Crucea Caraiman

The Caraiman Cross, also known as the Heroes' Cross on Caraiman Peak, is an imposing monument built in the 1920s on a ridge in the Bucegi massif, at high altitude, in memory of the soldiers who fell in the First World War. With its metal structure tens of metres tall, set on a massive concrete base, the cross is visible from a great distance and, being lit at night, can be seen from Busteni and across the whole Prahova Valley. It has been recognised as the tallest cross in the world placed on a mountain peak.

Its construction at such an altitude, in harsh conditions, was a genuine engineering feat of the era. The site offers a dizzying panorama over the mountains and the valley below. Practical note: it is reached by cable car from Busteni to the Bucegi plateau and then along a marked trail, or by a more demanding hike; proper mountain gear is needed even in summer.