Category: Romania

Autumn is a magical season for travel, especially for those who love exploring mountains and capturing stunning landscape photography. As the leaves turn to shades of gold, amber, and red, the world transforms into a vibrant, colorful canvas, making it an ideal time for adventure and creativity.

If you want to experience autumn’s beauty in all its vibrant glory, Romania’s Parang Mountains in my opinion is a good destination. Just 15 km from the city of Petrosani, this scenic spot offers some of the best views of the season’s golden and fiery hues. To get there, you’ll need to drive up to Hotel Rusu, located on a smaller mountain at an altitude of 1,100 meters.

Hotel Rusu, the largest hotel at the base of the Parang Mountains, is an ideal place to stay. However, if you’re planning a longer trip, there are plenty of guesthouses and hotels nearby offering comfortable accommodations. 

From this vantage point, you’ll not only capture the stunning autumn colors but also take in breathtaking views of the Jiu Valley, including the towns of Petrila and Petrosani. On clear days, the Retezat Mountains can also be seen in the distance, adding to the magical scenery.

Also from here, a part of the Taii Gorge is also visible, which is not so far from Petrila.

For even more breathtaking views, you can drive up to Parâng Resort, sitting at an altitude of 1,600 meters. The road has been recently asphalted, making the journey smoother and more enjoyable. Once there, you’ll find yourself surrounded by the beauty of autumn, perfect for photography, hiking, or simply relaxing in nature.

This small medieval citadel can be found in the Romanian village of Mălăiești which is located at the foothills of the Retezat Mountains. It’s actually not very far from the city of Hațeg.

Speaking of Hațeg, close to this city, you will find the Bison Reservation which is another important place that you can visit in the Hațeg region.

About the Mălăiești medieval citadel

This small medieval fortification was built in the 14th century and back then according to the story, the nobility lived in that small tower which was entirely surrounded by fortification walls.

Usually these types of fortification were built because the nobles from the medieval period wanted a very protected living place. This was a perfect place for them to store their valuable items or maybe a large chest packed with gold.

You can visit the exterior of the small citadel for free, you will only have to pay for a ticket if you want to visit the small museum inside the tower.

On our way back from lake Zetea, we decided to make a short stop at lake Rugănești since it was close to the main road leading to Sighișoara. This lake is pretty popular for those who like catch some fish and for campers as well. Also, you have the possibility to rent a small wooden house if you plan to stay there for a longer period.

When we arrived there, the sun started slowly to set behind some larger hills which surrounds the lake, to our luck the bar was still open and we managed to buy some refreshments. Since the sun started to disappear behind some larger hills, I’ve decided to capture some sunset photos of the lake before drove away from this amazing Transylvanian lake

This lake is located in Harghita county, on the outskirts of the village of Rugănești. The closest major city is Sighișoara which is about 26 km away from this lake.

What to do in the area:

• As I mentioned above above, since the medieval citadel of Sighișoara is only 26 km away from this lake, I highly encourage you to check out this unique medieval citadel. I bet that you won’t regret it.
• Another place that you can visit is the small memorial park from Bezid. Right next to the memorial park, you will find the lake Bezid.
• I would like to mention the old fortified church from Saschiz.

The old Fortified Church or the citadel from Cisnădioara is a popular landmark located in the historical region of Transylvania, near the city of Sibiu. To be more precise, it’s about 10 km away from Sibiu and about 2 km away from the nearby city of Cisnădie.

Towards the Fortified Church

The old Fortified Church is located on top of a larger hill, actually you can spot this church from a great distance, so if plan to visit this place you cannot miss it. After we left our car near the town center, we headed towards the main entrance which can be found on Sub Cetate street. After paying 8 lei for a ticket, which is approximately 2 USD, we started the long walk through the forest up to the Fortified Church from Cisnădioara. As you will walk up to the Fortified Church, you will spot the old Lutheran Church as well.

Inside the Fortified Church

After the long walk up to the church, we started to explore this magnificent place. To our luck, the place wasn’t very crowded, there were only a couple of tourists exploring the Fortified Church.

Now let me tell you a few words about the Fortified Church from Cisnădioara. It was built approximately 800 years ago and as you can see in the photos below, they built it out of stone. The entire church is actually surrounded by thick defense walls which was used to protect the church in case of an enemy attack.

Inside the church, behind the altar you will find some commemorative plaques which belonged to the fallen German soldier who fought in the First World War near Sibiu. These plaques were actually displaced in 1940 from Gușterița cemetery.

What else to visit in the area:

Sibiu – I highly recommend you to visit this beautiful Transylvanian city, especially the old part of the city where you will find a lot of interesting objectives that you can visit, among those I can mention the Lutheran Cathedral, the Lesser and Great Squares.

Steam Locomotive Museum – If you like to discover what type of old steam locomotives were once used in Romania, then I highly recommend exploring this place.

A few days after exploring the charming Transylvanian city of Sibiu, I decided to drive towards Balea Waterfall, located in the stunning Fagaras Mountains. The journey was filled with scenic views, making it an exciting road trip.

The Balea Waterfall or Cascada Balea in Romanian, is a popular waterfall located in the Fagaras Mountains at an altitude over 1200 m. In order to reach this place, you will have to drive on the famous Transfagarasan road until Hotel Balea Cascada which is about 18 km away from the village of Cartisoara, this village is actually the last one before the Fagaras Mountains. If you plan on hiking to the waterfall, there’s convenient parking available right behind the Balea Cascada Hotel, which is a great starting point for your adventure.

Once you will arrive to Hotel Balea Cascada, you will find a marked trail which will take you next to the waterfall. Usually this hike will take you approximately 50 minutes.

Besides Balea Waterfall, you can visit Balea lake as well which is located at an altitude of over 2000 m. In order to visit the lake, you have two options:

• You can drive on the Transfagarasan road up to the lake. Keep in mind that the road has many curves but in exchange the scenery is truly breathtaking.
• You can take the cable car from hotel Balea Waterfall. The ride takes about 12 minutes until the final destination. Keep in mind, the cable care is not working in bad weather conditions.

The Balea Cascada Cabin

This spot tends to get quite busy, especially during the summer months when it attracts a lot of tourists. On a warm, sunny day, you’ll see people coming here to enjoy the beautiful scenery, go hiking, or visit the nearby attractions. Because of its popularity, finding a parking space can sometimes be a bit tricky. The small parking areas quickly fill up, so it’s a good idea to arrive early if you want to avoid the crowds.

Other Must-See Attractions in Southern Transylvania:

• Carta Monastery: As you make your way down from Balea Waterfall, your first stop should be the Carta Monastery. This historical site is one of the oldest Gothic-style monasteries in Romania and offers a peaceful atmosphere and fascinating architecture.
• Clay Castle, Porumbacu de Sus: Just a short drive from the village of Carta, you’ll find the fairy-tale-like Clay Castle. Nestled near the village of Porumbacu de Sus, this unique building, made entirely from natural materials, looks like something out of a storybook and is definitely worth a visit.
• Brukenthal Summer Palace: If you’re feeling hungry, make a stop at the Brukenthal Summer Palace. This elegant estate features a lovely restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious meal before continuing your journey through the southern Transylvania.
• Sibiu Old Town: Lastly, no visit to Southern Transylvania would be complete without exploring the historic city of Sibiu. Its charming old town, with narrow cobbled streets, colorful buildings, and lively squares, is one of my favorite spots in the region. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or simply taking in the sights, Sibiu offers something for everyone.