Romania travel: Three places to visit in the Apuseni Mountains this summer

“The Stone Land,” that’s how the Motilor Land (Tara Motilor) was nicknamed, which is located in the heart of the Apuseni Mountains in western Romania. With picturesque landscapes and spectacular landform, home to some of the largest caves in the country, this region is also known for its inhabitants, the Moti, real mountaineers, famous for their long tradition of defending their rights and territories, but also for their villages where traditions have remained intact.****

The Pătrăhăiţeşti village

Located 5 km from Arieseni and 1,200 m above sea level,Pătrăhăiţeşti is a typical picturesque village in the land of Moti, lost between the mountains. Today it is still inhabited by a dozen families living at the pace of nature and seasons, as their ancestors lived a hundred years ago, in perfect communion with nature. The enchanting landscapes with green meadows and pine-covered mountains, and the peace and hospitality of the locals make it an exceptional place. To reach the village, the bravest can start a short hike from Arieseni, through the forest. Ancestral traditions have remained alive among the villagers, so you can go in search of mesterul Mocanu, master craftsman in woodworking. You can visit his workshop-museum where he will show you how he makes wooden objects specific to the region: barrels, kitchen utensils, cups, but especially the tulnic, a wind instrument that can measure between 1.5 to 3 meters in length, often used by shepherds to gather the sheep or to signal and communicate from the top of a hill.

And to listen to the melancholic sweetness of this instrument, go in search of the village’s last tulnicareasa, Mrs. Domnica, an old lady who knows how to blow in the tulnic, and who will make you hear the sounds of the instrument.

As in most villages of the Apuseni Mountains, you can spend the night with the locals and taste their traditional cuisine, often prepared with fresh products. Do not hesitate to taste their afinata, a delicious blueberry liqueur.

The bears’ cave

You will have to visit this cave, a true masterpiece of nature, spectacular for its many stalactites and stalagmites but also its rock formations whose shapes sometimes make you think of castles, animals or fantastic creatures.