The Retezat-Hateg Country

Nature, history and culture in central Romania

Daniel Onea, 29.10.2020, 02:00

The
Retezat – Hateg Country lies in Transylvania’s south-eastern part. It includes
three of Romania’s historical areas, Banat, Transylvania and Oltenia. The
region is home to a rich historical past: caves, with evidence of human
presence dating from the Paleolithic age, ruins dating from the Dacian-Roman
times, small medieval citadels and towers, old churches, but also houses or
small houses, residential areas of local noble families. Anca Rusu is the
manager of the Retezat – Hateg Country tourism
destination. She told us our destination today was one of Transylvania’s most
beautiful regions.

Anca Rusu:

It’s the foreign tourists who have become extremely familiar with the
notion of Transylvania. Considering
the experience we had at the international fairs we participated in, we found
out tourists do not have that many data when we speak about Romania, but when
we say Transylvania – the region between the mountains, on the map, they can
immediately point to our thereabouts as well. A trip to the Retezat – Hateg
Country is a journey in time. On a rather small territory, they can find a world
that had disappeared 70 millions of years ago, they can face real-size
dinosaurs, can explore volcanoes and traces of long-lost seas. As for the
recent times, they can see mountain-scapes, lakes and carnivorous plants, all
remains of the Ice Age, 10,000 – 12,000 years ago. They can enjoy the traces ancient
Romans left in Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana, but also the worship sites of early
Christianity in Romania, such as the church in Densus. Also speaking about the
region, we just cannot ignore the traditional food prepared by the locals. We
recommend the famous Salaj sausages, ‘virsli’ in the local idiom, and, in a bid
to round off the experience, they can also try the ‘vinars’ which is a glass of
plum brandy, always prepared using the Rachitova plums.

There
is a great number of hiking or backpacking routes in Hateg Country and Retezat.

Anca Rusu:

We tried to keep count of them, and, so far, they are as many as 70.
These tourist hiking routes are certified, they are managed by the
administrators of protected areas jointly with the Salvamont Public Service,
they can also be thematic routes, usually telling a story. However, the most
important thing is the fact that our area is Romania’s only such area where you
can find an overlapping territory of three large protected areas, nature or
national parks. I’m speaking about the Retezat National Park, which is
Romania’s first national park, the Hateg Country UNESCO International Geopark, and the Grădiștea Muncelului
Cioclovina Nature Park, which is very familiar thanks to the Dacian fortresses
compound in Orastie Mountains. The soil tourists step on is a very special one,
while the respect for all that as well as their behavior while being there, in
that wonderful place, is of utmost importance for us and for the locals.
Extraordinary nature or man-made values are to be found there, they are so
special that in 1979, they enjoyed official recognition by UNESCO, as a reserve
known as The Man and the Biosphere for an area in Retezat, then there is the UNESCO
International Geopark, recognized for
Hateg Country’s depression area, then there is also the Dacian fortresses
compound in Orastie Mountains, protected by the law and internationally
recognized by UNESCO.

The
manager of the Retezat – Hateg Country tourism destination, Anca Rusu, told us
a great many of the tourists who get there did not booked a long-enough stay
for their purposes. Therefore, as soon as they discover the richness of the
tourist assets, they keep coming back, again and again. The list of the area’s
tourist assets is generous, yet no less generous is the list of activities they
can perform there.

Anca Rusu:

The area is very important for lots of activities. Trends in tourism
have changed a lot this year, because of the pandemic. If they happen to be in
the region at this time of the year, we recommend tourists to have a light backpacking
trip taking one of the routes in the three protected areas. We recommend
one-day routes, for them. For instance, a backpacking trip to the Malaiesti
Fortress or a backpacking trip to the Lolaia waterfall, located right at the
entrance of the Retezat National Park. Also a backpacking tour on the theme
route towards the Fundatura Ponorului, in the Sureanu Mountains. The scenery is
breathtaking there, in an area known as the photographers’ heaven.

Make
sure you don’t miss cultural destinations either, Sarmizegetusa Regia,
Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana, the fortresses, the castles or the old stone
churches.

Anca Rusu:

We have everything in the region. For those who are more into
adrenaline-rush activities, we recommend a hang-gliding flight in Clopotiva,
which is one of Romania’s best spots for hang-gliding. If they are lucky,
there, tourists can find the vice-champion in hang-gliding, Toma Coconea, one
of Romania’s leading athletes and an ambassador of the Retezat – Hateg Country
tourism destination. For families with children, the House of the Volcanoes is
a must-see, it can be found on the territory of Densus commune, where they can
explore a string of educational programs and can play at the little
paleontologists, rubbing shoulders with the administrators of the place. It is
very important for them to know that, at this time of the year, they need to
book their visit to the objectives in advance, in order to maintain the safety
measures everybody has heard about.

As a rule, there are two main categories of
tourists in the area, according to the manager of the Retezat – Hateg Country
tourism destination, Anca Rusu. There are those who want an active tourism for
themselves, and the families with children who reach the Retezat-Hateg Country
Geopark. However, no matter what they prefer, we recommend tourists to pay a
visit to a culinary point if they want to make the most of the local food, and
to one of the local craftsmen, if they want to become familiar with the
traditions of the region. Also, you should know that a great many of the events
that used to be staged here have been rethought and rescheduled, so that everybody’s
tourism experience can be complete.