Vârful Cucurbăta Mare

Vârful Cucurbăta Mare, also known as Vârful Bihor, is the highest point of the Munții Apuseni and the highest peak of the Carpații Occidentali in Romania, with an altitude of 1,849 m. It lies in the Munții Bihor, the central and highest mountain group of the Apuseni, on the border between Bihor and Alba counties. The name Cucurbăta (or Curcubăta) Mare derives from its rounded, dome-like shape, reminiscent of a pumpkin; the summit is in fact a broad plateau with a relatively flat ridge. The upper surface is covered with alpine meadows and dwarf pine shrubs, typical of the subalpine belt of the Carpații Occidentali, while the slopes are traversed by spruce forests. The area's fauna includes representative species such as the brown bear, wolf, and Carpathian red deer. A television relay tower is installed on the summit, served by an access road, making it easily identifiable from a great distance. The peak can be reached via several marked trails, the most popular of which start from the resort areas of Arieșeni and Vârtop, or from Stâna de Vale. The main ridge linking Șaua Vârtop to Cucurbăta Mare is considered one of the finest ridge routes in the Carpații Occidentali. From the summit, on clear days, a vast panorama opens up over Țara Moților, the Munții Apuseni, and, in the distance, toward the Câmpia de Vest. The area lies near Parcul Natural Apuseni and other natural points of interest, including Platoul Padiș.