Sălaşu De Sus: Castles, Retezat and daffodil meadows

In Sălașu de Sus stands the fortified manor of the Cândreș family, dating from the 15th to the 17th century. It comprises a princely or noble court and a court chapel with a bell tower, which is in a state of ruin. Its rectangular enclosure measures approximately 95 × 55 metres.

Culture and History

Mălăiești Fortress was built by the noble Cândreș family of Sălaș around 1380. A stone curtain wall surrounds a keep; four polygonal towers were added later. The fortress has been restored since 2012. The village of Peștera is also home to a traditional technology complex with a watermill, a fulling mill and a lime kiln.

Trails and Routes

On the northern side of the Retezat Massif, Cabana Gențiana can be reached via the Ohaba de sub Piatră – Sălașu de Sus – Cârnic – Pietrele route. The “Natura lângă noi” nature trail leads to a viewpoint overlooking a large part of the Hațeg Depression. It starts near the visitor centre of Retezat National Park in Nucșoara.

The “People and Forest” nature trail leads from the visitor centre of Retezat National Park in Nucșoara to Mălăiești Fortress. The route to Gura Cetății Cave begins at the tourist information centre in Sălașu de Sus, passes through Paroș and continues to Peștera; from there, the cave is approximately 2 kilometres away. Four of the twelve cycling routes managed by the Asociația de Ecoturism Țara Hațegului-Retezat pass through the municipality of Sălașu de Sus.

Nature

The daffodil meadows are a protected botanical area in IUCN Category IV and belong to the Țara Hațegului UNESCO Global Geopark. Between Sălașu de Sus and Nucșoara, they cover approximately 20 hectares; wild daffodils have spread there spontaneously. The Daffodil Festival in the meadows near Nucșoara takes place every year around the Feast of Saints Constantine and Helena, lasts two days and includes several cultural and sporting events.

A protected natural area extends across 0.8 hectares of a rocky slope at an altitude of 350 metres and belongs to the Țara Hațegului Dinosaur Geopark. The rare rock plantain species Plantago holosteum grows permanently in this protected area. In Retezat National Park, a waterfall lies in the Nucșoara Valley at an altitude of 1,050 metres, on the route to the Pietrele mountain refuge or the lakes in the Retezat Mountains. It can be reached by car as far as Cârnic and then on foot in approximately 20 minutes.

Local Traditions

Virșli de Sălaș is described as a traditional product specific to the municipality of Sălașu de Sus; the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture has certified it as a recognised traditional product. Local products can be viewed and sampled in the municipality of Sălașu de Sus at events and in residents’ homes.

More destinations: Vălișoara, Diemrich, Hărău, Uricani, Roșcani, Orăştie, Câmpu Lui Neag and Zeicani.

To the higher-level travel overview: Eisenmarkt.