Skiing in the Apuseni Mountains

Located in western Romania, the Apuseni Mountains are the perfect destination for winter sports.

Daniel Onea, 04.02.2016, 13:50

Located in
western Romania, the Apuseni Mountains are the perfect destination for winter
sports. Two resorts in this area, Vartop and Arieseni, are particularly popular
with skiers.

At this time,
preparations are under way in these resorts for the upcoming Snow Festival to
be held here on the 19th and the 20th of February. A
yearly event, the Snow Festival is organised by the Nucet local authorities
together with the Bihor County Council and the businesses from the Vartop
holiday village, says Pinter Istvan, the head of the Salvaspeo mountain rescue
service in Bihor county, who also told us more about the local attractions:

Vartop is very
busy at this time of the year. The resort has three ski pistes. They don’t go
to very high altitudes, in fact the highest goes up to 1,800 metres, but their
topography is very diverse. The Apuseni mountains in general are known for
their underground and ground-level karst formations. There is a lot of snow and
the ski tracks are in good condition. Temperatures have gone up, but this
hasn’t affected the state of the tracks. At the foot of the ski slopes you will
find rental centres for winter sports equipment. Ski lessons are also
available. Marked routes will take tourists to the area’s most interesting
sites, such as Piatra Graitoare, Varful Bihor, Groapa
Ruginoasa and Pietrele Negre. There are also special routes for
climbers, as well as a 200 m long Via Ferrata route. The Varciorog waterfall
and the Scarisoara ice cave are to be found nearby.

Located in
Vartop, Piatra Graitoare can be translated into English as the Speaking
Rock. The name comes from the fact that an echo is created that sounds like a
voice. Four ski pistes can be found in this area, with all levels of
difficulty. The longest, which runs for 1,340 metres, is that for intermediate
skiers. The ski lift runs between 8 am and 8 pm. The price of a weekend pass
for 12 rides is 17 euros. Groapa Ruginoasa is another interesting
tourist site. It is a round cavity made up of calcareous rocks like a wound in
the mountain, as the locals describe it. The site is located in the Apuseni
Nature Park. Nearby, you will find the Valea Seaca canyon, a stretch of
gorges and waterfalls perfect for mountain climbers. In February, however,
Vartop becomes the favourite destination of ski lovers:

The Snow Festival
is held between the 19th and the 21st of February. During
this event we’ll have lots of activities on the ski slope, from snowboarding
demonstrations to torchlight downhill skiing and music concerts. Access is free
of charge. Many foreign tourists visiting the Apuseni Mountains tell us they
are impressed with the wilderness of the natural landscape in these parts. The
area’s karst formations, with many canyons and caves, are a great attraction
for visitors. There are also many accommodation facilities. The whole area is
developing fast, in particular Vartop and its surroundings. Visitors can find
accommodation in guesthouses and hotels, depending on their preferences. The
Apuseni Mountains is the perfect destination for tourists both in winter and
summer.

The area is
considered by many skiers one of the best in Romania, the slopes being covered
by snow from December until April. The ski lift boarding point is located at an
altitude of 1,189 meters while the disembarkation point is at 1,445 meters. The
difference of altitude at slope level is 256 meters and the length of the piste
is 1.1 km. Adrian Varga, a representative of the association of guesthouse
owners in Vartop, says investments in the region started 14 years ago:

There is a new
holiday village on the border between the counties of Bihor and Alba. In winter
we have the ski tracks, while in summer, all kinds of activities are available.
The landscapes are wonderful in summer and the air is very clean. The ski lift
system is operational. Tourists can choose from different activities, including
carting, Tyrolean traverse and swimming. In winter they can ski or go for a
ride in a horse-driven sleigh. There are rental centres that rent good skiing
equipment and skiing lessons are also available.

Another attraction
in the area is the Via Ferrata. This is a climbing route for beginners
stretching on 200 meters. Accommodation in guesthouses during the winter
season, including breakfast and climbing equipment, costs between 27 and 45
euros.