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PARCUL NATURAL
Cindrel
In the waltz of thousands of multicolored butterflies that enliven the blushing meadows and above the dark forests that surround enchanted meadows, lies a mysterious land of wide vistas and gentle peaks, where the wilderness is interrupted only by shepherds and their flocks!
Once the smooth asphalt of Transalpina is left behind, we enter an almost unknown valley in the wild heart of the Carpathians, following a quiet stream that descends through flowering meadows. The arduous road continues over the peaks to to the land of Mărginimea Sibiului, but we stop halfway through the journey to explore the paths of one of the most isolated and charming natural destinations in the Carpathians. Unknown to many, the hidden paradise in Cindrel Mountains soon captures all our senses, the strong contrast between the blue of the sky and the pink explosion of the mountain peonies being almost dizzying.
Besides the unpaved local road that follows the Frumoasa Valley over the Curmătura Șteflești Pass, only a few lonely paths lead us to the enchanting peak of Cindrel, around which a natural park of almost 100 square kilometers stretches. Protecting an extraordinary diversity of habitats and landscapes, Cindrel Natural Park is less known as a tourist destination, mainly due to its isolation. Stepping onto its trails for the first time, we discover a fascinating land, where gentle peaks and silent valleys hide a treasure located right in the heart of the park.
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Declared a mixed nature reserve, the glacial lakes known as Iezerele Cindrelului occupy two adjacent wild valleys, which we can find right next to Cindrel Peak (2,245 meters). Iezerul Mare is among the most impressive glacial lakes in the Romanian Carpathians, with an area of 3.4 hectares and being almost completely surrounded by rocky ridges. Local legends say, among other things, that the lake has no bottom, and in its depths lives a dragon that should not be awakened by throwing stones. In fact, the lake is over 13 meters deep, but many of the interesting places here are surrounded by legends, such as the Devil’s Plateau, a peat bog with specific vegetation, or the nearby Frumoasa Peak.
A few hundred meters west of Iezerul Mare we can also reach the peak above Iezerul Mic Lake, lost in a spectacular green caldera. In fact, these two, together with the small lakes Gropata and Iujbea Rășinarului nearby, are the only truly evident glacial traces in the Cindrel Mountains. The park also includes a small area of the Lotru Mountains, located south of Frumoasa Valley, which fully deserves its name, with the river winding through forests and enchanting meadows. We can admire all these places and many more along several fascinating trails, the most important being the Cindrel Mountains ridge trail, which follows the main ridge between Lake Oașa and the Păltiniș resort. Other trails climb towards it from the south and north, heading mainly towards Cindrel peak and its lakes.
The natural park was created to protect the impressive diversity of vegetation and fauna in these mountains, most notably the rhododendron flowers, which transforms the high ridges into an endless sea of pink for a few weeks each year. The Cindrel forests also shelter large mammals such as the bear, wolf, deer, roe deer, lynx or chamois, as well as rare birds. Considered one of the oldest and most important pastoral regions in the country, the Cindrel Mountains are crossed by numerous paths known only to shepherds and their flocks, and on each mountain there is a sheepfold whose origins are lost in the mists of time. From this amazing destination we descend to the foothills of the mountains to explore the medieval fortress of Sebeș, but also the impressive places near the old fair…
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Sights and Experiences
Places to See and Things to Do in Cindrel Natural Park
Cindrel Natural Park
Located in the central-northern part of the Southern Carpathians, these mountains spread between the Sebeș (Frumoasa) River, the Sadu River and the Transylvanian Plateau. The opposing valleys of Frumoasa and Sadu, separated by the Șteflești saddle, delimit the Cindrel Mountains from the Lotru Mountains, while to the west, beyond the Sebeș Valley, lie the Șureanu Mountains. The maximum altitude is 2,245 meters at the Cindrel peak, other important peaks being Frumoasa, Cânaia, Șerbota Mare, Cânaia and Rozdești. Considered one of the most important pastoral regions in the country, the Cindrel Mountains (also known as Cibin) are crossed by numerous transhumance paths and dotted with countless sheepfolds, especially in the northern part, where the villages of Mărginimea Sibiului often climb to the higher ridges. The highest and most spectacular part of these mountains, together with part of the Lotru Mountains (Șteflești ridge), is protected within the Cindrel Natural Park, with an area of almost 100 square kilometers.
This area also overlaps with the Valea Frumoasei Natura 2000 site, comprising rocky slopes, valleys and glacial lakes, springs and other spectacular landforms, as well as remarkable biodiversity. The vegetation in the Cindrel Mountains is generally arranged in altitude levels with deciduous forests (beech, hornbeam, birch, sycamore, ash) occupying the lowest slopes. This is followed by an area with mixed forests, where beech appears together with spruce, fir or larch. These mountains also present extensive areas of pastures and hayfields, where an impressive number of herbaceous plants grow. Above 1800 meters, alpine meadows and extensive areas of juniper mountain peony appear, which here cover the highest ridges at the beginning of summer. The fauna of the Cindrel mountains is equally rich, with all the large mammals of the Carpathians present here, including the brown bear, wolf, lynx, fox, chamois, wild boar, deer, roe deer, wild cat and others. There are also over 30 species of birds, among which the capercaillie, falcon, raven, osprey, Balkan long-eared lark or the alpine ptarmigan, a glacial relict species, stand out.
Iezerele Cindrelului Reserve
The glacial relief of the Cindrel Mountains, even if much less developed than in Retezat, Parâng or Făgăraș, is present near the Cindrel peak, on the northern side of the ridge. Two adjacent glacial valleys shelter Iezerul Mare and Iezerul Mic, two glacial lakes surrounded by a spectacular specific landscape. These, together with their upper valleys and the ridge between the Cindrel and Frumoasa peaks (known as the Devil’s Plateau) have been declared a mixed nature reserve. In addition to the impressive landscape, the reserve also protects a specific vegetation, with large areas covered by juniper and smirdar (mountain peony). In addition to these, there are specimens of zambru (glacial relic), mountain alder, bilberry, juniper and other plants more common to alpine meadows. Approximately 30 specimens of ibex also live in the reserve area. Iezerul Mare is located at an altitude of 2,000 meters, with an area of 3 hectares and a depth of over 13 meters, while Iezerul Mic is much smaller in area and depth.
Hiking Trails
Although not as well known or traversed as in other mountain ranges, the hiking trails in Cindrel offer equally memorable experiences, being quite well-maintained. The ridge trail of these mountains (red band) crosses the peak in an east-west direction, between Cisnădie and Lake Oașa, having an appreciable length that requires several days. Other shorter and accessible trails connect various localities or important points to it, one of the most popular being the trail that connects Șteflești Peak to Cindrel Peak, via the Șteflești saddle (red cross). Other trails climb to the peak from the north, starting from the villages of Sibiel, Gura Râului or Rășinari, while numerous paths start from the Sadului valley towards the lower peaks in the east of the Cindrel mountains.
Frumoasa Valley
Separating the Cindrel Mountains to the north from the Lotru Mountains to the south, the Valea Frumoasei turns into the Sebeș River once it joins the Tărtărău stream and heads north along the former Sebeș Valley, dried up after the construction of the Oașa dam. The incredibly beautiful valley is bordered by forests, and the river passes either through wider meadows or through sectors where the rocks form real gorges. Along the valley, an unmodernized and sometimes difficult county road also climbs, known in recent years as Transcindrel. It connects Transalpina with the Păltiniș resort or with the Sadului Valley, passing over the Șteflești saddle (1725 meters).
Accommodation Recommendations
The best lodging options around Cindrel Mountains
Rating 9.2 from 166 reviews!
Located in the center of the Păltiniș resort, from where you can reach the Cindrel Natural Park, the guesthouse offers quality accommodation in welcoming rooms, a highly rated restaurant, garden, lounge!
Păltiniș Resort
Rating 9.3 from 148 reviews!
Located in the Sadului Valley, in a spectacular natural setting, this guesthouse offers accommodation in welcoming rooms and a special atmosphere, with an appreciated restaurant and leisure activities!
Morii St, 16, village of Râu Sadului
Rating 9.3 from 401 reviews!
Located on the Transalpina road, next to Lake Tău Bistra, this hotel offers spacious and comfortable rooms, a restaurant, sauna, garden, terrace, bar and private parking!
DN67C Transalpina / Tău Bistra