Piatra Craiului Mountains

The Piatra Craiului Mountains are a limestone range in the Southern Carpathians, lying across Brașov and Argeș counties. They are distinguished by a main ridge about 25 km long and 6–8 km wide — the longest and highest limestone ridge in the country. The highest point is La Om Peak (also known as Piscul Baciului), at 2,238 m. The massif is made up mainly of Jurassic limestone whose near-vertical bedding has favoured intense karstification, producing dramatic landforms: steep cliffs, rock spires, ledges, chimneys, natural arches and numerous caves and shafts. The associated protected area, Piatra Craiului National Park, was established in 1990 and covers around 14,766 hectares. The first nature reserve in the area dates back to 1938, with just 440 hectares. The park is home to roughly 1,170 species of higher plants — about a third of Romania's flora — of which more than 180 are protected. Its best-known symbol is the Piatra Craiului pink (Dianthus callizonus), an endemic species that grows only on the rocks and scree of this massif. The fauna includes large carnivores such as the brown bear, wolf and lynx, alongside chamois often seen on the rocky cliffs, as well as over 110 bird species and more than 20 bat species. The main access points to the trails are Zărnești to the north-east and Plaiul Foii to the north-west.