Wherever your steps take you on their paths, Bucegi Mountains are a delight for the senses. The infinite quietness, interrupted only by the cheerful chirping of the birds and by the mysterious rustle of the leaves, the fresh air, enriched by the flowers' perfume, the palette of summer colors and the wild crests veiled by the clouds – all of these attractions draw nature lovers throughout the seasons. On the rocky plateau of the Bucegi, near Babele and the Sfinx, freedom knows no limits. The sceneries open generously before your eyes, urging you to head for the road in order to see other beauties as well. Full of spumous cascades, green and bright glades or chalets where people are having fun, the massif amazes with the diversity of its views and with the richness of touristic objectives. A hike on a route in Bucegi is an experience you shouldn’t miss out on !

The Mysteries of Bucegi Mountains

The Bucegi are a mystical land, with legends deeply rooted in the history of the Romanian people and still hidden secrets. It is believed that Omu Peak used to be a sanctuary of the Dacians, just like the ones in Retezat and Ceahlau, together with which it formed 'Dacia’s Golden Triangle', an area of impressive energy. As a matter of fact, recent research has shown that near the Ialomicioara Cave there is an area of magnetic anomaly where the human organism heals itself in a remarkable way. The elders speak of the legendary Heaven’s Doorsill, a sacred place with miraculous properties, situated between heaven and earth.

The legends also talk about fabulous treasures buried here, among them – one belonging to the Dacians, dedicated to god Zamolxis, hiding the gift of knowledge and that of wisdom. It is said that in the past, the Tartars used to come to Bucegi all the way from Asia in order to look for treasures, which afterwards they hid in locked up rooms and the many, heavy keys used to lock the rooms the Tartars would carry with them on their journeys. Once in Bucegi, the Tartars were charmed by the beauties seen and wanted to share the pure joy found in these regions with their wives. At the point of leaving, being overly pleased, the once so greedy Tartars forgot about their valuable keys. The spot where the keys were left are now the dug in stone Tartar’s Gorges.

The Bucegi unveil their mysterious splendor one day a year, when the sunset rays gently reflect upon the rocky face of the Sfinx. On this day, November 28th, at the same hour, at the basis of the statue a pyramid is formed in the sun’s fiery light. Don’t miss out on this unique image, which will impress you with its magic.

 

The Bucegi National Park

A part of the Bucegi massif is a protected area because of the diversity of the fauna and flora here. Among the rare plants protected by law, there is the edelweiss, the lady’s slipper orchid, the mountain peony, the Nigritella rubra, the Cysopteris alpina fern, or the angelica. From among the animals here, we should name the black goat, the brown bear, the lynx, the mountain cock and eagle, the griffon vulture. At the heart of the mountain, forests combine with juniper and peony bushes, making room in the end for the immense alpine meadow. Nature’s wilderness is interrupted here and there by the picturesque chalets where the tourists gather around campfires enjoying guitar tunes.

There are also a few natural reservations in Bucegi, like the Vama Strunga fossil lake, whose fauna dates back to the Middle Jurassic, Coltii lui Barbes Mountains, where you can spot the mountain iris, and the BucÅŸoiu – MălăieÅŸti – Gaura steep, made of cirque glaciers and glacial valleys, caves and dolines. The mighty peaks surrounding the massif, the huge steeps between the rocky walls, the mountain gorges and the tempestuous waterfalls offer an unforgettable view.

 

Beauties Sculpted in Stone

Both slopes of the Bucegi Mountains hold important tourist objectives and towards them there are numerous routes. You can reach the western flank by leaving from Moeciu, Moeciu de Sus, Moeciu de Jos, Cheia, Simon or Bran.  After a short hike around Vanatori camp, be sure to make a stop at Orzei Gorges, one of the narrowest in the country. On Ialomita’s course, the gorges climb upstream to Lake Scropoasa through a manually dug tunnel. The translucent water surface serves an old Romanian hydropower station, but the scenery offered by the emerald mirror is one out of a fairy tale. You can find Scropoasa chalet here, a genuine relaxation oasis, presently closed and deserted. The fairy-like image energizing and filling you with cheerfulness is completed by the Zanoagei Gorges, yet another proof of water dominating the mountain.

A rare jewel of the Bucegi Mountains, a natural spectacle unaltered by the passing of time or by man’s intervention, Bolboci Lake is considered the blue sea of the massif. Surrounded by forever green forests and glorious crests, the lake unveils its azure and green-bluish nuances. You will definitely fall in love with the symphony of colors in this place, so you can camp on the shores of the lake or find lodgings at the Bolboci chalet in order to enjoy these wonderful views at any moment. Each year, at the beginning of August, locals celebrate Bolboci Lake’s Day, during which parades of traditional costumes take place, together with folk dances and sports competitions. Near the lake, there is also a place called Seven Springs (Sapte Izvoare), a source for the purest water in Europe.

 

The Tatarului Gorges, dug by the Ialomita River in the Jurassic limestones, spread between Lake Bolboci and the Padina Plateau. Although they don’t spread over a large surface, the narrow valleys from among the rocks stand out through the fauna and flora characteristic for geological reservations. The karst of the gorges is represented by two caves situated on the left flank – The Bear’s Cave (Pestera Ursului) and The Small Cave (Pestera mica), where fossils of the Ursus spelaeus were found together with reliquiae of the population living here during the withdrawal of the ice fields. As the river flows among the rocks, sometimes smoothly, other times stormily, it creates impressive scenery, which will stir up your taste for adventure. In order to tone it down, we recommend you look for the forest railway tunnel, dug into the mountain in 1906, but left unfinished.

Following the trails, you will find the Padina Plateau and Chalet, a well-known camping place in the Bucegi, near the Ialomicioara Cave. At the entrance in the grotto, prince Mihnea the Evil erected a small church in the 16th century, which has recently been replaced by a new skete and monastic cells. Run across by the Ialomita River, the cave has amazing acoustics and is richly decorated with stalagmites and stalactites. You can admire the rooms entitled ‘Decebal’, ‘Maria’,’At the Altar’ or ‘The Hidden Grotto’, as you visit them walking on wooden bridges, accompanied by the springs which head for the sunlight. At a higher altitude you can find the Tiganesti glacial lake, the only natural lake in Bucegi. The skies are truly conquered by Peak Omu (2505 meters), the tallest on the massif. From this point, the view of the valleys is overwhelming. Covered by the dense fog and caressed by the sunrays, the mountain does not hesitate in displaying its greatness.

 

The eastern flank dominates the Prahovei Valley and it is accessible from Sinaia, Poiana Tapului, Busteni, Azuga or Predeal. An easy to reach objective is The Royal Sheepfold Glade (Poiana Stana Regala), situated in Poiana Stanii Reservation, only 7 km away from Sinaia. This place used to be a part of the royal domain, including a chalet built in Austrian style, a typical Maramures church and stables for animals. The members of the Royal House sometimes used to retreat in this glade, walking or celebrating rural holidays. The location is wonderful and offers an amazing panorama, while the road – a former royal pathway, is full of footbridges, small cascades and abrupt rocks. You can find the Franz Joseph rock nearby, a spectacular belvedere point in Bucegi. It got its name after the visit of the Austro-Hungarian emperor in 1897, and you can climb on its stairs if you want a view over Prahova Valley. Don’t hesitate to take a hike up to the Royal Sheepfold, in order to take advantage of the harmonious landscape and the quietness of the forest. From here to the 1400 m altitude stop there isn’t much distance, and the aerial tram can take you up to the 2000 m stop. The ascent up to Furnica and Piatra Arsa Peaks is an attractive option for those who love hikes, while for those who prefer the sceneries, the spectacle of the clouds ruling over the valleys and hills is fascinating.

You can reach Urlatoarea Waterfall easily, starting from Busteni, right near the aerial tram. The forest road alternates straight and sloping portions, giving the tourist time for contemplation and rest. The water fall makes its presence felt from a distance, as the noise it creates covers all the other sounds of the forest. This corner of nature is extremely frequented especially during summertime, when it offers an oasis of coolness. On Vanturis Valley, underneath Coltii lui Barbes, you will find a necklace of waterfalls, where smaller or greater waves of water tempestuously spring from among the rocks.

 

The route to Jepii Mici starts near the pathway leading to Urlatoarea, which sweeps through the forest, crossing the valleys and defying the vertical rocks. In the distance you can see the Caraiman cross, solitary and great, a giant keeping watch over Busteni. The Heroes' Monument was built at the initiative of Queen Mary and King Ferdinand I to commemorate the soldiers fallen during the First World War. From its pedestal, the view is impressive, unveiling the beauties at the foot of the mountain.

Symbols of the Bucegi, Babele and the Sfinx are two of the massif’s most visited attractions. The rocky formations carefully sculpted by the harsh wind have gathered numerous legends around them. It is said about the Sfinx and its precisely delineated face that it is the representation of an ancient divinity. Its imposing stature seems to watch over these lands, keeping company for the chatting Babele (the Old women). Unique through their shape, these monuments are worth admiring in the overwhelming quietness of the heights.

 

Discover the Bucegi Massif

A lot of areas in the Bucegi are easily accessible as the mountain routes are numerous and they can be traveled through even by beginners. During the winter, there are restrictions on some portions, but during this period, tourists usually head for the modern ski tracks, equipped with cable transport: Sorica in Azuga, Kalinderu in Busteni, Turistica Ski Tracks, Vanturis, Drumul Vechi in Sinaia, Clabucet, Polistoaca and Subteleferic in Predeal. You have a daily aerial tram, chairlift or telegondola.

At the foot of the Bucegi Mountains there are numerous recreation resorts from where various routes leading to key points of the massif start. You can decide for accommodation units in the villages or for those at high altitude, where you will be warmly welcomed and greeted with delicious dishes. During the warm season, tents and trailers are a highly popular option on the plateaus.

 

In order to experience the unmatched beauties of the Bucegi, we recommend a few accessible routes marking the most important objectives:

Stânei Glade - Babei Valley - Tapului Glade Route (1¼ - 1½ hr.).

BuÅŸteni - Urlătoarea Waterfall Route (1½ hr.).

Şimon - Şimon Valley - Guţanu Glade Route (2 h).

Omu Chalet - Doamnele Mountain - Strungile Mountain - Åžaua Strunga - Padina Chalet Route (5 - 5½ hrs.).

MioriÅ£a Chalet - Mount Furnica - Babele Chalet - Ceardacul ObârÅŸiei - Omu Chalet Route (5-6 hrs).

Bran - Clincea Glade - Åžaua Tiganesti - Omu Chalet Route (5½ - 6½ hrs.).

Bran - Gaura Valley - Omu Chalet Route (6-7 hrs).

Moeciu de Sus - Prăvalele Valley - Şaua Strunga - Padina Chalet Route (6-7 hrs).

Moroieni - DobreÅŸti - Cheile Orzei - Scropoasa Chalet - Cheile Zanoagei Chalet - Bolboci Chalet  - PeÅŸtera Chalet Route (8-9 hrs.).

If adrenaline is what you are looking for, there are routes in the Bucegi marked for mountain biking, some reaching Omu Peak or the Caraiman Cross. Climbers can venture as well, especially in areas like Busteni and Padina.

 

 

Bucegi Mountains are a chest of legends and fascinating mysteries, a mixture of exceptional natural landscapes, filled with rich forests, wild valleys, wide glades, footpaths among the rocks and crests piercing the skies. With its fantasy of perfumes, colors and sensations, the massif offers you the feeling of ultimate freedom. Between the blue of the sky and the green of the hills surrounding you, there is an entire world worth discovering.

[An article written by Andreea Bertea]