Round trip through the west Carpathian mountain, Roman history, Old Orthodox church, River-cave, mountain mushrooms and blueberry.
14./15. July 2018
Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa
It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes for the 155km from Sibiu to Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa. This place is different from the Dacian capital Sarmizegetusa, which is located in the nearby mountain.
Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa was build by the romans after they won the second war and destroyed the dacian capital which was located about 40 km soultheast.
The roman Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa became the capital of the area. You can see the ruins of the amphitheater which offered place for 5000-6000 people, and several large administrative buildings and temples. While the Dacia fortress and capital where build on the mountain, the romans build their colony on an flat area.
After visiting the site, we continued to Densus, a small village 13 km north from the roman capital.
Densus
15 min, 12,6 km from Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa
Densus church was built in the 7th century and extended in 13th century. Inside it contains paintings from 15th century. This beautiful small church was built on the place of an roman temple which was built over an even older Dacian temple, located on a small hill.
It is an old historical site with a special charm and atmosphere. Don’t miss to visit it when you are in south Hunedoara county.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Densuș_Church
Peştera Bolii – cave
From Densus it took about 1 hour for the 56 km to Peştera Bolii, a cave with a river running through it.
Inside the cave you can find a natural picture of the holy Barbara. Explore the cave and cross the river on several bridges, each of them unique.
It was late afternoon and we decided to stay overnight in a nearby small valley, 30 min / 15 km east of the cave.
The air coming from the mountain forest was incredible clean and refreshing. We had grilled pork fillet for dinner and then a good sleep near the mountain river.
Strada Valea Cimpei, Petrila
The next morning we continued from Petrila towards east. The road followed a river upstream to the mountains. Already many people BBQ near the river. It was a beautiful Sunday morning. The valley became narrow and soon the road turned into a gravel road.
We stopped to buy honey from one of the bee farmers and to walked up the mountain slope searching mushrooms. Lucky we found a place with many Chanterelles before we reached the pass.
Lacul Vidra
1h 10 min, 38km from the Cimpei valley near Petrila
Lake Vidra is located in the center of the mountains, about 1.290 m above NN. We collected blueberries and then continued east on road DN7A until we reached the road DN7 going back to Sibiu.
For the 145 km from Lake Vidra to Sibiu, it took about 3 hours and 30 minutes driving.
It was late afternoon when we reached Sibiu and surprisingly – it was raining there. Lucky, we had such beautiful weather on the other side of the mountains!