Life is about moments

Dear reader, we don’t know what were your expectations when you pressed the button towards this page. We don’t know what story you wanted to read, but we hope that it is not a waste of time and that our story will be able to at least make you believe more in your dreams and power.  

We use the plural because we are two – Mustafa and Raluca. We believed in the story of Törzburg Mansion and we brought it to life. From the very beginning you should know that our life is under a simple creed rendered in a syntagm already too often used in our days – life is about moments.

Connecting the dots

Looking towards the past, we understand now that Törzburg Mansion Story is something that comes from our childhood. We both had a childhood full of joy, games and play, freedom and bloopers. This joy of cherishing moments may have come from there. My (Raluca’s) childhood is connected to Bran, Brașov and the surroundings. Here I spent my childhood and here was formed the woman I am today.    

It was not a coincidence that we both have studies in tourism area. This creed that life is about moments led us towards a career in tourism, an area where the moment matters, where people take refuge for a short period of time after a long period of work. I (Raluca) graduated Manchester Metropolitan University with a Postgraduate Diploma in Hospitality –  and I continued my studies graduating Master of International Business in Hospitality Management – Cesar Ritz University – Switzerland. Here, not by chance all the students embrace the same thought of Ritz family – “People create memories, not things”. That is a statement by Simon Cooper, chairman of Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

As soon as we have finished the specialty studies, we started to feel what “life is about moments” means in tourism. For a (cumulative) period of 40 years I managed to make beautiful moments for millions of tourists as I worked in five stars international hotels: Sheraton Dongguan China, Sheraton Ankara Turkey, Royal Caribbean International – luxury cruise line, Ramada Mersin Turkey, Tugcan Gaziantep Hotel, Knidos Resort Marmaris Hotel, Cappadocia Dedeman Hotel, Royal.

Törzburg Mansion

I had for long time this dream of building by our creed and imagination a place of perfect experiences. This dream started to came to life in 2017 when we returned to Bran and started the story of Törzburg Mansion. It wasn’t easy. For a year we put brick by brick to create what today is Törzburg Mansion. We chose to rebuild an old manor from Bran and together with Victor, the brave architect who accepted this challenge, we worked assiduously throughout 2017. We knew it is harder to rebuild than to build from scratch, but we haven’t imagined that we will work with such intensity. After more than one year from the first actions on the site, we have reached the day when we speak about opening. The joy is huge and the eagerness of opening the gates, of giving moments to those who stop in Bran amplifies it.   

This year of endless work to give wings to a dream was the most important in our lives so far. With a lot of passion, maximum of stubbornness and the perfectionist spirit of the architect, we worked to create a unique place in Bran. We fought for very detail, for those the guest can see, feel, hear or doesn’t even imagine. Our purpose was to build a complete experience in Bran in order to give unique moments of fulfillment. The real joy is the one that lasts and goes beyond pleasure. Through everything we built at Törzburg we sought to offer the perfect frame to live a joy that lasts. 

Seen from outside, our story, the one of Törzburg Mansion, is about freedom, about the power of believing in a dream and about the joy of living every moment of our lives. There are a lot to say. We promise to tell everything to all those who cross our door and are curious to find out our story.  

Life is about giving

Dear reader, you should know that we are days before officially opening our doors. We are excited and happy and we write these lines thinking that if you really believe in something, you will definitely manage to fulfill your dream. Thank you for reading these lines and we hope to see you soon in Bran and to speak face to face about the joy of giving moments. 

Raluca și Mustafa

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Bran Monastery

Take the road to Rucăr from Bran and on the first Valley, Simon, you go straight for about 8 kilometers. Somewhere on the Valley, after a few kilometers, a road goes on the left towards the slope which borders the valley on the east side. The road climbs to the ridge where is located Bran Hermitage. 

Here, we enjoyed the view. The place is high and gives you the possibility of seeing from above all the villages from Piatra Craiului: Ciocanu, Şirnea, Măgura, and Peştera. Beyond, you can see Piatra Craiului Massif. I remember now the sunset on these towering ridges. A warm and gentle light that floods the whole plateau. You almost can’t look towards Piatra Craiului as the sun casts its last rays. Close, in the valley, the stables of the cows stay in the shadow.  

The wonder here it is that you can actually see towards the east as well. There is part of Bucegi Mountains. Somewhere in the horizon, you can see a little part of Bran and beyond is the plain of Transylvania like a flat plateau streaked by houses. Here you feel protected. You can see far and you are far as from Bran to here there is way for an army of pedestrians and even a rider. I always imagine how the inhabitants of these villages on the mountain were privileged in Middle ages because they could see everything and had shelter too.  

At Bran Monastery you have to come for the panorama. It is the best place from the ones accessible to tourists from where you can see Piatra Craiului Ridge and the villages at its foothills.  

Depending on the season, the colors change and they have lots of shades. So does the scent and the gentleness of the wind. We got here late in autumn, descending by bike from Bucegi, from Şaua Strungă more precisely. We were caught by rain, a cold and heavy rain. We got to Simon when the rain was almost over. Then we climbed towards Bran Monastery to see everything from above. Far away the game of lights and clouds was pleasant. It made us feel small, but it gave us strength.  

Many routes start from here as well. Upstream you get fast in Bucegi through Șaua Strunga, or even at Omu on Gaura Valley – a more difficult and forbidden route.  

I haven’t told you much about Bran Monastery. Before everything, it is a place of worship that brings peace all around. It is also a place of silence where you can go once in a while. This monastery is a modest, small one build in 2006 as a hermitage and later transformed into a monastery. It was raised to honor the soldiers who died in combat here during World War I. It is covered with shingle, painted in clean white that harmonizes perfectly with the place and its peace.  

More info about this Place of worship built on Balaban Ridge (this is the name of the plateau) you can find on the official page. 

About the place, I can say that it is always an oasis of silence, beauty, vibration, and recharge. 

Article by: Alexandru – Pure Romania

Photos – Pure Romania

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Poiana Braşov

I, as many people, had the wrong idea that Poiana Braşov is a winter tourist destination and that there you can only ski and enjoy what snow and slopes have to offer. Totally wrong! Poiana Braşov has a much greater tourism potential and it is accessible for tourists every season. I have to admit that I got for the first time there during winter and the first memory I have about this place is obviously related to snow. The branches of the fir trees hung under the weight of a white immaculate snow. It seemed whiter than anywhere. The slopes swarmed with people. Everything was on the move and in alert. I was fascinated by this world that unfolded in front of me. I didn’t know how to ski, but it was enough to watch the skiers to know that I fell in love with that wonderful place.  

I thought that Poiana Braşov is a dead area during other seasons, but I was wrong again. I discovered many years later that the area can be visited in summer as well as in spring. I can’t recommend a certain season. Each has its own charm. It is like every time I come here the forest looks different, nature sounds different. 

You can get to Poiana easily by car from Braşov. But the real charm is to discover Poiana Braşov by walking; to admire each route, to have time to linger and to breathe the pure and joyful nature that surrounds you. From here you can walk, with some effort, to the chalet on Postăvaru Massif. The view you have from Postăvaru can’t be described by words. You have to go there and see by yourself the view that unfolds at your feet (the chalet is at 1600 m altitude). In the morning it is the most amazing. I have never drunk my coffee in a more beautiful place with a more wonderful view than here. The effort it took to get up there it totally worth it. Postăvaru is that kind of place that makes you want to come back. For those more comfortable there is the option to get at the chalet by car.

For those who are more used with the mountain and are fans of trips, there is a route named Pietrele lui Solomon (Solomon’s Stones). I have to admit that I haven’t been there yet, but I assume that it is similar to Cetăţile Ponorului (Fortresses of Ponor) from Apuseni Mountains. The route is difficult – a climb on the mountain on a narrow trail surrounded by vegetation and cliffs that seem to warm up in the sun. When you get at the top you can say that you have the whole world at your feet. The breathtaking view under your feet is the reward for every step made on the trail that climbs the rocky mountain. 

If you want to stay close to the ground and see something else in Poiana Braşov, I recomend St. John  wooden church and Valea Cetăţii Cave. The church is similar to those from Maramureş. I was deeply impressed by its architecture, small interior, tall steeple, wood, shingle, all contrary to the habits of the place. If we look around, in Brașov there are fortified churches. But somehow this little church found its place here, in a meadow at the foothills of Postăvaru, surrounded by towering firs that protect it day and night. A wonderful place of worship that breaks the barriers of the area. Here the peace of the soul blends perfectly with the spiritual one in order to transpose you in a different world, a dream, simple one, where time is patient. Time is patient in Valea Cetăţii Cave as well. There things move slowly; it takes hundreds of years to the karst formations to come to light. The cave is not large, but it is spectacular and benefits from perfect acoustics. If you have the chance to get here when there is a classical music or jazz concert, you will fully enjoy what the cave has to offer.

Going back to Poiana Braşov, I have to say that it is a mountain area that can offer to its tourists a lot of relaxation options. It surprises me each time I come here. And if you get here in winter, you should really try something else but the ski slopes. Don’t think too much and try to discover the nature that surrounds you and the breathtaking views. Poiana Braşov is an important tourist point on Romania’s map and an area that has a very special place in my heart and to which I come back each time I have the opportunity. 

Article by: Andreea – Toud

Photos – Pure Romania

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Bear sanctuary in Zărneşti

When I’ve first heard of the bear sanctuary from Zărneşti I suddenly remembered a happening from a few years ago. I was sitting on a terrace in the small mountain town where I live when two foreign tourists approached me with some questions. After they had finally found out where they are, they told me something that shocked me more than them. They told me that they had seen a she-bear with two cubs wondering free on a road on the mountain. Then the tricky question came: “do bears live in the forest?” Well, the answer was obvious from my point of view. Yes, in Romania, bears live free in the forests and on mountains. There are a couple of them in zoos, but definitely, most bears in this country live happily in their natural environment since ever. This story is the reason why I have been distrustful when I heard of the bear sanctuary in our country.   

I started looking details about Liearty, as the sanctuary is called, and I understood that its purpose wasn’t to enclose the bears, but to help them out. The bear sanctuary is relatively new; it was opened in 2005 and it is open to visiting since 2008. Libearty proposes to host and reintegrate in nature bears that have been held captive. The visit to this sanctuary is made in special conditions because the people working there really want tourists to understand that this is not a zoo. 

Now imagine 69 hectares of sanctuary containing forest, ponds, streams, protected by the Carpathians (it is located near Brașov, at the foothills of the mountains). Bear lovers wanted to make these beautiful animals feel like home in here. And I believe they truly managed it. To make sure the bears aren’t stressed by tourists and that there isn’t a great flux of people who want to see the bears, Libearty was equipped with a camera that streams live. So if you don’t have time or you can’t go there to see the bears for yourself, you can watch them from home. But the best would be to live this experience. You definitely won’t be disappointed. It was a great experience for me to see the bears so closely, without being afraid that I might be attacked. More than that, every animal has a very sad story, most of them being rescued from various places where they had been kept in unhealthy conditions and used as entertainment. But here a guide has enough patience to tell everyone about the traumatic lives the bears had before coming here.   

When I got to the sanctuary I had the chance to see one of the brown bears swimming and playing in a specially designed lake. He was so happy! I could see on his face that here he was safe, that the tough times are gone for him and that the whole world is his. It is pretty difficult to see all the bears at Libearty, but one was enough for me. I understood by seeing him that we should thank those from the sanctuary for the work they do to keep the animals safe.  

For Romania, bear sanctuary is a relatively new term. Besides the bison sanctuary, we don’t focus so much on animal sanctuary. But the first step was made by those from Zărneşti and I hope that in the future will be more areas where animals will grow and develop in their natural environment. 

Article by: Andreea – Toud

Photos – Elizabeth Meyers

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Valea Cetăţii Cave

Although I have to admit that I really like to wonder on the mountains, I have managed in time to see a few gorgeous caves in our country. Most of them I saw in Apuseni where the limestone allowed the formation of some wonderful caves. I hadn’t actually heard of Valea Cetăţii Cave. I hadn’t read about it and I hadn’t had any information about it when we decided to visit it. The only reason for which we chose to visit this cave was the fact that it is located pretty close to Râşnov Fortress and Dino Park.

Almost all the caves I had seen before had a parking lot at the very entrance, so you couldn’t see too much around them. But here the things were totally different. There are two options. Either you let your car in the big parking lot at the beginning of the road that climbs towards the fortress, or at the foothills of the mountain where the cave was formed. Any option you choose you still have to walk from the main road till the entrance. 

We had no choice as on the main road was a marathon so we had to let the car in the main parking lot. All the better because we had a very enjoyable walk. Having a thick forest on both sides of the road, the silence was interrupted only by the cheerful singing of the birds and by the passing by of the competitors. Besides that it was exactly as when I went with my parents on the mountain – fresh air, silence, a real possibility to be with yourself and to put your thoughts in order.  

After about one kilometer we reached a small improvised parking lot. Here a lady was selling little jars of jam and sherbet, 100% natural, made by her own hands, from fruits gather in the chill of the morning while they are still bathed in dew. She told us that the road continues through the forest. Indeed, the access to Valea Cetăţii Cave is made through the forest, walking for about 20 minutes from the main road. For those who are not used at least with some basic sport, the trail may seem very difficult as you have to actually climb on the mountain.  For me it was heaven on earth. It remind me of the trails that I used to do as a child. Here you can hear your own breath. You are so focused not to make a wrong step, and the silence of the forest is so deep, that you can only hear yourself.  

Once we got to the entrance of Valea Cetăţii Cave, more breathless than we expected (the climb was more difficult that I thought), we were met by a pleasant coolness. It was sometimes in June and it was pretty hot outside, something like 30 degrees at noon when we got to the cave. Here other tourists were waiting for the group inside the cave to come out. The tour doesn’t last for long. Valea Cetăţii Cave is rather small. Some of those who were waiting to see the cave gave up when they realized how cold it is inside and how inadequate they are dressed. They reminded me of a funny happening from Meziad Cave when a tourist, who was really excited about the cave, gave up visiting it  after he saw that inside it was dark and the only light was provided by 5 gas lamps. But this is another beautiful story.

I found out with this occasion that Valea Cetăţii Cave is a small one, a lot smaller than those I had already seen. It is a cave that was discovered about 60 years ago. It is illuminated with LEDs that are friendly to the cave ecosystem. At least that is what the guide told us. He was a young guy ready to answer any question. Until here nothing really impressed me. But when we got to the other side of the cave things suddenly changed. The guide climbed on a stage to tell us facts about the little cave. What really draw my attention was that here are organized classical music concerts. That is indeed something I haven’t heard before. Concerts in a cave. It seems that the acoustics provided by the walls of the great hall is perfect for this kind of music. More than that, tourists can make a speleological tour of the other galleries. But for this you need an appointment as the package includes besides the guide, a medic who would monitor the tourists.    

If you ever get to Râşnov Fortress, don’t hesitate to visit Valea Cetăţii Cave as well. It is small, but the trip there is amazing. And if you have the luck to get there when there are concerts (the schedule is on the website of the cave), it is really worth to take some time and stop here. 

Article by Andreea – Pure Romania

Photos: Stoica Adrian (FOX)

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Dâmbovicioara

I was here for the first time as a child. I was comming from Câmpulung. I was fascinated by this Rucăr-Bran corridor; for the child back then this was heaven. I didn’t understand why we couldn’t just move there without looking back. The old houses, made of wood, covered with shingles, scattered over green hills, Bucegi Mountains and Pitra Craiului which surround these places like an eagle nest, nice people, deep valleys – all was fascinating for me. If I look back, I was most impressed by the green pastures thoroughly placed on rounded hills. You could see here God’s masterpiece. It gave sense to everything. 

The road to Dâmbovicioara was spectacular. From Rucăr you have to leave the national road. Somewhere towards Piatra Craiului (I had no idea I was there, I figured it out later) a secondary road pierces two huge cliffs to make way. Here is Dâmbovicioara canyon. The place is quiet and with few tourists. The road descends some kilometers. Here and there you can see a traditional old house with shingles and porch. After a winding road, somewhere on the right a large hollow rises in the limestone. That is the entrance into Dâmbovicioara Cave. The cave formed in the limestone through continuous water action. It is the longest cave in the area, with 555 meters. The part open for the public is only half the total length. The guide always tells with pride about how the cave was used by locals to defend against invaders in the Middle Age and later and by outlaws or even bears.   

No, it is not the most spectacular cave on the inside, but the true wonder is on the outside. It is not necessary to go back to Rucăr. Actually, if you are a little bit brave it is not necessary at all. Downstream, at about 1 kilometer is Dâmbovicioara village and from here starts a road towards the ridge, towards Ciocanu and Șirnea villages. The road is freshly paved (the first part) and climbs steep slopes until up on the ridges of the two villages. The view is breath-taking. After you pass through Dâmbovicioara village with its haystacks, scattered houses specific for the area and sculpted valleys, you start to climb on a winding road. After a few miles the road takes you up the ridge and from here you can see Bucegi Mountains to the east and Piatra Craiului to the west. A game of light and shadows will surprise you at sunset. If you get here in winter, everything will seem even more wonderful as the contrasts are bigger. 

The paved road ends at a certain point and you have to either turn around or to go on on a stone paved countryside road. There were many holes in the road in the past years and they probably still are. You will be able to pass with a higher car without problems and you will be able to avoid the holes too. The road is hardly practicable in winter and it can create problems. 

You can make the trip in about three quarters of a day from Bran. We got there for the first time on 31st of December, not long ago, and since then we came back a few times. We miss this place as we miss Peştera and Măgura villages.

Article by: Alexandru – Pure Romania

Photos – Pure Romania, Pestera-dambovicioara.ro

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Braşov

Brașov is that kind of city that you fell in love with at first sight. It is impossible to stop here once and then not to come back over and over again. It is like something draws you back here and invites you to discover what this wonderful city has to offer. Brașov, also named the city at the foothills of Tâmpa, has something special that catches you in its grip and makes you no longer want to leave. 

Brașov impressed me with its air of medieval fortress that still wears every day. Maybe this is the secret method by which Brașov attracts its tourists. Personally, I was instantly enchanted. Being the narrow streets paved with stone, or the enormous Black Church that watches over the city center, being the mountain protection or simply the city location, or being all these together, Brașov makes you want to wonder here for days.  

I had the chance to see Brașov in more than one aspect. I have been here in summer as well as in winter. And I can truly say that this city has a lot to offer no matter the season. The city center, Brașov Council Square, is the main touristic attraction. Here, besides the Black Church, the Town Hall building and many houses and boutiques that seem to have frozen in time you can find many terraces, nicely places in the main square, where you can get cool. And trust me when I say that in summer, even here, at the foothills of the mountain, you need to get cool. I chose as first stop the Black Church. The coolness that embraces you when you cross its threshold makes you want to stay here as long as possible. The church is large, imposing, with massive walls and a special architectural style.  If you are lucky, you can listen to a pipe organ concert. Sit on one of the benches inside and let yourself carried on the wings of music. I needed some courage to get outside because I knew a burning sun and a stifling heat waited for me there. But that happens when you don’t plan well and you get in the city around noon. In the evening the things totally change. At the shelter of coolness, people go into the square and socialize. That is when I had the chance to see the true face of Brașov. When people walk in the street. Most of them tourists, many of them foreign, they enjoy both the fresh mountain air and the beauty of the city. 

In winter things are different. The city is covered in fluffy and thick snow. The tourist number is lower, most of them choosing to go on the sky slopes near the city. I had the great chance to spend a New Year’s Eve in Brașov. I am not the kind of girl that freezes in a square for a concert, but I said why not to do this too. I don’t regret my choice, but it was damn cold. That is when I decided that it is best to visit this city either in spring or in autumn. Something like not too much, but not too less either. Being a mountain city, in Brșov is really cold in winter. I come from a small mountain town, but here everything was at a different level.  

Altogether, Braşov is an extraordinary cultural city. Dozens of concerts and events take place here every year. If you happen to be here during such an ivent, don’t miss it! And don’t miss the long walks on the narrow streets, among the old colorful houses. Here the walls and the old gates whisper pieces of history. It is enough to watch them in silence and each and every one of them will unravel their story. You don’t need a guide. In order to really discover Brașov, free your imagination and let yourself carried by the streets. The secret is that not only the beautiful buildings down town must be seen, but rather the narrow streets, houses and churches that are the wonderful city named Brașov.   

Article by: Andreea – Toud

Photos  – Pure Romania

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Râşnov Fortress

Being a child I have wondered through almost all the mountains of this beautiful country. My family taught me what means to be in harmony with nature. Every summer we used to go camping somewhere around the country and we used to climb mountains where we discovered wonderful views. But we focused more on what nature has to offer and less on what history can teach us. That is why I have seen Râșnov Fortress for the first time last year. And it was by chance, something like “shoot a pigeon and kill a crow” situation. 

It was a beautiful summer morning when we decided to visit Râşnov Fortress. A night before I stayed with two friends in Brasov. In that city we got also by chance. But it seems that life is more beautiful when you don’t plan thoroughly every step, but let things come by themselves. 

The night before going to the fortress it heavily rained. It didn’t seem a summer shower, but rather a flood. We already started making plans for leaving home, but in the morning we had a big surprise. A playful and warm sun met us at the door. Nature was on our side. We were to find out this later as well on the walls of the fortress. 

I haven’t had much experience with castles and fortresses in our country. I had only visited Bran when in primary school. I didn’t remember well what I had seen, but I had great expectations. From Brasov to Râșnov, it is a trip of about 20 minutes by car. From the parking lot and till up to the fortress, the road is amazing. It is not a lot to walk, but the view has no match. On the right side Făgăraș Mountains rise towering like a chain of mountains that watch over the country for centuries. And because the trip was in June, on the ridges of the mountains there was still snow. We had an incredible luck and we got the first ones to the fortress. I cannot describe in words the silence that covered the fortress.  

Râşnov Fortress seems to be one of the best preserved in the country. The courtyard was also silent. The only noises were made by quiet people who opened their souvenir boutiques. At the entrance there was a machine where you put a coin and it engraves the image of the fortress. I have seen such machines in other countries, but it was for the first time I have seen one in our country. Lucky us it was summer. Back in the courtyard the flower beds were bloomed. Although Râșnov is a small fortress it was full of colorful flowers that made the place look alive. It seemed that here the time has stopped to rest and smell the flowers. If you don’t mind the few people who walk around in modern clothes, you could think that you have passed through a portal when you stepped through the main gate. The freshly painted walls, the recently mowed grass and the perfumed flowers made me believe that I went back in time.

Nothing from the inner yard or in the rooms of the fortress prepared me for maybe the most important point in Râșnov Fortress. From the walls of the fortress, from an old observation point you could see the whole Transylvania. I know I may be overreacting, but at that moment it seemed that way. At our feet lain Râșnov town, with its red-roofed houses and beyond the town was a wonder. 

I said that nature was on our side. The sky was clear, there was not one single tiny cloud and the rain from a night before cleaned the air. Nature helped us to have a breathtaking view. Mountains, green plains as far as you could see and a horizon that got lost in the fog of the distance. 

If you have the chance to get in the area I recommend you not to miss Râșnov Fortress. The best is to visit it in the morning, when the sun caresses the ridges of the mountains and the chilly air of the forest stings your nostrils. 

Article by: Andreea – Toud

Photos: Pure Romania

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Curmătura

Curmătura is a chalet at the foothills of Piatra Craiului Mountains. It is far away for the traveler who is not accustomed to the mountain and its paths and pretty close for those who usually go on the mountain. I say that because the trip for an initiate is about one hour and a half from the road till up the chalet.   

At Curmătura you can get only by following trails. There are more than one trail that connect the road between Râșnov and Măgura to this place. The most well-known starts from Botorog Fountain, a good place, where you will always find fresh and cold water. There are few trails that start from the road, but beyond Zărnești Precipices (another wonderful place to see) there is a forest road impracticable for cars, but more friendlier for beginner travelers.  

The main trail starts slowly through the deciduous forest and climbs steep up to meadows. The road is not easy, but it is nice. As you get to the glade you recover your energy as wonderfulness unfolds in front of you. From the meadows you can see the towering ridge of Piatra Craiului Massif. It is a show that you cannot forget for a long time. It is beautiful in summer, but you should see how beautiful it is in winter. 

The route towards Curmătura is very safe in winter as the risk of avalanche is pretty low. The route then continues through meadows for about 20 minutes. Then you get again into the forest. This time it is a deciduous forest combined with evergreen one. After another 20 minutes you reach Curmătura, a small wooden chalet situated above the evergreen forest and meadows, at the foothill of the massif. In summer here are a lot of tourists, colorful flowers at windows, big lazy dogs and the panorama of Piatra Craiului Mountains that lures you to start another trip. 

During winter you will find here nothing else but the silence and the whiteness of big snow. Curmătura Chalet is always welcoming and cozy. In the hot season, if you get here in the first part of the day, you will find cheese pie. It is amazing. You will always remember it and whenever you will go in Piatra Craiului you will go for the pie as well. Curmătura Chalet is famous for the cheese pie. In the last 4 years I have been at least once at Curmătura and every time the pie was really delicious.  

Curmătura is the ideal place for walks on the mountain; the route is not difficult, it is safe and the landscapes are wonderful. Later, after you gain some experience you should try the trails on the ridge. Piatra Craiului is a fairy tale place. From the ridge you can see Bucegi Mountains and Rucar-Bran corridor. Up there you have a feeling that you are actually close to anything. When I was a child I used to imagine the mountains that Heidi wandered on and I had the feeling that I was there with her. Although the first houses were 2 hours running away, it was like you were actually close to them, like those mountains rose from somewhere near the village center.  

The route on the ridge is very beautiful. The climb and descend are steep and in rocky areas, but it is worth the effort. 

If your roads get you towards Bran and you want a little bit more, more nature and more fresh air, go to Zărnești or to Peștera and follow the trails to Curmătura. They will enchant you.

This place is generous; it gives you from its silence and that will definitely charge your batteries. 

Article by: Alexandru – Pure Romania

Photos – Pure Romania

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Măgura, Peștera, Șirnea villages

I was 27 years old when I first got to these places. I had seen them a year before from above, from Piatra Craiului. I felt since then that something wonderful must be around here. Since then, I come back here every year. It is like 27 years I have been wondering through darkness; that is how impressed I was by these places. 

I won’t tell you about my first experience here because it was a harsh winter and besides the charm of the place covered in snow I remember the road full of snow and me pushing the car. One summer I climbed from Bran towards Peștera. The road is ok; it is freshly paved and memorable. The climb is steep. The road winds on hills until it gets up on the plateau full of houses and guesthouses. I enjoyed the climb. I went slowly and watched every corner. It is like you sink in nature. We parked the car in Peștera and we walked towards Măgura. We were going to visit Arabella. Yes, a writer born in Manchester, Arabella Mc’Intire retired in this fairy tale place and enjoys it every day. From above, from the dusty road, as the connection between the two villages is made through a lot of trails and 2 old wagon roads, we could see Bran somewhere far far away in a valley. From here we could also see the road on a straight ridge, the school and the church of the village. But I haven’t told you yet what it is the most wonderful and special here. From these places you can see Bucegi Mountains to the east and Piatra Craiului to the west. It is a great view whenever you come here. On this beautiful summer day I could see both massifs and my joy was so big that I couldn’t get enough looking at them.

We kept walking on the road, all the way down to Măgura. We could see houses here and there. Kind of old, but clean, with shingle on the walls to protect them against the wind, in bright shades of green, yellow, red, some of them with inn-like inner yards  to protect them from snow, all of them in the spirit of the place. They were alive places with people, with sheep flocks, with mowed pastures and with paths through grass. I have seen children hand in hand with their parents, but they were just visiting.  

It is hard to describe the wonderfulness of the place. It always reminds me of my childhood, of the lived childhood as well as of the imagined one, of the places where Heidi wondered, of the traditional, unaltered villages that I imagined when reading from our classic poets and novelists. Yes, I think I know; what shocks here is not the absolutely emotional view, but the contrast between the steepness of the slopes and the calm of the wide pastures, the greatness of the mountains and the darkness of the chasms that you can see from place to place, the peace of the people and the simplicity of their houses. 

We kept walking towards Arabella, we descended the road to a valley and them we chose to go straight to the ridge of the hill that is in her garden. It was difficult; it took us about half an hour to descend and climb on the other side of the valley. Arabella’s house is on the top of the hill, at about 1000 m altitude. Maybe it is one of the most beautiful places as from here you can see the entire Bucegi Massif, as well as a good part of Piatra Craiului.  The latter are guarded by a smaller massif, a row of lower mountains where Zărnești Precipices were formed. Exactly in this place it is an opening that allows a view towards Piatra Craiului. There is no better place to see the whole area. The tea is good here especially when you feel that you are not alone; nature is alive, buzzing can be heard all the time, different bird songs, crickets and the gentle humming of people who work in the orchards or in the forest. 

The time is patient here. It is like it forgets all bout you because it doesn’t want to take your happiness away. We left from Arabella and we went further to Botorog Fountain, right on the road that connects Măgura and Zărnești. We climbed through people’s yards until we have reached the trail on which people used to commute to Zărnești. From here we continued our journey to Peştera. This time we chose the road that surrounds the two villages from above. From here we could see even better Bucegi Mountains, now situated to the west. This area is even wilder. There are fewer houses, the road is less used and it goes right next to the forest. Here you can feel better the protection that these heights offer you. It is like a nest in the clouds, far away from any danger. We got to the car in the evening and towards Bran there was a sea of lights. 

I have been to these places during winter as well and it was as beautiful. It is probably the most suitable place for walks with snow rackets, for skiing and walking in the snow on paths. I have been here on bike too and it was amazing. It is nice to walk on paths, on roads, through orchards, past the houses of always welcoming and smiling people.  

There is a lot to say, but even more to see. Don’t miss the chance to go to these places, because as all the wonders of this world, this place will also suffer modifications in a near or further future. 

Article by: Alexandru – Pure Romania

Photos – Pure Romania

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