Frumoasa – Bell Tower, Via Mariae and Mountain Hay Meadows

The wooden bell tower of Frumoasa is a listed historic monument in Harghita County. Its bell belfry has a fir-wood structure, a plank balustrade and an upper section with latticework. The open bell tower rises from a conical shingle roof. The grounds of the old chapel also contain a new bell tower, an earthen mound built in honour of Saint Ladislaus from soil brought from various places in Transylvania and Slovakia, and a statue of the knight king.

The medieval chapel in Frumoasa on Muntele Fumos is listed as a ruin. The history of the village also includes the “Frumoasa” printing house, which operated from 1929 to 1944 and produced various printed materials. A local legend links the name Frumoasa to Saint Ladislaus: he is said to have urged his horse to drink from the beautiful water of the area.

A statue of Saint Ladislaus was erected in Frumoasa in 2009. The civic houses in the centre of the Armenian quarter “Örmény sziget” were built by Armenians in the 19th century. The Roman Catholic Szent-László Church was dedicated to Saint Ladislaus in 1897.

The Via Mariae pilgrimage route passes through the administrative territory of Frumoasa and, along the designated section, leads to the Szentlélek Chapel on Széphavas at an altitude of 1,339 metres. The Frumoasa Dam is located on the Frumoasa River, a tributary of the Olt. Visitors can use various hiking trails in the area around the dam.

Lake Frumoasa is home to European perch, crucian carp, chub, carp, lake trout, bream, pike-perch and catfish. The mountain hay meadows around Frumoasa offer views of sunrises and sunsets and feature the characteristic flora of the Ciuc Mountains. The “Nád” village garden covers just under 25 hectares and is divided among more than 500 cultivators.

Before setting out, current trail conditions should be checked. The elevation given for the Szentlélek Chapel and the designated route refer to two different specific points: the route describes the course, while the figure in metres identifies the destination.

Cabbage cultivation has a centuries-old tradition in Frumoasa. The seedlings are planted during the week of Saint Ladislaus, and the harvest takes place in mid-October. This timing connects cultivation with a fixed period in the annual cycle. Together, these two points in time mark two different phases of traditional cabbage cultivation throughout the year.

At the Frumoasa Cabbage Harvest Festival, visitors can sample cabbage-based dishes prepared on site by cooking teams. For a festival visit, it is advisable to check the current event dates and times before travelling. Kultúrbisztró in the centre of Frumoasa serves Armenian coffee.

Frumoasa is located 11 kilometres from Miercurea-Ciuc and on the route between Miercurea-Ciuc and Ghimeș-Făget.

Other places include Siculeni, Corund, Toplița, Baile Tusnad, Praid, Cristuru Secuiesc and Ciceu.

For the higher-level travel overview: Harghita.