Discover Cârţişoara: Holiday apartments, culture and the Făgăraș Mountains

If you would like to discover the Transfăgărășan at its beginning, the first 21-kilometre section starts in the village of Cârțișoara.

Cârțișoara and the nearby junction with DN 1 are considered one of the endpoints of the Transfăgărășan.

Culture

The Muzeul Sătesc Badea Cârțan was opened in 1969. It contains objects and books that belonged to the scholar Badea Cârțan.

The collection includes ceramics, reverse-glass paintings, traditional peasant wedding chests and products from the former glassworks in Glăjărie.

The Muzeul Sătesc Badea Cârțan also houses a valuable collection of reverse-glass icons by the local icon painter Matei Țimforea.

The “Buna Vestire” Church in Streza Cârțișoara was built between 1818 and 1821. The building was constructed at the village’s expense from river stone and bricks.

The “Sf. Nicolae” Church in Oprea Cârțișoara was built in 1806.

Several different testimonies therefore stand side by side in the village: the museum preserves personal objects, books, handicrafts and icons, while the two churches, with their own construction dates and materials, point to the history of the village.

History

The Transfăgărășan was inaugurated on 20 September 1974 after four years of construction under very difficult conditions.

The road is therefore part both of Cârțișoara’s geographical context and of its documented history. Its beginning in the village and the nearby DN 1 junction, considered one of its endpoints, describe the special connection between the village and the mountain pass road.

Nature

The landscape around Cârțișoara offers views of the Făgăraș Mountains.

The Bâlea nature reserve is located in the vicinity of Cârțișoara, was established in 1932 and covers approximately 180 hectares.

Thus, two clearly defined landscape features meet in the surrounding area: views of the Făgăraș Mountains and the Bâlea nature reserve, established in 1932, with its area of approximately 180 hectares.

Hiking trails

The summer trail in the Bâlea Valley is marked with a blue stripe and can be completed in two to three hours.

The trail from Hotel Bâlea Cascadă to Lake Bâlea via Muchia Buteanului is also marked with a blue stripe and takes approximately four to five hours in summer.

Several easier mountain trails between Bâlea Cascadă and Bâlea Lac use Cârțișoara as their starting point and can be reached via the Transfăgărășan.

The Cîrțișoara–Glăjărie–Bâlea Cascadă–Bâlea Lac trail begins at the Muzeul Badea Cârțan, the tourist information centre.

In the wider regional surroundings of Cârțișoara, the Bâlea area offers opportunities for mountain hiking, climbing, cycling and paragliding in summer.

The hiking information therefore ranges from a summer trail in the Bâlea Valley marked with a blue stripe to a route via Muchia Buteanului lasting approximately four to five hours. In addition, easier trails between Bâlea Cascadă and Bâlea Lac, as well as the route beginning at the museum and leading via Glăjărie, are mentioned.

For a stay in Cârțișoara, a holiday apartment in the village can be noted as a starting point for further travel planning.

Other places

If you would like to visit other places in the same destination area, the direct links lead to Veştem, Tălmaciu, Apoldu de Sus, Miercurea Sibiului, Heltau, Valea Viilor, Șura Mică and Tilischen.

For the higher-level travel overview: Hermannstadt.