Gârda De Sus: Nature, Caves and Wooden Churches

Gârda De Sus is not defined by a single theme: nature, caves, trails and traditional culture stand alongside one another as distinct subjects.

Nature

The Apuseni Nature Park has a visitor center in Gârda de Sus. Cheile Ordâncușei is a 10-hectare protected area designated by Law No. 5 of March 6, 2000, and located within the Apuseni Nature Park. A paved road runs through Cheile Ordâncușei.

Ghețarul Scărișoara was the first cave in Romania to be declared a natural monument, in 1938. The cave contains a permanent ice body with a volume of more than 100,000 cubic meters; it also contains the two chambers Sala Mare and Sala Biserică.

Trails and Places to Visit

Access to Poarta lui Ionele begins in the center of Gârda de Sus via DJ 750. Poarta lui Ionele Cave is illuminated and equipped with walkways, metal stairs and railings.

The Cotețul Dobreștilor spring is easy to see. The cave entrance is 10 meters wide and 4 meters high; the flooded cave through which the water flows, however, can only be traversed by trained cave explorers with autonomous diving equipment.

Biserică Ocoale serves as a place of rest and prayer for people ascending through Cheile Ordâncușii to Ghețarul Scărișoara Cave. It is intended for Sunday and holiday visits by the residents of Ghețar, Ocoale, Dealul Frumos and Hănășești, as well as by other visitors.

Culture

The wooden church “Naşterea Sf. Ioan Botezătorul” in Gârda de Sus dates from 1792 and was modified in 1863. Biserică veche Gârda was also built in 1792.

In Gârda de Sus, visitors can learn the local craft of Ciubărărit. Poiana Călineasa comprises coniferous forests, pastures, individual trees, seasonal settlements and freely grazing animals. The Moți drive there with their animals and stay from May to September. They process wood and prepare traditional products made from milk and forest fruits.

Bisericuță Călineasa is a wooden church on a mountain peak, accessible by a paved road. It was consecrated in 2015 and is dedicated to Saint Elias. Services take place only in summer, when the Moți are in the seasonal settlements of Poiana Călineasa.

At the annual church feast of Biserică Ocoale, the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Moți from Gârda de Sus and the surrounding settlements gather for the service on August 6.

For Gârda de Sus, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions can be compared with nature, caves and wooden churches in mind; the names Cheile Ordâncușei, Poarta lui Ionele, Ghețarul Scărișoara and Biserică Călineasa represent different focal points for personal trip planning, which can be considered separately and weighed up deliberately.

Other places: Pleși, Laz, Ighiu, Ponor, Vințu de Jos, Alba Iulia, Șugag, Răchita

For the broader travel overview: Alba.