County · Banat
Caraș-Severin County
Seat: Reșița
In south-western Romania, Caraș-Severin county is a land of mountains, gorges and waters. Its seat, Reșița, carries a long tradition of industry and steel-making. To the south, Băile Herculane preserves the charm of a thermal resort founded by the Romans, with its Habsburg-era architecture.
Wild nature reigns: the Cheile Nerei-Beușnița dazzle with waterfalls and emerald pools, while the Danube gorge at the Iron Gates cuts between steep cliffs. The Semenic massif offers hiking and snow. A generous land, between thermal steam and Carpathian wilderness.
Cities & places in Caraș-Severin
Not to miss in Caraș-Severin
ViewpointCrucea Albă Băile Herculane
The White Cross is one of the most appreciated viewpoints in the resort of Baile Herculane, set on a slope of the Domogled Mountains above the old spa town in the Cerna Valley. From here a spectacular panorama opens over the entire resort, with its historic buildings, over the Cerna gorge and the wooded summits around it. The cross, raised on the rock, marks the viewpoint and has become a symbol of the place, a favourite goal for those who climb the path to admire the landscape. The trail to the White Cross is a hike of moderate difficulty, starting from the resort and climbing through the deciduous forest, offering many perspectives over the valley along the way. The area lies within the Domogled-Cerna Valley National Park, notable for its biodiversity and wild landscapes. Hiking footwear, water and care on the steeper sections are recommended. The visit can be combined with exploring the thermal springs and the historic architecture of Baile Herculane.
NatureOchiul Beiului (Cascada Beușnița)
Ochiul Beiului and Beușnița Waterfall rank among the most spectacular natural wonders of the Banat, located in the Nera Gorges-Beușnița National Park near Reșița. Ochiul Beiului is a small karstic lake of astonishing clarity, with intensely turquoise-green waters that never freeze completely and that are fed by underground springs. A short distance away lies Beușnița Waterfall, where water tumbles over moss-covered travertine ledges, creating a cascade of rare beauty often compared to exotic landscapes. The trail linking the two attractions crosses a lush forest with rich vegetation and crystal-clear springs, and is one of the most beloved in Romania. The area is part of a protected zone with remarkable biodiversity, home to rare Mediterranean plant species. Accessible on marked paths, this region is a dream destination for nature lovers, hikers and photographers seeking authentic scenery and tranquillity far from the crowds.
NatureLacul Ochiul Beiului
Ochiul Beiului is a small lake of exceptional beauty, set in the Cheile Nerei-Beusnita National Park in the south-west of the Banat. Its clear waters, of an astonishing turquoise-green, keep their colour and transparency thanks to the karst springs that feed it, and the lake never freezes completely, even in winter. Surrounded by forest and rock, Ochiul Beiului is considered one of the most beautiful natural sights of the area, a true jewel hidden in the heart of the park. Nearby lie the Beusnita waterfall and other natural attractions that round out the hiking route. The place draws many nature lovers and photographers, eager to capture the shades of the water. Access is along marked paths through the national park; visitors are asked to respect the rules of the protected area and not to disturb the fragile ecosystem of the lake.
NatureCascada Vânturătoarea
Vanturatoarea Waterfall is one of the most beautiful cascades in the Baile Herculane area, set in the Domogled-Cerna Valley massif within a wild, wooded Carpathian landscape. The water plunges from a considerable height over a rock step, breaking into fine droplets that seem carried by the wind, which gives the fall its evocative name. The access path starts near the road climbing the Cerna Valley and crosses a shady forest, with steeper stretches towards the end, up to the foot of the waterfall. The surroundings, with rich vegetation, limestone crags and the cool forest air, make the hike a pleasant experience. The area lies within the Domogled-Cerna Valley National Park, notable for its biodiversity. Hiking footwear is recommended, along with care on the wet and slippery sections near the water. The visit can be combined with a relaxing day in the nearby spa resort of Baile Herculane.
MuseumMuzeul Locomotivelor cu Abur Reșița
The Steam Locomotive Museum in Resita is an open-air exhibition celebrating the industrial tradition of the city, one of the oldest metallurgical and machine-building centres in Europe. Resita produced steam locomotives for more than a century, and the museum brings together an impressive collection of such locomotives built right here, lined up on rails like an open-air gallery of the evolution of railway technology. Visitors can observe up close the massive black machines, with their huge wheels, connecting rods and boilers that once carried people and goods across the country's railways. Each example tells a story about the engineering and craftsmanship of Resita's workers, in a city proud of its industrial heritage. The museum is a tribute to those who forged iron and steel. Practical note: the exhibition is outdoors, so it is best visited in good weather; it is a fitting objective for lovers of technical history and for families.
NatureCheile Nerei-Beușnița
Cheile Nerei-Beusnita National Park is one of the wildest and most spectacular protected areas in the Banat, sheltering impressive limestone gorges, waterfalls and lakes of rare beauty. The symbol of the area is Ochiul Beiului, a small lake of astonishing blue-green fed by underground springs, which never freezes completely, located near the Beusnita waterfall, where water cascades over ledges covered in green moss forming natural steps of remarkable beauty. The Nera Gorges, the longest in Romania, wind between limestone walls clad in ancient forests, offering hiking routes that pass through tunnels and paths carved into the rock above the river. The biodiversity of the area is remarkable, with rare Mediterranean species. Practical note: for long routes, proper footwear and an early start are needed; some paths can be slippery, so caution is essential.
MountainParcul Național Domogled - Valea Cernei
Domogled - Cerna Valley National Park is the oldest national park in Romania and stretches over wild mountains in the area of Baile Herculane, in Caras-Severin county, at the border of the Banat with Oltenia. The reserve protects an exceptional biodiversity, with forests of Banat black pine, spectacular gorges carved by the Cerna river and numerous rare species of plants and butterflies, adapted to the warm climate and Mediterranean influences. The landscape includes rocky peaks, thermal springs, caves and deep valleys, offering hiking trails for every level. From here paths lead to renowned places in the massif, and the closeness of the Baile Herculane resort, with its thermal springs used since Roman times, adds to the appeal of the area. The park is an ideal destination for lovers of nature, hiking and photography, in a wild and little-known corner of the Carpathian Mountains.
NatureCascada Bigăr
Bigăr Waterfall is one of the most photographed cascades in Romania, set in the Nera Gorges within the Anina Mountains, on the border between Banat and Oltenia, right near the 45th parallel. What makes it unique is not its height but its unusual form: the water of a karst spring spreads into a curtain of fine threads over a dome covered in green moss, creating the effect of a luminous veil sliding gently toward the Miniș river. The surrounding scenery, with dense forest, rocks and clear water, completes the special atmosphere of the place. The waterfall lies within Nera Gorges–Beușnița National Park, a protected area of remarkable karst landscapes, gorges, caves and intensely blue lakes. Access is from the road linking Bozovici to Anina, with a short descent to the viewpoint. The moss formation is fragile, and over time the waterfall's appearance has changed, which is why visitors are asked to respect nature protection rules and not disturb the vegetation.
NatureLacul Gozna Văliug
Gozna Lake, also known as Văliug Lake after the nearby village, is a reservoir on the course of the Bârzava River, in the Semenic Mountains of Caraș-Severin County. The dam was built to generate electricity and to supply water to the Reșița area, but the resulting landscape, with its waters spreading at the foot of forested slopes, has turned the place into a much-loved leisure destination. The lake's shores host guesthouses, holiday homes and recreation bases, and in summer the water draws lovers of boating, fishing and water sports. In winter, the proximity of the Semenic resort, one of the oldest in the area, brings skiing enthusiasts. Surrounded by the forests of the mountainous Banat and the cool air of altitude, Gozna Lake offers a relaxing setting in every season. For the people of Reșița and its surroundings, as well as for visitors discovering the lesser-known beauties of Romania, the lake remains a cherished destination.
NaturePeștera Comarnic
Comarnic Cave, in the Anina Mountains of Banat near Reșița, is one of the longest and most spectacular caves in this part of the country, with galleries stretching over several kilometres. Formed across millennia by water acting on the limestone rock, the cave impresses through the richness and variety of its speleothems, stalactites, stalagmites, columns, calcite draperies and petrified cascades in unusual shapes. An underground stream runs through part of the passages, adding to the cool, damp atmosphere typical of the subterranean environment. The cave also shelters cave-dwelling fauna adapted to the darkness, as well as colonies of bats that hibernate through the cold season. Set within a protected karst area of forested valleys and limestone gorges, Comarnic is a destination prized by caving enthusiasts and hikers alike. Access is by mountain paths, and visiting the developed galleries calls for suitable footwear and warm clothing.
NatureLacul Buhui
Buhui Lake is a reservoir set in the heart of the Anina Mountains, in Caraș-Severin County, in one of the most spectacular karst areas of the mountainous Banat. A dam built to supply water to the Anina-Reșița area, the lake has blended harmoniously into the landscape of forest and rock, offering a setting of particular charm. The area around the lake is renowned for its karst phenomena, among them caves and watercourses that vanish and reappear in the limestone relief. The Buhui stream, which feeds the lake, flows partly underground through caves before emerging into the light. The surroundings are part of the Semenic-Caraș Gorges National Park, a protected area of great value for its biodiversity and landscapes. Reached by a route that includes an old forestry railway, Buhui Lake is a destination prized by hikers and nature lovers seeking the quiet of the Banat forests, far from the crowded tourist circuits of the country.
MuseumMuzeul Banatului Montan Reșița
The Museum of the Mountain Banat in Reșița preserves and showcases the rich history of this mountainous area of the Banat region, renowned for its industrial tradition and its ethnic and cultural diversity. The museum's collections include sections of history, archaeology, ethnography and natural sciences, offering a comprehensive picture of settlement in the mountains of Banat, from prehistoric remains to the modern era. Reșița is known as one of the oldest metallurgical centres in Europe, and its industrial heritage holds an important place, illustrated through machines, tools and documents related to the iron and steel works that shaped the city's development. The ethnography section presents the costumes, customs and crafts of the varied communities that live together in the area. Practical note: the museum visit combines with exploring the city's industrial heritage, including the historic locomotives displayed in the open air, and going through the thematic sections offers useful context for understanding the mountainous Banat.