Citadel Valley Cave, Postovaru Mountains

'An explosion' led to cave discovery

Where? When? How long?

Fortress Valley Cave is a tourist attraction, located near the DN 1E Rasnov - Brasov 3 km from Rasnov, 1.6 km from the parking lot of the Citadel of Rasnov and Dino Park, 7 km from Poiana Brasov and 21 km from Brasov. There are 2 off-road parking lots located right where the access on foot to the cave begins.
From the parking lot to the cave we have to walk 450 m, which takes 15 - 20 min uphill and 10 min downhill. The difference in level between the road and the cave is 80 meters. Valea Cetatii Cave is located at an altitude of 830 meters above sea level, in Posevaru Mountains.
The cave can only be visited with a guide. The price of a ticket is 20 lei for adults and 10 lei for children. Animals are not allowed in the cave. You can pay by credit card. Tickets can be checked at the entrance.
It can be visited daily from 10 am to 6 pm, access to the cave every 30 minutes. The duration of a visit is about 20 minutes.
Coordinates: 45°34′57″N 25°29′48″E

About the Citadel Valley Cave

The cave was discovered following a hydraulic explosions. Until 1949 the cave entrance was small and the cave was unknown. As a result of heavy rainfall seeping through the limestone rock, it filled the Great Hall of the Cave forming a lake. When the volume of water was at its maximum, it created pressure on the downstream gallery until it broke the then small cave hole, enlarging it considerably, and then it was to be zarized, accessed and explored.

In 2011, the cave was first developed and included in the tourist circuit. At present the cave's facilities consist of railings, metal walkways, stairs and a lighting system.

The temperature in the cave is 10-12 degrees Celsius.

The Valley of the Fortress cave is declared protected natural area and nature monument.

Route map

(click on objectives for extended version)

Technical box

Length 1 km round trip

Duration 1 h one way

Unmarked, but with sufficient indicator arrows

Easy difficulty

Level difference +80 m / -80 m

Minimum altitude 750 m

Maximum altitude 830 m

1. The route to the cave

There are signs both in the parking lot and on the short trail. The access road is wide, paved and has benches for resting. Both the access road and the route to visit the cave are easy to follow.

Signposts

Parking

Bancute

The road to the cave

Stairs

2. Entering the cave

I went in with the guide and the group that had gathered for the cave tour. We received a brief briefing, then proceeded through the main gallery, high enough that you don't have to stoop.

Cetatii Valley Cave

3. Great Hall

This led us into the Great Hall, 20 meters high and covering 2,500 square meters.

A small loop circuit is set up here. In the Great Hall, the cave is rich in stalactites and stalagmites.

At one point we stopped and the guide started a recorded presentation. He then showed us with the spotlight of his flashlight some bats, informing us that several hundred live in this cave. They hunt and feed at night, during the day they sleep clinging to the cave ceiling.

The length of the cave is almost 1 km and it has a second exit, to which there is currently no organized trail, the trail segment being accessible to cavers only. The cave is an active cave, criss-crossed by a variable-flow sluice.

After the presentation of specific information, we were invited to test our senses in the world of darkness. The lights were turned off for a few tens of seconds and we discovered the darkness, the silence and listened to the drips falling from the ceiling of the cave.