Ponor in the Southern Apuseni

Ponor is located in the Southern Apuseni Mountains.

Landscape

The municipality’s terrain is relatively strongly dissected. On the adjacent valley slopes, inclines frequently reach 30 to 35 degrees. Higher mountain ridges lie north and south of Ponor. These include the Munții Metaliferi and the Munții Trascău. At elevations of 950 to 1,130 metres, the mountain ridges feature subalpine vegetation.

The communal meadows of Ponor cover 867 hectares. Of these, 64 hectares are wooded pasture. This pasture is known as “Corn”. The fauna characteristic of beech forests in Ponor includes brown bears, wolves, wild boar, roe deer and badgers. It also includes martens, hares, squirrels and foxes.

Nature and Trails

The DJ 107I Aiud–Ponor–Mogoș runs through Râmeț, Valea Poienii and Ponor to the Vânătările Ponorului Nature Reserve. The nearby nature reserve includes the 25-metre-high Cascada Dâlbina waterfall.

The nearby Cheile Geogelului is a geological nature reserve of national importance. It covers 5 hectares within the administrative territory of Ponor and is located near the village of După Deal. The easiest access to the nearby Cheile Geogelului is via the DJ 107I, the Transapuseana, to the village of După Deal.

The nearby Cheile Geogelului has a sport climbing sector with more than 50 routes in the Piatra Nicaia area.

Culture and Customs

The traditional men’s costume in Ponor consists of a long white shirt with black Romanian embroidery. It includes close-fitting trousers and a black silk waistcoat. The traditional women’s costume consists of a white blouse and white skirt panels. It is complemented by an embroidered waistcoat, a fabric belt and a headscarf.

Until 1965, a historical wedding tradition in Ponor involved decorating a 25- to 30-metre-long fir pole. All the wedding guests then travelled to the church on horseback. During traditional Colindat in Ponor, groups perform as Crai, Stea and Turcă; some of the older boys walk around with one or two musicians.

The wooden church “Sfinții Arhangheli Mihail și Gavriil” stands in nearby Geogel. It dates from 1751 and is a historic monument. The “Sfântul Nectarie” Monastery can be reached via the DJ 750C from the direction of Teiuș–Stremț–Râmeț. The route then continues through Cheile Râmețului, Brădești and Ponor.

For a stay in Ponor, a holiday apartment can be included as accommodation in your personal travel planning; the decision remains a matter of individual travel plans.

More destinations

Other destinations for your travel planning include Câlnic, Săliștea, Vințu de Jos, Scărișoara, Alba Iulia, Albac, Straja and Gârda De Sus.

Regional Cuisine

Traditional dishes in Ponor include Balmoș with green salad, sausages, smoked bacon and boiled eggs.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Alba.