It is said that Bucegi is the mountain of mysteries or the mountain of the Dacians.Why the mountain of mysteries? Because this mountain is not just the stone heart of Romania, but also a wonderful sanctuary; a saint mountain, from where one can see far in the distance, the whole country till the Danube River; it is a stone deity with a Dacian appearance always watching Romania
The Sphinx, one of the symbolic monuments in Bucegi, also known as the face carved in stone, watches always with its eyes wide open over its people, the Dacians.
Even though it is said that the Sphinx and Babele – strange stone creatures chatting close to the Sphinx – are just a nature’s creation and not the work of some remote ancestors, we dare say that the nature overpassed its own limits and built some magnificent monuments!
How did the Dacians look at the Sphinx, this stone man on the top of the mountains? Definitely not like as a simple stone eroded by rain and wind. Probably up there, at its feet, they practiced strange rituals…
Babele is another mysterious place. It is said that Dochia, an old woman, was transformed into a stone together with her flock of sheep, exactly in this place.
The mountain with the name…Omul (The Man)
The mountain peak whose name is Omul! Is this mountain so small or was there a man who was as tall as a mountain? Who was that man? Was a war hero or a frightening emperor? Some people say that on this peak there was, in Dacians’ times, an aisle dedicated to Saturn, the god of time, also known as Zamolxe. Others say that, once a year, at the end of November, one of the cliffs near the peak lays its shade over the plateau. The profile of the cliff draws a human shape – Omul (the Man).
The legend says that once, a shepherd got lost in Bucegi. He climbed up and down but couldn’t find the path. Thus, he reached the top of the mountain; because of the thick fog, he couldn’t see the path. Tired and scared he began to yell and curse. God heard him and punished him transforming him into a stone that even today can be seen; this is Omul.
Why the Dacians mountain?
It is said that in Bucegi, Zamolxis, the king of the Dacians, used to live. According to Strabo, Zamolxis used to live in a cave…It must have been a deep cave, like a maze, because Zamolxis would disappear for a long period of time, hidden in the mountains.
People say that the stone fortress in Bucegi has never been conquered. The armies of the Roman Emperors Domiţian and Traian never reached the sacred Dacian places. They conquered Sarmizegetusa, but never managed to reach The Saint Mountain.
The Bucegi Mountains spread along the upper part of the Prahova Valley, in the Eastern part of the Meridional Carpathians looking proudly over the towns at their feet: Predeal, Azuga, Buşteni, Poiana Ţapului and Sinaia.
Why should you try a hiking trip in Bucegi ?
Because:
*In Bucegi, on the territory of the Braşov county, you can visit some wonderful protected areas such as: Abruptul Bucşoiului, Valea Mălăieşti and Valea Gaura, where you could meet large colonies of wild black goats along with other animals such as wild cats or wild roosters; the area is also known for its rare floral species.
*Bucegi thrills you with its wonderful landscapes skillfully carved by weather in the shape of some mythical characters
*The Bucegi massif is a National Park with a wide protected area of important natural monuments: the Sphynx, Babele, the Ialomiţei Cave, Abruptul Prahovean, Colţii Morarului.
*In Bucegi there is a weather forecast station, located at the highest altitude in Romania; it is situated exactly on the upper part of the highest peak in Bucegi – Omu (2505 metri).
*Any tourist who steps on the Bucegi plateau, regardless his native places, has heard and wished to see and touch the strange shapes of these cliffs.
*Walking on the mysterious paths in Bucegi, you may reach the Ialomiţa valley, where people say that Zamolxe used to come to slake his thirst. This area was called “The Seven Springs” and the Dacians used to call it “The Immortal Area”.
MountainGuide Sibiu.
HIKING TOURS IN THE BUCEGI MOUNTAINS-7 DAYS
