Trascău Massif

The Trascău Mountains are a group of the Apuseni Mountains, part of the Western Carpathians. They stretch between the Ampoi valley in the south and the Turenilor (Racilor) valley in the north; the northern part lies in Cluj County and the rest in Alba County. The highest peak is Dâmbău (1,369 m). Although they stay below 1,400 m, the mountains have varied relief, with sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks. The karst relief is the best known: gorges (Turda, Turenilor, Râmeț, Întregalde, Ampoița and Aiud gorges), limestone massifs such as Bedeleu, Ciumerna, Colții Trascăului and Piatra Cetii, and caves such as Huda lui Papară. In the central part, villages and hamlets climb all the way up to the ridges. The massif has a dense network of marked hiking trails. Common starting points are Rimetea, Râmeț, Întregalde and the Turda Gorge. Râmeț Monastery and the ruins of Trascău Fortress, near Colțești, lie within the range. Much of the massif is a Natura 2000 protected area: the site of community importance ROSCI0253 Trascău and the special protection area for birds ROSPA0087 Munții Trascăului.