Piatra Mare Natural Park

Piatra Mare Natural Park is a protected natural area located in Brașov County, within the massif of the same name, part of the Carpații de Curbură. The maximum altitude of the massif is 1,843 m, reached at Vârful Piatra Mare. The park covers approximately 3,408 hectares, and the massif extends between Valea Prahovei to the west, the Predeal area to the north and the Brașov Depression to the east. The geological substrate is dominated by crystalline schists and conglomerates, with characteristic relief features including rocky escarpments, scree slopes and plateaus. From a biological standpoint, the park harbours coniferous forest and mixed forest habitats, with species typical of the montane and subalpine zones. The fauna includes brown bear, wolf, Carpathian red deer, lynx and numerous bird species, among them the golden eagle. The flora comprises protected species, including edelweiss and several species of wild orchids. Access to the park is from the resort of Predeal, via several marked trails. The most frequently used starting point is cabana Piatra Mare, situated at approximately 1,620 m altitude and reachable by a forest road from Predeal. The main trail to the summit takes approximately 2–3 hours. The park is worth visiting for the diversity of habitats concentrated within a relatively small area, for its spectacular rocky escarpments, and for its easy accessibility from the urban centres of Brașov and Predeal.