Park Highlights
Piatra Craiului Natural Park features the longest and highest limestone ridge in the country (over 15 miles long and 6560 ft. high). Bordered by glacial lakes, the ridge is regarded as one of the most beautiful sights in the Carpathians. The two-day north–south ridge trail is both challenging and rewarding. Starting at either Plaiul Foii in the northwest or Curmatura in the northeast, hikers climb up to the ridge along the narrow spine of the range. The descent at the southern end leads into a karst landscape of deep gorges and pitted slopes where water penetrating the rock has carved a series of caves.
The traditional villages of Magura, Pestera, Ciocanu, Sirnea, make for interesting starting points for the routes on the eastern slope and for getting in touch with the traditional Romanian way of life.
Fast Facts
| Location | Southern Carpathians - Transylvanian Alps |
| Size | 91,000 acres |
| Best known for | The most spectacular ridge in the Carpathian Mountains. The backdrop scenes seen in movie Cold Mountain were filmed in Piatra Craiului. |
| Natural features | Caves, Meadows, Rocky steep walls, Spruce forests. |
| Activities | Caving, Hiking (42 marked trails), Mountain Biking (12 marked trails), Horseback riding, Horse carriage / sled strolls, Rock climbing, Wildlife watching |
Natural attractions
Most popular attractions found in Piatra Craiului National Park inlude:
Zarnesti Gap (Prăpăstiile Zărneștiului), Cave Dambovicioara (Peștera Dambovicioarei),
Piatra Craiului Scree (Marele Grohotiș), Karst Arcade (Cerdacul Stanciului),
Old Cave (Zaplazul and Dambovicioara Gorges (Cheile Dambovicioarei ).
Flora and Fauna
Sheltering one of the largest biodiversity of wildlife in Romania,
Piatra Craiului National Park is home toover 300 fungi species, 220 lichen species,
100 different mosses, and 1100 species of superior plants (a third of the number of all plant species found in Romania).
Wildlife include chamois, wild boar, red and roe deer, pine martens and red squirrels,
216 species of butterfly, 112 species of bird, 21 species of bat and large carnivores - wolf, brown bear and lynx.
Piatra Craiului gorges are a good place to see wallcreepers and alpine swifts,
three-toed and white-backed woodpeckers and Ural owls, in the forested areas.
Attractions near Piatra Craiului National Park
Equus-Silvania Horseriding Centre
Fagaras Fortress
Rasnov Fortress
City of Brasov medieval quarter
How to get to Piatra Craiului
AirNearest airports to Piatra Craiului are located in:
Brasov - 20 miles NE,
Bucharest - 98 miles south, and
Sibiu - 92 miles west
Town of Zarnesti is the main gateway to Piatra Craiului northern ridge.
Zarnesti is located 18 miles southwest of Brasov and easily accessible by car and train;
2.5 miles east of Zarnesti, chalet Plaiul Foii is a great starting point for hiking in the park.
Other starting points for hiking routes on the eastern slope include villages
Magura, Pestera, Ciocanu and Sirnea.
Village Podu Dambovitei is the point of approach from the south.
At Podu Dambovitei road DN 73 branches off to the road on Valea Dambovitei through
villages Saticu de Jos and Saticu de Sus,
from which several hiking routes lead to the western slope of the Southern Ridge.
Nearby train station to Piatra Craiului is Zarnesti
To check train schedules please visit RomaniaTourism transportationm section
Access points to Piatra Craiului National Parkinclude
villages Bran, Cheia, Dambovicioara, Magura, Moeciu, Pestera, Podu Dambovitei, Satic, Sirnea and Zarnesti
Piatra Craiului National park Accommodations
Accommodations in or near Piatra Craiului National Park include mountain chalets, B&Bs and hotels. Several campsites are located within por near park's limits.
Visitor InfoPiatra Craiului National Park Administration
Centrul de Vizitare Parcul Național Piatra Craiului
Address: H78R+PJ Zărnești
Tel: (+4) 0268 223.165
E-mail
www.PCrai.ro
