Piatra Secuiului Peak, Rimetea

Piatra Secuiului (in Hungarian: Székelykő) is a barren limestone massif with nearly vertical slopes on its southern side, situated between the villages of Rimetea and Pietroasa, on the border of Alba and Cluj counties. Its maximum altitude is 1,128 m, with an elevation difference of approximately 620 m relative to the village, rising above the depression in which Rimetea lies. The phenomenon it is known for: the massif's two peaks are separated by a steep ravine, causing the sun to appear to rise twice for an observer standing to the west of the formation: after rising in the east, it disappears behind the first peak and reappears a few minutes later. The Hungarian writer Mór Jókai mentioned this phenomenon in one of his novels. According to legend, the name comes from the Székelys who are said to have taken refuge on the mountain during the Tatar invasion of 1241. On Piatra Secuiului the List of Historic Monuments records a Geto-Dacian fortification at the northern end of the mountain (AB-I-s-B-00063) and a medieval fortress (AB-I-s-B-00064). The Thoroczkay family's Trascău Fortress is not here but on Dealul Cetății above Colțești village, about 4 km to the south-west. The massif is divided into two sections: Piatra Secuiului proper (south) and Colții Trascăului (north, 1,113 m). It is accessible from the centre of Rimetea village, following the blue cross trail marker. The summit offers a 360° panorama over Câmpia Transilvaniei, the Munții Apuseni, and the Arieș valley. The area is also popular with climbers, as the vertical rock faces provide a serious challenge for experienced mountaineers. Did you know that two fortifications on Piatra Secuiului are listed as historic monuments: a Geto-Dacian one at the northern end of the mountain and a medieval fortress?