Crucea between Rarău, Nature and Hiking Routes

Rarău Monastery is located in the village of Chiril, in the commune of Crucea, and was founded in 1538 by Prince Petru Rareș. Around 1800, it was rebuilt with the support of the Balș family in the area of Chiril, in the commune of Crucea. In the old church of Rarău Monastery, the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God donated by Petru Rareș was installed in 1968.

The references to the monastery, protected areas, routes and regional products can be considered separately if you wish to distinguish between culture, nature and activity days. When comparing a hotel in Crucea, you can place travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions side by side on the offer pages. For your own planning, you can consider culture, nature, regional products, and hiking and cycling routes as separate topics; the different time frames of the routes remain clearly comparable.

Culture

Crucea Community Day takes place on the first Sunday of September every year and serves to promote local folk traditions and customs.

Nature

The Pietrosul Broștenilor–Cheile Zugrenilor Natura 2000 site lies within the administrative territories of the communes of Crucea and Dorna Arini. The Rarău–Giumalău Natura 2000 site includes, among other areas, the Crucea Forestry District.

Cheile Zugrenilor consists of wild gorges in the Bistrița Valley with vegetation of Community interest. Cheile Zugrenilor is crossed by DN 17B between Vatra Dornei and Poiana Teiului.

The Pietrele Doamnei–Rarău nature reserve can be reached by road from Chiril, via the road that climbs from the Rarău Pass to the chalet. Peștera Liliecilor Cave is located in this nature reserve; it was closed to tourism in 2004 to protect natural habitats.

Those who organize the landscape by protection status, gorge and cave can clearly distinguish the nature topics from one another.

Hiking and Routes

A hiking trail marked with a blue dot connects Chiril with Cabana Rarău; on foot, it takes approximately three hours. The Cozănești–Pârâul Bârnărel–Crucea hiking trail can be used year-round.

The mountain biking route in the Bistrița Valley is designated as a moderately difficult, 110-kilometer route with an approximate riding time of two to three days. A mountain biking or off-road mountain route leads from Vatra Dornei via Mestecăniș, Pojorâta, Rarău and Chiril back to Vatra Dornei.

The different means of transport and time frames can be considered separately for your own planning.

Transport

The dairy products made in the mountain sheepfolds of this area include CaÈ™, butter, Urda, sour cream and whey. In the commune of Crucea, mountain sheepfolds are simple buildings that serve as accommodation and as places for producing and storing dairy products.

Other destinations: Sadova, Dragomirna Monastery, Rădăuţi, Şcheia, Dărmăneşti, Gura Humorului, Ciocănești, Vatra Dornei

A public transport connection runs via Vatra Dornei, Crucea and Brosteni.

To the overarching travel overview: Suceava.