Cozia National Park

Cozia National Park is a protected area located in Vâlcea County, in the Munții Cozia, part of the Southern Carpathians, covering approximately 17,100 hectares. Established in 1966 and officially declared a national park in 2000, it is part of the national network of protected areas and holds Natura 2000 status. It encompasses the entire Cozia Massif, the eastern part of the Munții Căpățânii and the south-eastern part of the Munții Lotrului. The maximum altitude is reached at Vârful Cozia, at 1,668 m, and the elevation difference relative to the Olt valley, which traverses the park through the gorge of the same name, exceeds 1,400 m. From a geological perspective, the massif is composed predominantly of gneisses and crystalline schists — metamorphic rocks over 500 million years old — which give the terrain a steep and highly fragmented character. The southern slopes, facing the Olt, feature pronounced gradients and numerous rocky escarpments. The park is home to approximately 930 vascular plant taxa, including locally endemic species such as Achillea coziana and Centaurea coziensis, alongside edelweiss and the Cozia birch. The fauna includes mammals such as the brown bear, wolf, lynx and chamois, as well as representative bird species including the golden eagle and the great grey owl. Access is provided via DN7A (Transfăgărășan), DN7 (Calea Oltului) and through Mănăstirea Cozia, founded by Mircea cel Bătrân in 1388, located at the foot of the massif. Marked trails set off from Călimănești-Căciulata, a balneoclimatic resort situated at the entrance to the park.