The best less known ski resorts in Romania

Although there are many ski resorts in Romania which attract thousands of tourists each year, as the Prahova Valley, known as a paradise for winter sports, including foreigners, there are some lesser-known, growing in popularity because of the many activities that have to offer throughout the year. Here are a few worth visiting.

Păltiniş is the oldest and highest mountain resort in the country. It is located at an altitude of 1442 m in the Cindrel Mountains and was opened in the year 1894. The resort is well equipped with a ski slope, a chairlift, a ski lift and a baby ski. At this altitude, there is snow for the better part of the year, but even when you cannot go skiing, there are plenty of things to do here. One of the most important tourist attraction in the area is the Păltiniş Hermitage, a wooden church built in 1930, where the grave of philosopher Constantin Noica is located. Other noteworthy destinations are the Cindrel Natural Park, Lake Iezerul Mare and Lake Iezerul Mic.

Rânca is located in Gorj County, at an altitude of 1650 m, in the Parâng Mountains. You can practice many types of winter sports here, like skiing, snowboard riding, sledge riding, skating, and snowmobile riding. There are 4 ski slopes here, all fitted with a ski lift. One of the slopes is for beginners and can be found at the center of the resort, another is for advanced riders, the third one is of intermediate level and the forth is a baby ski. All of them are fitted with snow cannons. There are also glacial lakes in the area, mountain meadows and plateaus.

Vatra Dornei is also known as the “Pearl of Bucovina” because of its many mineral and thermal water springs. It is situated in the Dornelor Depression, at an altitude of 802 m. It is also 112 km from the city of Suceava. The Black Hill and The Runc Hill have slopes perfect for practicing winter sports. The tourists can also avail themselves of the chairlift, the ski lift and the baby ski. In the warm season, people can also go river-rafting on The River Bistriţa.

And a final resort worth mentioning is Arieşeni, located in the Bihor Mountains, at the altitude of 1000 m. The resort is known for its four slopes that can be skied on 6 months out of the year. Besides the winter sports, there are many other famous tourist attractions in the area that should not be missed: The Bears’ Cave, The Poarta lui Ionele Cave, The Porţile Bihorului Cave and Avram Iancu’s memorial house.

Sources:

http://www.topten.ro/top-10-cele-mai-frumoase-statiuni-din-romania/  epochtimes-romania.com/news/cele-mai-frumoase-statiuni-montane-din-romania---232311