Vârful Moldoveanu

Munții Făgăraș

The Făgăraș Mountains form the highest and most imposing ridge in the Southern Carpathians and in all of Romania, home to peaks exceeding 2,500 metres, among them Moldoveanu and Negoiu, the tallest in the country. This long alpine ridge, south of the town of Făgăraș in Transylvania, is famous for its spectacular scenery, with glacial valleys, high-altitude lakes, sharp aretes and wide pastures. The ridge trails offer demanding hikes rewarded with sweeping views, while glacial lakes such as Bâlea and Capra draw many visitors. The famous Transfăgărășan road, a high-altitude route with spectacular hairpin bends, crosses these mountains and is usually open only in the warm season. The area is also home to rich wildlife, including bears, chamois and birds of prey. Practical note: high-altitude hikes require proper equipment, physical fitness and attention to sudden weather changes, and crossing the ridge should be planned in advance with the forecast checked.

Mănăstirea Brâncoveanu (Sâmbăta de Sus)

Brâncoveanu Monastery at Sâmbăta de Sus, at the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains, is one of the most important and best-loved Orthodox sites in Transylvania. Founded in the early 18th century by prince Constantin Brâncoveanu, it was destroyed by the Austrians and rebuilt and extended in the 20th century by Metropolitan Nicolae Bălan, becoming a great spiritual and cultural centre. The Brâncovenesc-style complex, with fine stone frames and open porches, is mirrored in a lake, in a superb natural setting with the Făgăraș ridges as a backdrop. The monastery hosts an academy, a glass-icon painting workshop and a museum, and is renowned for its spring, considered healing. It is a natural stop for those setting out on the Transfăgărășan or exploring the Făgăraș country. Respect the dress code and the calm of the place, and check the service and museum hours.

Cascada Bâlea

Bâlea Waterfall is one of the best-known cascades in the Făgăraș Mountains, set on the northern slope of the massif right beside the famous Transfăgărășan road, near Făgăraș. Its water comes from Lake Bâlea, a high-altitude glacial lake, and plunges among the rocks over a considerable drop, forming one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Romanian Carpathians. The surrounding scenery is typically alpine and glacial, with steep walls, scree and mountain vegetation, offering striking views especially in spring and early summer, when the increased flow from melting snow gives the waterfall a special force. Nearby is a cable car linking the waterfall area to Lake Bâlea, above 2,000 metres. The place is a classic stopping point on the Transfăgărășan route, usually open only in the warm season, when the road is passable. Visitors are advised to wear suitable footwear and to be careful on the wet, stony paths around the waterfall.

Restaurant Bulevard Făgăraș

Comfortable rooms with balconies in a casual conference hotel with a restaurant and breakfast.

Hotel Școala Făgăraș