Discover Arieșeni: Winter Sports, Waterfalls and Caves

Arieșeni is a destination for skiing and seasonal sports in winter.

Winter sports

The Pârtia Vârtop I ski slope is 1,000 metres long. Its facilities include a surface lift and floodlighting. Pârtia Vârtop II is considered a ski slope for beginners and has ski and snowboard instructors. Ski and snowboard equipment can be rented at the bottom station of Pârtia Vârtop II.

Other destinations

You can reach other places directly via these links: Sohodol, Ocna Mureș, Câlnic, Alba Iulia, Pianu De Sus, Gârda De Sus, Câmpeni, Bucium.

Waterfalls and crafts

Cascada Pătrăhăițești is a 14-metre-high waterfall with two drops. There are two mini-museums nearby that produce traditional wooden objects in craft workshops. These include tulnic trumpets, wooden vessels, bowls, wooden cups, salt containers and flutes. The Muzeul Pătrăhăițești is located in the village of Pătrăhăițești in the municipality of Arieșeni and displays several objects typical of Țara Moților.

Cascada Vârciorog is more than 15 metres high. It is located in a coniferous forest at the foot of the Piatra Grăitoare peak in Arieșeni. The marked route starts in the centre of Arieșeni, follows the DN75 towards Vârtop and then continues for three kilometres along the Vârciorog Valley on a trail marked with a yellow dot.

Caves and springs

From Arieșeni, the route to Peștera Coiba Mare follows the DN75 to Gârda de Sus. It then continues for approximately 12 kilometres on a municipal road to the village of Casa de Piatră. A sign there indicates the descent to the cave. Peștera Coiba Mare has the largest cave entrance in Romania.

Peștera Ghețarul Vârtop is a natural monument. Because of its numerous white limestone formations, it is also known as Peștera Minunată. With a maximum depth of 85 metres, Izbucul Tauz is considered Romania’s deepest known siphon. Izbucul Tauzului brings water to the surface. This water entered the underground through the caves Coiba Mare and Coiba Mică.

Vârful Curcubata Mică is 1,769 metres high. From there, there is a panoramic view of Arieșul Mare and Arieșul Mic.

Culture

The Biserica „Înălțarea Domnului” Arieșeni was built entirely of wood between 1791 and 1829 in the style of the churches of Maramureș. It is classified as a historic monument. The church is part of Romania’s national cultural heritage.

Cascada Vârciorog is located not only at the foot of Piatra Grăitoare, but is also described as accessible via a marked route from the centre of the village: after taking the DN75 towards Vârtop, continue for three kilometres in the Vârciorog Valley. To reach Peștera Coiba Mare, the route sections mentioned change from the DN75 via Gârda de Sus to a municipal road; after approximately twelve kilometres, a sign in Casa de Piatră indicates the descent. At Izbucul Tauz, the information about the maximum siphon depth of 85 metres is linked to the water that enters the underground through Coiba Mare and Coiba Mică and emerges again at Izbucul Tauzului.

For the higher-level travel overview: Alba.