Dâmbovicioara Cave, Piatra Craiului Mountains

1. Dâmbovicioara Cave

From the valley of the Dâmbovicioara river, a concrete staircase with a railing goes up, past a shop, to the kiosk at the entrance to the cave, where we buy tickets. The entrance ticket costs 15 RON. The schedule for visiting the cave is: Monday – Thursday 9:30 – 17, Friday 9:30 – 16, Saturday – Sunday 9 – 19. The guide was provided by a student working as a volunteer guide.

The Dâmbovicioara cave is a warm cave, with a temperature of around 12 °C and moderate humidity. The cave is “dry”, the stream that formed it no longer flows through the cave. The cave is colorfully lit. In the cave you can admire the formations called mammoth, snake head, bison head, Chinese writing, gun, goat, bear paw, bear den, leopard skin, elephant, fish, duck head, hermit shrine. Fossil remains of the cave bear are found in the cave. Visiting the cave takes 30 minutes.

2. Brusturet Gorges (Cheile)

From the Dâmbovicioara Cave we start on foot, upstream of the Dâmbovicioara Valley, continuing the road we came on, which is practicable for cars as well. On the route we will meet the blue tape marking, but anyway you can’t go wrong. We pass by a trinity and quickly reach an area where there are a few houses and guesthouses. A path marked with a red triangle splits off to the left. Immediately after the constructions, on the left in our direction of walking is a strong spring with a small waterfall, called Izvorul din Plai. Then the Brusturet Gorges begin, flanking our road with steep limestone walls. On the left, at one point you can see a path that climbs steeply to the Cave of the Dragons (Devils), part of the Amphitheater of the Dragons (Devils), where I went with Denisa. Great attention, however, both on the ascent and especially on the descent, not recommended for those with inappropriate footwear. On the left follow the Faleza Salvamontistilor and the Pintenul Muierii, then we pass a fenced area where the springs of La Gâlgoaie are. After the rockery at La Șoricel, also on the left, as you exit the quay, on the right is another very good spring. After the quay a wide clearing opens up, filled with tents and barbecues and cars. There is also a closed cabin at Brusturet. Several trails start from here that climb the heights of the Piatra Craiului ridge. I returned on the same route.

3. Dâmbovicioarei Gorges (Cheile)

Downstream from the Dâmbovicioara Cave and the Dâmbovicioara village are the Dâmbovicioara Gorges. These I covered by car, but making several stops for photos. The gorges are even narrower and steeper than the Brusturet Gorges and end at the entrance to the town of Podu Dâmboviței, where the Dâmbovicioara river flows into the Dâmbovița river and will form other particularly spectacular and hard-to-access gorges. It is 4 km from the cave to the exit of the gorge.