Piatra Craiului is a limestone ridge with a length of 25 km, with the maximum altitude in Vf. La Om (Piscul Baciului) -2238 m., being part of the Southern Carpathians.
Piatra Craiului National Park aims to protect and conserve some specimens of the ecosystems representative of the national biogeographic space that includes natural elements of special value in terms of physical-geographical, floristic, faunal, hydrological, paleontological, offering the possibility to visit for scientific, recreational, educational and tourist purposes.
The Piatra Craiului massif became a nature reserve in 1938 (440 hectares), but the protected area was expanded, and in 1990 it was declared a national park, its total area being 14,766 hectares.
The elevation and tectonics have favored an intense karstification, being over 500 caves and avens, and the western slope is a geomorphological treasure, the cliffs and areas devoid of vegetation amplifying the wildness of the area.
In Piatra Craiului National Park, 119 species and subspecies of higher plants are known, of which 53 are endemic Carpathian species, strictly local endemic being "Garofița Pietrei Craiului" (Dianthus callizonus).
The fauna is diverse, 35 endemic species are present among the invertebrates, and the fish fauna has species typical of mountain waters. 111 species of birds have been identified, and the fauna of small mammals is very well represented (21 species of bats). However, the national park hosts a rich population of large carnivores: bear, wolf, lynx, studies showing the existence of three circulation colors of these species between the Piatra Craiului and Bucegi massifs.
Piatra Craiului National Park can be visited individually or in guided tours, being marked 42 tourist routes for hiking and 11 routes for cycling.
The access to the Piatra Craiului National Park is based on the purchased ticket / subscription: (children under 14 – free) as follows:
*7-day ticket per person: 10 lei
*Annual subscription: 40 lei
*The price for visiting the park also includes the entrance at the Visitor Center - Piatra Craiului Museum - Zărnești
Buying the ticket:
*From the installed vending machines:
- in front of the Romanian Post, Dr.Tiberiu Sparchez St., no. 12 (near the National Center for Tourist Information and Promotion Zărnești)
- at the Administration of the Piatra Craiului National Park, Topliței St., No.150
- at the Plaiul Foii chalet
*Online:
for informations go to https://www.pcrai.ro/tickets
#TravelTips
Don't forget the access ticket!
Respect the nature!
*Recommendations to avoid meeting a bear on the trails of the Piatra Craiului National Park: