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The Apuseni - a special realm; full of charm and mystery. Thousands of caves have been discovered here to date. Bears, wolves and lynx still live in the extensive conifer and deciduous forests. There are fast rivers and breathtaking waterfalls; imposing caves - some of them sheltering underground glaciers from long ago; and karst plateaus whose dolines, sinkholes and springs give them a unique special charm. Sun-filled glades and meadows are inundated by a flora whose diversity of colours and shapes will enliven your heart and soul.
Ţara Moților - the Land of Moți - is an enchanted world within the Apuseni, an abundant reservoir of authentic Romanian traditions and culture. Hamlets and typical small upland villages are scattered along the hills and among the meadows, where the local communities still maintain a simple and authentic way of life. Here is a civilization based upon wood and timber, whose founders have enshrined the deepest secrets of the making of alpenhorns and shepherd's trumpets. Even today the inhabitants of this area, called the Moţi ("Motz-ee"), still make tubs, casks and wooden pails. The women, called the Moaţe ("Mwa-tze"), have not forgotten how to play the alpenhorn. This is how legends are created ...
The traditional cuisine is simple but tasteful, and the hospitable mountain people welcome their guests with warmth, joy, and traditional dishes like: pies baked (without oil) on a hot stone slab; "crampă" (alcoholic spirit boiled with caraway and sugar); cranberry liqueur; or "balmoş" (maize boiled in sour cream). The Apuseni is that corner of the world where you will always feel at home - a place where you can discover your true self. |
