Peștera Urșilor Chișcău

The Bears' Cave in the village of Chișcău, in the Apuseni Mountains, is one of Romania's most beautiful and most visited caves, discovered in 1975 by miners and opened to the public for its wealth of formations and its palaeontological importance. The name comes from the many cave-bear skeletons — a species extinct tens of thousands of years ago — found in its galleries, among them the famous ‘praying bear'. The arranged route passes through spectacular chambers, with stalactites, stalagmites and fine columns in which guides have recognised suggestive shapes with picturesque names.

Discreet lighting brings out the white and the colours of the limestone. The cave is a classic stop for those exploring the Apuseni and combines well with the highland villages, gorges and waterfalls of the area. Dress warmly — the temperature is around 10 degrees all year — and check the guided-tour schedule, which runs at fixed times.