Ghețari: Plateau, Caves and Circular Trails

The Ghețari Plateau lies at an altitude of about 1,100 m. Houses on stone supports stand on the plateau. There are also polygonal hay barns with curved rafters covered with fir branches. The forms represent different architectural solutions within the same plateau: in the houses, stone supports carry the structure, while in the hay barns, curved rafters and fir branches shape the roof design. In this way, alongside its natural features, the landscape has a clearly recognizable architectural character.

The Ghețari Plateau is bordered by the Gârda Seacă and Valea Ordâcușei rivers. Ghețari belongs to the municipality of Gârda de Sus. The municipality of Gârda de Sus lies within Apuseni Nature Park and the Țara Moților cultural region.

The Peştera Gheţarul Scărişoara cave contains a permanent ice block with a volume of more than 100,000 m³ and a thickness of up to 25 m. In 1938, the Peştera Gheţarul Scărişoara cave became the first cave in Romania to be declared a natural monument.

In the surroundings of Ghețari, Poarta lui Ionele cave has a 12 m-high entrance portal and is equipped with walkways, metal stairs and railings. The specific design therefore ranges from the high portal to the individual structural elements along the site. Cheile Ordâncușei is also located in the surroundings of Ghețari and is a protected area within Apuseni Nature Park. Cheile Ordâncușei is a four-kilometre-long gorge; the minimum distance between its walls is six metres. The portal, gorge and river landscape represent different natural and landscape forms around Ghețari.

Circular trail 17MN73 starts at the Muzeul de Etnografie Scărişoara, passes through Dealu Frumos and returns to the museum in the hamlet of Ghețari. Circular trail 17MN73 between Ghețari and Dealu Frumos is recommended for cycling tourism. Route 17MN69 also starts at the Muzeul de Etnografie Scărişoara. It passes by the Peştera Gheţarul Scărişoara cave and continues to Casa de Piatră and Poiana Băliceana.

The trail marked CR runs via Munună on the paved road to the Muzeul de Etnografie Scărişoara. From there, it is another 30 m along a gravel path to the Peştera Gheţarul Scărişoara cave. The CR trail thus includes two different surfaces and a short final section between the museum and the cave. Circular trail 17MN73 returns to the museum in the hamlet of Ghețari; route 17MN69 continues to Casa de Piatră and Poiana Băliceana, while the CR trail leads along the 30 m-long gravel path to the cave.

To the higher-level travel overview: Garda De Sus.