Along the Bistrița: Bicaz, the Bicaz Gorge and Ceahlău
- Duration
- 1–2 days (about 7 hours on the road)
- Distance
- 100 km
- Best time
- June – October
- Time on site
- 4 h 25 min
- On the road
- 2 h 3 min
A journey through the eastern Carpathians, along the Bistrița river and beneath Mount Ceahlău, the sacred mountain of the Dacians. From the Bicaz dam and boat trips across the mountain reservoir, the road slices between the limestone walls of the Bicaz Gorge, then follows the lake shore up to Durău, where the monastery church keeps Nicolae Tonitza's encaustic murals.
The stops, in order
1. History Museum Bicaz
Housed in the 1912 Royal Domain administration building, presenting records and photographs documenting the relocation of over twenty villages to create Lake Bicaz.
45 min on site16 lei adult8 min by car to the next stop
2. Izvorul Muntelui Dam (Bicaz Dam)
A monumental 127-meter-high concrete gravity dam, offering expansive views down the Bistrița gorge and across the vast reservoir.
40 min on site5 min by car to the next stop
3. Izvorul Muntelui Lake (Lake Bicaz)
Scenic boat cruise across Moldavia's inland sea, taking in the dramatic reflections of Mount Ceahlău upon the deep mountain waters.
1 h on site35 min by car to the next stop
4. Bicaz Gorge (Cheile Bicazului–Hășmaș National Park)
A dramatic karst canyon carved into Jurassic limestone, featuring sheer 300-meter cliffs through Hell's Throat and the towering Altar Stone monolith.
45 min on site5 lei adult1 h 15 min by car to the next stop
5. Durău Monastery
Mountain resort at the base of Mount Ceahlău; the monastery church houses unique warm-wax encaustic murals painted by modern master Nicolae Tonitza.
1 h 15 min on siteEnd of the route
