Apuseni Mountains On CNN Travel’s List – Europe’s Most Underrated Places

If you are not a Romanian, chances are you’ve never heard of the Apuseni Mountains. 

Part of the Western Carpathians, the Apuseni Mountains are often overlooked for the more known ranges such as Fagarasi, Retezat, or Rodnei. Nevertheless, this part of the Carpathians is one of the most beautiful.

If you are into lush forests, mighty peaks, and scenic roads which flow through scattered traditional villages, we wholeheartedly suggest you visit this part of Romania.

The lower altitude allowed for settlements across the entirety of this mountain range connected by a network of unpaved roads, which make perfect motorbikes trails, especially the enduro type.

The Apuseni Mountains are not only rich in breathtaking landscapes, but as well in fauna. The range is home to big brown bear and wolf populations, making it “one of Europe’s most unspoiled wilderness”, according to CNN Travel.

Asides from the obvious beauty, Apuseni Mountains are the birthplace of the ancestors of Romanians, the Dacians.

The underground resources, particularly the gold, were what enabled the Dacians to build Dacia and attracted the Roman Emperors towards this side of the world, which eventually led to these territories being taken over by the Romans.

The largest underground glacier in Europe is also located in these mountains. It can be visited, alongside many other caves in the same region.

As Romanians, we fully agree with Joe Minihane from CNN Travel, who referred to the Apuseni Mountains as a special corner of the European continent and included this beautiful part of Romania on the list of the most underrated places in Europe.

When are you planning to visit?