Romania is a great country to discover- and were not just saying that

because some of us here are Romanians. Some places in the country are
already well-known, mainly because they are better promoted, but many
other places remain unknown. Weve dig up 40 such places for those who
want to discover the not-so-well-known places in Romania.

1. Living Fires in Lopatari, Buzau County

The Living Fires (Focurile Vii in Romanian) can be found in the Romanian
village of Lopatari, Buzau County, in Slanicului Valley, 56 km away from Buzau
city. Living Fires can be as high as 20 cm and represent a natural
phenomenon unique in Europe. They are blue flames burning in places where
the soil is cracked and kept alive because of the gas that comes to surface.

2. Muddy Volcanoes, Buzau County

You might have recently heard about this one, but it is not as well known as it
would deserve. The Muddy Volcanoes are located in Buzau County, in Paclele
area, in the village of Berca. The Muddy Volcanoes are miniature craters
which are formed because of the natural gas that comes from a depth of
more than 3000 m. It lies on about 30 hectares and is a unique phenomenon
in Romania, also rare in the world.

3. Ochiul Beiului Lake, Caras- Severin County

Ochiul Beiului Lake, with water that has a green-blue color, is in the village of
Sasca Montana, in Caras-Severin County. From Bucharest, the lake can be
reached easily by following the route Bucharest Pitesti Slatina Craiova
Filiasi Drobeta Turnu Severin Orsova Moldova Noua Sasca Montana,
with a length of 509 km. Whats interesting about this place is that the lakes
water doesnt freeze even at extremely low temperatures during winter,
because of the spring that feeds permanently the lake with water.

4. Ruins of Roman Porolissum, Salaj County

One of the best preserved archaeological sites in Romania is called

Porolissum, an old Roman city. Besides its impressive size, the site also had
has a good conservation during the centuries. Castrul Roman Porolissum can
be found in Salaj County, in Mirsid.
5. Vidra Lake, Valcea County

The Vidra Lake is a men-made lake, dating from 1972. The lake is 30 km
away from Voineasa resort in Valcea County, between Lotrului, Latoritei rivers
and Capatanii Mountains. This place can offer some really great moments to
those who love nature, through its silence, fresh air and great green forests
that are surrounding the lake.

6. The Church under the lake, Cluj County

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Although hidden from human eyes most of the time, the Church under the
lake from Belis, in Cluj county, comes out during the hot, low-rainfall
summers. Belis is a village in Transylvania, at an altitude of 1,000 m, in Gilau
Mountains. Only in the days of hot summer the old ruins of the church, dating
from the nineteenth century, come out of the water. Equally impressive are
the paintings that decorate the ruins, embodying angels and biblical scenes.

7. The Bears Cave Ursilor cave, Bihor County

Known as one of the most spectacular sights of the Romanian Apuseni
Mountains, the Bears Cave is located near Chiscau, in Bihor County, at an
altitude of 482 meters. The caves name comes from the many cave bear
fossils discovered there, as this place was a favorable place of shelter for
animals around 15,000 years ago. There are around 547 km between
Bucharest and the Bears Cave, a distance that can be covered by car in about
7 hours.

8. The Merry Cemetery, Maramures County

The Romanian village of Sapanta, in Maramures County, became famous for

its Merry Cemetery that has become a very important tourist attraction. The
cemeterys name comes from the colorful crosses and the satirical poetry that
is written on them. After the cross is carved, it is usually painted in blue, the
so-called Blue Sapanta. The distance between Bucharest and Sapanta is
about 600 km.

9. Comana Natural Park, Ilfov County

Comana Natural Park, 35 km away from Bucharest, is unique in Europe, and

includes dozens of species of plants and animals protected by the
international laws, being considered the second Delta of Romania, after the
Danube Delta. The natural park covers 25,000 hectares, being the largest
protected area in the Romanian Plain (Campia Romana).

10. The steam train in Viseul de Sus, Vaserului defile (Mocanita),

Maramures County
Vaserului Gorge, with the appearance of a canyon, is located in the eastern
part of the Maramures Mountains. Tourists can travel through the entire
gorge using one of the few steam trains in Romania, Mocanita de la Viseul de
Sus, that departs daily from Viseul de Sus village, reaching Novat, Faina and
even Macarlau. The distance between Viseul de Sus and Bucharest is 523 km.

11. Red Lake (Lacul Rosu), Harghita County

The Red Lake is a natural lake that was created when half of a mountain fell.
It is situated in Hasmasu Mare Mountains, near the town of Gheorgheni,
Harghita County, 323 km away from Bucharest. This is the largest natural
mountain lake in Romania. Its name came from the Red River, that crossing
red layers, with iron oxides and hydroxides. The lake appears dark and
threatening. The trees that were swallowed by the water, which now appear
on the surface give the impression of strange and mysterious.

12. Neamtului Fortress, Neamt County

You might have heard of the Neamtului Fortress once or twice before, as it
has been recently renovated and might have had more promotion lately. It is
a medieval citadel situated in Moldova, near the town of Targu Neamt, at
about 46 km from the city of Piatra Neamt, and 398 km from Bucharest.
Located near the highest point of the Plesului Peak, the city is part of the
medieval monuments with an exceptional value in Romania. Read more about
it here (in Romanian).

13. Fagaras Fortress, Brasov County

Fagaras Fortress is the most imposing monument in the region, in Fagaras

city, Brasov County, at about 235 km from Bucharest. It is one of the largest
and best preserved in the whole country, and even in Europe. Fagaras
Fortress appeared for the first time in official documents in 1455, but its
construction has started since the late fourteenth century. T
14. The living stones, Costesti, Valcea County (Pietrele Vii)

Near the road linking Targu Jiu with Ramnicu Valcea, in the Costesti village,
nature has created some of the most amazing stone carvings called the living
stones. With bizarre shapes, millimeter, or man-sized, the stones continue to
emerge as people exploit the sand. These works of nature are some stones
with supernatural origins, as locals say. The living stones are also called the
stones that grow. This strange stones can be found at about 130 km from
Bucharest.

15. Cave Churches in Buzau Chilia lui Dionisie Torctorul, Buzaului

Mountains, Buzau County
Nucu village in Buzau County is an old place, full of mystery. Who dares to
walk on the mountain roads has the opportunity to meet the most important
cave complex in Buzau Mountains. Caves, cells and churches carved in stone
during the first centuries of Christianity, were used as places of refuge and
worship. One of the cells belonged to the monk Dionisie, who, the legend
says, made the road to his cell as complicated as possible, because he liked to
be alone.

16. Hunedoara Fortress, Hunedoara County

Hunedoara Fortress, also called Corvinilor Castle, is the most important
monument of Gothic architecture in Transilvania, Romania. The monument in
Hunedoara is representative for the military architecture in South-East
Europe, from the fifteenth century. Other elements that make Hunedoara
Fortress unique are further intervention made in the fifteenth century, which
offers a mixture of unique architectural elements belonging to the
Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic styles. The distance between Bucharest and
Hunedoara is of about 390 km.

17. Cetatuita Negru Voda Monastery, Arges County

Cetatuia Negru Voda Monastery is located at 880 meters altitude, between

Chiliilor Valley, Coman Valley and the water of Dambovita, 25 km south of
Campulung city. The monastery is located in a natural cave, where a small,
beautiful fountain can be found. To go there from Bucharest, you have to
drive for 153 km.

18. Turda Salt Mine, Cluj County

The Salt Mine in Turda, that can be found in the city of Turda, Cluj County, is
a veritable history museum of salt mining. The excellent state of preservation
of mining and machinery used to transport salt, together with the cautious
work carried out for preparing the mine, turned the Turda Salt Mine into a
tourist attraction. To get to Turda, you have to go 410 km from Bucharest.

19. Tihuta Clough

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Tihuta Clough, located 473 km away from Bucharest, has a high degree of
difficulty in terms of crossing it, as it is crossed by one of the toughest roads
located in the mountains in Europe. Access to the Tihuta Clough is made
through the E576 (DN17), the road linking the cities of Suceava and Bistrita.
The landscape in the area looks like untouched by man, which makes it an
ideal place for relaxation. Too see live images from the Tihuta Clough, go
here.

20. The Seven Stairs Canyon & the Tamina Cascade, Brasov County

The Seven Stairs Canyons route is accessible to all nature lovers and
represents a good alternative for a day out. The canyon is in the central-west
side of Piatra Mare Mountains, at an average altitude of 980 meters. The first
so-called step of the cascade, from the bottom up, has a height of 8 meters,
followed by another 6 such steps, most of them being over 35 meters high.
The Seven Stairs Canyon is at about 165 km from the capital city.

21. The Racos basalt columns and the extinct volcano, Brasov County

Racos is a village far away from the main road linking Brasov to Sighisoara,
the village where you can see a volcano that didnt erupt in hundreds of
years. Once you arrive in this place, you have the feeling that you are on
Mars, because of the red landscape. The geological site from Racos includes
spectacular post eruption scenery of 10-15 meters high, formed by the rapid
cooling of lava. There are around 250 km from Bucharest until Racos village.

22. Cacica salt mine, Suceava County

Cacica Salt Mine is located in the village of Cacica, in Suceava County, 450 km
from Bucharest, and is unique through its 8,200 hand-dug galleries, without
machines. The galleries are in a very good condition today. At 192 steps down
to 27 meters deep is the St. Varvara Roman Catholic Chapel, while at 35
meters deep, there is an Othodox Chapel. There is also a Salt Lake, an
artificial lake dug manually by miners.

23. Fairies Fortress, Covasna County

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The Fairies Fortress is an ancient Dacian fortress situated on a mountain peak
near the city of Covasna. Walls found by archaeologists during excavations
are currently visible. The road to the fortress takes about 2 hours on some
unmarked forest roads. Research conducted there revealed numerous
fragments of pottery and coins dating from the Dacian and Roman age. The
distance from Bucharest to the city of Covasna is 227 km.

24. The Sinca Veche Rupestral Monastery in Brasov County

The Sinca Veche Monastery, actually an underground temple, is situated next
to Plesu Hills, in the Romanian Sinca Veche village in Brasov County, 220 km
from Bucharest. It is said that the monastery was built thousands of years
ago, in the Dacian times or even before. The monastery is cut entirely in
stone and has 2 altars and 9 rooms filled with curious statues, like the Yin-
Yang symbol or the Davids star. The tower is made out of soft sandstone and
has no roof, which allows the sun to shine on the altar.

25. Piramids from Sona in Fagaras, Brasov County

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The Pyramids from Sona are actually eight mounds of earth, 30 meters high,
that seem to come out of nowhere. While locals are convinced that they were
raised by giants, historians believe that there are graves of Celtic barbarians.
The legend says that many years ago, this land was ruled by a princess
named Sona. One day her kingdom was attacked by some giants who came
over the Fagaras mountains. The giants have gone through the water of Olt
river, and when they arrived in this place they shook the mud from their feet
and created these mounds. You can find them in Sona village, Brasov County,
250 km away from Bucharest.

26. Gura Portitei in the Danube Delta, Tulcea County

To get to Gura Portitei, you have to drive almost 300 km on the road from
Bucharest to Jurilovca, further having to take a passenger ship or a motorboat
to cross the Golovita waters. Gura Portitei is a perfect place for those who
enjoy peace, fresh air, crystal clear water, and open space. There is also a
wide range of recreation facilities, from daily trips on the Danube channels to
renting rowboats, motorboats, hydro bikes, ski jets, tennis and volley
grounds.

27. Polovragi Cave in Gorj County

Polovragi Cave is 11 km long, and has 800 m with electric light since 1984.
The water that drops continually from caves ceiling forms stalactites and
stalagmites, but also clay so you have to watch your steps. Hazard and time
created bizarre limestone formations which received poetic names: Lotus, The
Throne of Zalmoxis, The Monk. Between Bucharest and the Polovragi Cave
there is a distance of 243 km.

[I, personaly, visit this amazing cave. I was very little and I remember that
impressive cave. - Comment by Aveqetura]

28. Bicaz Canyon, Neamt & Harghita Counties

The Bicaz Canyon, (Cheile Bicazului in Romanian), is one of the most

spectacular places in Romania, located in the north-east part of the country,
in Neamt and Harghita counties, 372 km from Bucharest. The canyon was dug
by the waters of Bicaz River and it serves as a passageway between the
Romanian provinces of Moldova and Transylvania. The road along the 8
kilometers of ravines, often in serpentines with rock on one side and a sheer
drop on the other, is one of the most spectacular drives in the country.

29. Scarisoara Cave the glacier, Alba County

Situated in the Apuseni Mountains, almost 40 km away from the town of

Campeni, in the North-Western part of Alba County, in the village of Garda de
Sus, Scarisoara Cave is one of the largest ice caves in Romania. Declared a
natural monument and a speleological reservation, the cave is famous for its
glacier that is older than 3,000 years. To get there from Bucharest, you have
to drive around 480 km.

30. Petresti Fortress, Alba County

The Petresti Fortress, built by Saxons is a historical fortress, where the Saxons
throughout Romania return to celebrate their past in Alba Iulia. It is located
out of Petresti village, next to the Sebes river, at around 350 km from
Bucharest. From the old fortress, the wall and the ruins of the bell tower are
still standing.

31. Grohot Natural Bridge, Hunedoara County

The Grohot Bridge can be appreciated by its greatness as one of the most
spectacular karst phenomena in the Apuseni Mountains. This is very
interesting in its morphological features, through the beautiful landscape, and
the great vegetation. The distance between Bucharest and this place is about
490 km.

32. Gods Bridge, Baia de Arama in Mehedinti County

Ponoarele is a village located in Mehedini County, Oltenia, Romania, at about

335 km from Bucharest. Here one can find a natural monument named Gods
Bridge, a natural bridge formed when the ceiling of a cave had collapsed. The
bridge is actually a 4 m thick rock arch, with an opening of 25 m and a length
of 50 meters. The legend says that the Devil lived in Ponoarele Cave. The
locals asked God to chase him, and God hit with His palm the cave ceiling,
which collapsed and blocked the caves entrance. But the Devil escaped by
the other mouth of the cave and climbed the Devils Rock, a place from where
he guards the people who enter in the cave and sometimes he drowns them
in the Zatonul Mare lake.

33. Jiu, Mures, Cris and Olt Valleys for rafting

If you like rafting, you have to try that on the most spectacular rafting area in
Romania, Jiului Valley, between the city of Livezeni and Bumbesti Jiu. The
route is about 25-30 km, and optional, by request, you can make rafting at
night, and a picnic in nature. To get there from Bucharest you have to do
around 350 km. Rafting can also be done on Mures, Cris and Olt valleys.

34. Stone Ravens Monastery, Arges County

The Corbii De Piatra (The Stone Ravens) monastery is a Romanian monastery

located in the Jgheaburi village, in Arges county, in the heart of a mysterious
and very ancient ascetic Romanian settlement. The monasterys church is
carved into the rock, and appears in documents with this name from its
reestablishment in 1512.

35. Transalpina road, Gorj, Valcea, Sibiu & Alba Counties

Also called the Kings Road, Transalpina is the road that connects Oltenia
region and Transylvania. It is the highest altitude road in Romania that can be
crossed from one end to another by car. Its not yet sure why this road was
build but the local legend says it was built by the German people during World
War I, just for military purposes. Transalpina can be covered in about 3-4
hours on the trail Sebes, Sugag, Obarsia Lotrului, Ranca, Novaci.

36. Ciucas Waterfall in Cluj County

Located about 55 km from Cluj Napoca, Ciucas Waterfall is one of the most
important tourist attractions of Cluj County. Ciucas Waterfall has a height of
only 5 meters, and behind it lies a small lake where the water accumulates.
The distance between this place and Bucharest is about 500 km.

37. Capra Lake, Fagaras Mountains, Brasov County

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Well hidden in the heart of Fagaras Mountains, Capra Lake, a glacial lake, is
situated at an altitude of 2,241 meters. The lake impresses with its blue water
and makes a great place for those who love nature and mountains, through
its landscape. To get there from Bucharest, you have to drive around 250 km,
a trip that will take about 3 hours.

38. Fortified Church in Viscri , Brasov County

The Fortified Church in Viscri is one of the representative buildings in Brasov.

Built in a Gothic style, it is located 7 km from Dacia village, Brasov County,
and about 240 km away from the capital city. Beside the church, which is a
real fortress, a unique collection exhibited at the ethnographic museum can
be seen here. It presents the objects truly representative for peoples
everyday life, traditions and customs in the area.

39. The Siriu Dam, Buzau County

The Siriu Dam opens in front of visitors as a boundless expanse of water. Siriu
Lake is a man-made lake, located on the upper part of Buzaului river. Siriu
Dam is a great destination for fishermen, who can find trout here. The Siriu
village is located in the North-East part of the Buzau County, at about 164 km
from Bucharest.

40. Bats Cave, Brasov County

Also known as the Cave with Bats, the Great Cave, the Bats Cave is the home
for rare species of bats. The cave also has a great historical significance for
people, giving the name of the village, Pestera village (in Romanian Cave
village). Situated at an altitude of 950 meters, on the Bran platform in
Pestera village, the cave is reported in various documents since centuries ago.
To get there from Bucharest, you have to drive for around 180 km.