Vărmaga: Mountains, Karst and Village History

Nature and Landscape

Vărmaga is located in the Metaliferi Mountains. The village lies at the foot of the Auriferi Mountains, in a depression below the Vârful Gurguiota peak. Vărmaga stretches for more than 7 km along a watercourse. Regardless of climatic conditions, the watercourse flowing through Vărmaga has a constant flow on all 365 days of the year. The location therefore combines several clearly identified landscape elements: the Metaliferi Mountains, the foot of the Auriferi Mountains, the depression below Vârful Gurguiota and the elongated course along the watercourse. The information on the extent and flow thus describes not just a single viewpoint, but the spatial character of the village along the waterway.

East of Vărmaga, a karst area with grottoes and caves stretches as far as the border with Geoagiu. In Ghețari, the snow remains until July of the following year. The landscape is therefore characterized by mountains, a depression, a constant year-round water flow, karst formations and an unusually long-lasting snow cover. The karst area lies east of the village and extends to the border with Geoagiu; its named formations are grottoes and caves. Ghețari also adds a place where the snow remains until July of the following year. Thus, the landscape description presents different terrain and natural features side by side without combining them into a single area.

History and Culture

The village of Vărmaga has been documented since 1492. The present-day Orthodox church in Vărmaga was built in 1904 to replace an older church. The church is shaped like a ship and has two entrances. In 2014, the Orthodox church was reconsecrated. At this consecration, it received “Sf. Ioan Rusul” as a second patron saint. The history of the village therefore reaches back to 1492, while the present-day church dates from a new construction in 1904. Its shape, the two entrances and the later reconsecration with the additional dedication are among the explicitly stated features of the church. The years distinguish between the documented mention of the village, the construction of the present-day church and its reconsecration.

The Vărmaga–Lidişolm archaeological site lies north of the village. It is located on a rocky summit on the border with Nojag. The villages of Nojag and Vărmaga have two Călușeri groups.

Geographical Setting

Hunyad Castle is located in the wider regional surroundings of Vărmaga and is a castle. Vârful Fericelii, Măgura Sârbii and Dealul Cutinului are also located in the wider regional surroundings. Vârful Fericelii is a mountain, as are Măgura Sârbii and Dealul Cutinului. Dealul Uroiului is located in the vicinity of Vărmaga; it is a hill. The named regional destinations therefore differ according to their stated type: Hunyad Castle is a castle, Vârful Fericelii, Măgura Sârbii and Dealul Cutinului are mountains, while Dealul Uroiului is located as a hill in the vicinity of Vărmaga. The wider regional surroundings are specified for each of the three mountains and the castle; Dealul Uroiului is located separately in the vicinity of the village.

You can find more information about the locality at Săcărâmb.

Getting There

The Deva–Vărmaga route is included in Hunedoara County’s programme for regular public passenger transport. This refers specifically to the connection between Deva and Vărmaga and its inclusion in the programme of Hunedoara County. The passage describes the documented programme status of the route without providing any further information about the timetable, frequency or duration.

For the general travel overview: Comuna Certeju De Sus.