Piatra Craiului National Park

Comăna Cave (or the Cave from Poiana Mănăstirii) is a naturally protected area of a speological type. The cave of Comăna is situated in the central part of Perșani Mountains, upstream from the village of Comăna de Sus, Brașov County. Comăna constitutes the underground road of the brook which collects its waters on a pendulous plateau located to the south of the Peștera mountain. The cave has a system of galleries on three levels, extending on 2.500 meters and an unevenness of 70 m (-40). It is difficult to reach this cave, it is very difficult to cover it and there are many “traps”, it has many narrow passages which can be passed only by those that have a good physical condition, well trained with adequate equipment and it is mandatory that they are accompanied by at least one guide-member of the Speleology Club Silex Brasov (www.silex.go.ro). Text and photo sources: http://www.brasovtourism.eu/; http://romaniasalbatica.ro/

The Geological Complex of Racoş is a geological area of national importance of 95.2 ha and is integrated into the Natura2000 Homoroadelor Hills since 2007. Today the protected area preserves the visible four-quartered basaltic volcanic manifestations in the three pits. .The Racoş Geological Complex comprises the following tourist attractions: - The Monument of the Basalt Columns of Racos (MTTC Pit); - Emerald Lake (Brazi Pit); - The Offshore Volcano (Dealul Hegheş Basalt Scale Pit). To be visited only on the marked road or with a guide approved by the area's custodians. The entrance fee is 5 lei / adult and 3 lei / students or students

Visiting Schedule Winter- Piatra Craiului National Park Visiting Center: Monday: Closed Tuesday-Thursday: 10:00-16:00 Friday - 10:00-14:00 Saturday: 11:00- 15:00 Sunday: 11:00- 13:00   More details on: https://www.pcrai.ro/program Rates:  Adults - 5 lei                 Teens (under 18 years old) - Free                 National Park access fee payers - Free *If you come with a group, it's recommended to tell the park administration in advance! *The ticket for the museum can be bought only from the Visiting Center of the Piatra Craiului National Park. More info on presentation (pcrai.ro) Opened in 2016, the Visitor Center is an exhibition space that combines information trails in the park, based on interactive techniques, three-dimensional layouts, and exhibits related to the area's biodiversity. With touch screens, visitors can see the landscapes of Piatra Craiului and find out all the necessary information about the flora and wild animals that live here, but also about the rocks that are combined in the massif. Visitors can also take a virtual tour of the tourist trails, everything with a simple hand movement.  An artificial stall has been set up in the visitor's center to allow visitors to see what they look like on the inside, but also an artificial cave where bats and other insects are living in this environment.  The wild animals can be admired on the route that runs through the visitor center. These can not only be seen but also heard, which brings a spectacular element and is certainly a great attraction for the little ones.  The interior of the center is designed to simulate the idea of rocks as much as possible, so visitors will feel right on the mountain. In addition, the special effects of thunder, lightning, or chirping of the birds will bring the visitor even closer to the beauty of the Piatra Craiului Mountains. The center also has a Piatra Craiului 3D layout and a walkway that tourists can climb to admire from above as if they were on a mountain at heigh. Also on the walkway can be projected pictures from Piatra Craiului, geological information, and habitat, but also tourist routes. Everything is with a touch screen command. Practically the visitor can design what map he wants to see and they can virtually admire the entire Piatra Craiului massif.

Carved into spectacular rock walls over a length of approximately 2 km, the Gorges of Zărneştilor is characterized by a monumental due to vertical walls or even bend over whites, with heights exceeding 200 m in some places. In this area, the temperature drops a few degrees because the sun hardly ever penetrates the gorges, only a few hours per day, which provides opportunity to relax and rest in the cool weather offered the gorges in the summer. The access is from the town Zărnești and Peștera. The cabin Curmătura is located near the gorge, an important starting point shifts to Piatra Craiului Massif. Those who come here will be impressed by the sights of the Cave (The Great Cave chasms, The Small Cave chasms) and several springs, like the Fountain of Botorog and the Gentlemen Fountain. The walls bordering the valley have a height ranging between 100 and 200 meters. The route through the Gorges of Zărneşti impresses with its spectacular rock walls where there were built numerous alpine routes. The view can be admired from afar, from Zărnești and Peștera. Covering the gorges you reach the place called "La Table" one of climbing spots on the Piatra Craiului peak. Accessibility: • National Road (DN) 73A to Zărnești and here County Road (DJ) 112G, to the Fountain of Botorog, then after 100 meters the road splits, one before the gorges and the other to the village of Măgura. Text source: https://www.visitzarnesti.ro/

The Holes in Zăplaz are considered gateways to another dimension. The ruptures in the rock may be encountered coming up from the Spirlea Refugeto “La Lanțuri” trail in The Piatra Craiului Massif. The Mountains of petrified shells dating back to the dinosaurs’ times turned into the holes that are currently at Zăplaz. Cutting the sky, the Holes in Zăplaz means, actually, "fence boards" and are often likened to the work of Gaudi. Apart from and grandeur of the mountain holes, which scientists have no clear explanation, the windows carved into limestone are considered possible portal to another dimension. The water, the wind, the years have worked hard on arches, columns, galleries, to create the phenomena displayed today. The holes at Zăplaz is one of the most important sights of Piatra Craiului Massif, an objective which should not be missed it if you are nearby. Text source: https://www.visitzarnesti.ro/

The church "Saint Nicholas" is the oldest church in the city, the old medieval art monument inscribed in the heritage of the Romanian Academy. The great historian Nicolae Iorga believed that the church, which was built on the site in 1515 and then was repaired in 1810, comes from ancient times, from a Romanian ruler. It seems that the original church was quite of small dimensions. As the number of residents was increased by approximately five times, the size of the church was unfit for its purpose. In the late seventeenth century the church was finished, being stuck in the narthex of the chapel. In the oral reports, the elders of the village said that after the Battle of 1690 at Zărnești, the Tatars burned the village, and here it did not stand after that scorching fire than the new church, whose brick and stone walls left in their place. It is believed that the rise of this place would have been helped by a prince of Wallachia, respectively the predecessor of Constantin Brâncoveanu, Şerban Cantacuzino. Text source: https://www.visitzarnesti.ro/

"Colțul Chiliilor" is an Orthodox hermitage located in the middle of the forest, in the northern part of the Piatra Craiului massif in Zărnești, Brașov County.  ~ It is the oldest religious settlement in Zărnești (1421), consisting of a chapel arranged in a cave and a monastic ensemble, rebuilt on the site of the one destroyed in 1718 by the Austrian imperial authorities.  ~ A little above the hermitage, climbing into the forest, there is a cave in which a Holy Altar dedicated to Saint Pious Parascheva has been arranged. The cave, about twenty meters long, is adorned with numerous icons. _____  ~ How to get there? >>> Route to follow: from the center of Zărnești (Tourist Information Center) on the road to Plaiul Foii, following the blue stripe marking.  ~ Length of the route: 4, 8 km, difficulty: easy  ~ Duration per direction: 1h / 1h: 30  ~ Level difference: +310 m  ~ Also recommended for families with children Text source: https://www.visitzarnesti.ro/

Localizată în apropiere de comuna Holbav, pe Dealul Ghirtalău, între Pârâul Crucii şi Pârâul Lupului, aria protejată desemnată în anul 2004, cuprinde fosta carieră de argilă Holbav. Succesiunea litologică de aproximativ 230 – 250 de metri lungime a rezervaţiei, reprezintă un sit geologic de cercetare ştiinţifică pentru facultăţile de specialitate în domeniile geologie, geografie, protecţia mediului, ecologie sau minerit. În vecinătatea rezervaţiei se află satul Holbav, unde se pot observa tradiţiile păstrate cu grijă de locuitorii zonei şi peisaje rupte parcă dintr-un basm. De la punctul numit La Cruce, aproape de vârful unui deal, se pot privi împrejurimile ce străjuiesc satul, dar și culmile Parcului național Piatra Craiului. Sursă text și foto: http://romaniasalbatica.ro/

It is a floral and forestry reservation, situated at 20 km from Brasov, at an altitude of 500 m and spreads on a surface of 300 ha. It has oaks, fir trees, tulips and other floral species. It’s fauna consists of snakes, lizzards, wasps, crows. Text and photo sources: http://www.brasovtourism.eu/; http://romaniasalbatica.ro/