A Photowalk of Bicaz Gorge

Altar Rock (Pitra Altarului)

On my way to Bucovina to see the painted monasteries, I was treated to nature at its best. I never heard of Bicaz Gorge before so I had no idea what to expect. This was the most surprising part of my second visit to Romania. I was trying to take a picture of Altar Rock as we drove slowly through the pass. The goal was to make sure I got the cross on top of the limestone cliff in the frame. It’s not as clear to spot but it’s there just below the flagpole. I took this shot through the windshield as we couldn’t stop at this particular location since the pass is narrow and other cars were right behind us. Luckily I had better luck when I took the other images of the gorge.

Bicaz Gorge (Cheile Bicazului)- Hăşmaş National Park is in northeastern Romania in Neamt and Harghita counties. A winding two-lane road stretches for 8 kilometers (4.97 miles) through the gorge. Limestone walls as high as 300-400 meters (984-1312 ft.) rise on both sides of the pass. Some rocks hover so low that it looks like it might graze the rooftop of the car. What a spectacular drive it is!

Watch out for those hairpin turns!

On this particular stretch of the pass, you can stop and check out the stalls selling Romanian arts and crafts and take pictures of the canyon.

You can also get off here if you want to follow some hiking trails.

Red Lake (Lacul Rosu)

Red Lake was formed by a natural landslide in the 19th century. It’s a popular destination especially during the summer months. There are all sorts of water activities offered at the lake as well as hiking trails nearby.

Pângǎrati Lake

Pângărati Lake was formed in 1964 to serve as a source for hydroelectric energy. Its waters come from both the Bistrita River and Lake Izvorul Muntelui. It is also an important natural habitat for birds, plants and fish. It’s located on the road to Bicaz Gorge in Neamt County.

Bistrita Orthodox Church

Close to Bicaz Gorge, Bistrita Monastery is worth the stop for its frescoes and for the miraculous icon of St. Anne, a gift given by Lady Ana to the monastery between 1407-1408. She was the wife of the military governor, Alexandru I. The monastery is surrounded by stone walls and has an attractive inner courtyard.

How to get to Bicaz Gorge:

The best way is to rent a car so you can thoroughly explore this beautiful park. A car is also necessary to drive through the Bicazului pass. The next best thing is to join a hiking tour if you’re into hiking, mountain climbing and camping. The third option is to take the train from Bucharest or Brasov to Piatra Neamt, Gheorgheni or Bicaz. Check romaniantourism.com for more information about Bicaz Gorge. I personally traveled in Northern Romania, Ukraine and Moldova with Nicolas Experience Tours. You can check his tour programs here: experience-tours.ro

Map of Bicaz Gorge

https://www.google.com/maps/@46.7519304,26.019994,10z?hl=en

*****

Images by TravelswithCharie

Brașov was once called Stalin City

White Tower Brașov is a city nestled in the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania. Remnants of its medieval fortifications and bastions are added attractions to this buzzing city. The White Tower along with the Black Tower are two of the remaining watchtowers still visible today. During the Communist period, Brașov was called Orasul Stalin or Stalin City after the Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin. Black Church This is such a storied Gothic church which was originally the Catholic Church of St. Mary before it was converted to a Lutheran Church. It was believed to have been affected by fire in 1689 which blackened its exterior walls and roof. But a new 21st century study reveals that this wasn’t the case at all. The only reason for its blackened state according to the study is environmental pollution caused by the industrialization of Brasov in the 19th century. The walls have since been cleaned but there are traces of black spots on the roof. Republicii Street This long pede...

The Gold of Ancestors: Pre-Colonial Philippine Treasures

Openwork basket, Surigao, 10th-13th century What a wonderful surprise this exhibition is! These gold objects, about a thousand of them, add a rich layer to Philippine history. This collection which was found in various sites in the Philippines, date back to the 10th-13th centuries. It demonstrates the well developed culture of pre colonial Philippines which the Spaniard, Antonio Pigafetta, recorded in 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan landed in the islands. A thriving interchange between the Philippines and its Asian neighbors existed prior to the arrival of Magellan as attested by some of these gold accouterments which show for example, images from Hindu mythology. The motifs and curvilinear ornamentation of the openwork basket (shown above) intimate Chinese designs found in their ceramics and textiles. Torso ornament, 10th-13th century Weighing four kilos of gold, this sash is worn across the chest similar to the upavita (sacred thread) style in Hindu culture. This sash w...

The Art of Carlos Botong Francisco - Progress of Medicine in the Philippines

Pre-colonial period Pag-unlad ng Panggagamot sa Pilipinas (The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines) is a group of four large-scale paintings depicting healing practices in the Philippines from pre-colonial times to the modern period. Carlos Botong Francisco was commissioned in 1953 by Dr. Agerico Sison who was then the director of Philippine General Hospital (PGH) together with Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing of the National Museum, Dr. Florentino Herrera, Jr. and Dr. Constantino Manahan. These oil on canvas paintings measure 2.92 meters in height and 2.76 meters in width (9.71 ft x 8.92 ft) and were displayed at the main entrance hall of PGH for over five decades. Owing to its location, the artworks were in a state of "severe deterioration" at the beginning of the 21st century from exposure to heat, humidity, dirt, dust, smoke, insect stains, grime, termites and an oxidized synthetic resin used in an earlier restoration. These canvases were restored three times, the last was...

TravelswithCharie

Search This Blog