history. A place where the locals respect their land and will do anything to protect it from harm. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, in Europe, the possibilities are endless. The European Commission launched the European Destinations of Excel-lence (EDEN) a few years back with the aim of selecting special places "off the beaten path" that value economic, environmental and social sustainabil-ity. The 52 places chosen so far all represent Europe in a fitting manner. Europe is a continent of great history and lands. The continent's mystique draws tourists from around the world in search of adventure, paradise and culture. While there are many wonderful destinations in Europe, the truth is, many of them have lost their allure due to expansive tourism and a lack of regard for the environment. No longer can a region's name alone be enough to draw visitors to their majestic mountains or pristine beaches. There must be more and the European Commission has devoted numerous resources to instill the mind-set of sustainable tourism in its regions. Sustainable tourism is a practice that must run deep in the values of the local people. Whenever new accommodation is built and man-made changes are made to the landscape, eco-friendly and environmental measures must be followed. A constant respect for nature is needed to ensure that today's crea-tures and eco-systems are still around in the distant future. Sustainable tourism also plays a major role in a region's local economy. The growth of an area leads to more jobs and helps raise the quality of living in a region. The local people also take advantage of visitors eating at their restaurants, shopping at their markets and staying at their hotels. It is essential that proper investment in tourism growth has the people's best interests in mind.  The next time you go on a memorable holiday to the countryside and enjoy a bottle of the Earth's precious wine, take notice of the land and its people. These 52 selected EDEN "hidden gems" all have done their part in making their region a wonderful and memorable place to visit. Now it's up to you to decide which adventure you want to seek! |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |