Cheia, colt de Rai

In vacanta de iarna,am “evadat” din aglomeratul Bucuresti,alegand drept destinatie de vacanta localitatea Cheia din judetul Prahova.Cum am descoperit acest loc? Simplu…folosind internetul.

Trebuie sa precizez ca localitatea nu este una foarte mare,insa am fost placut surprinsa de baza tehnico-materiala generoasa.Astfel am decis de comun accord cu prietenii mei sa ne rezervam doua camere duble la hotel Cheia, amplasat chiar in centrul localitatii.Apoi ne-am intrebat cum ajungem acolo?Raspunsul tot cu ajutorul internetului l-am gasit,acesta dandu-ne doua variante: trenul sau un microbus ce face ruta Bucuresti-Valenii de Munte-Maneciu-Cheia.

Despre Cheia

Acest microbus are plecari din autogara Basarab la orele 06:30 respectiv 13:00.Daca alegeti cea de-a doua varianta trebuie sa tineti cont si de urmatoarele dezavantaje: trenul accelerat poate fi luat din gara de nord insa circula pana in orasul Ploiesti.De acolo aveti tren personal pana in localitatea Maneciu,unde daca sunteti norocosi puteti calatori pana la Cheia cu microbuzul din prima varianta,daca nu,va trebui sa luati ocazie,calatorind 20 km pana in localitatea amintita.

Ar mai fi si a treia varianta,daca aveti masina personala si bine inteles daca cunoasteti traseul.Noi am ales prima varianta,am calatorit in conditii bune ajungand la timp.

Primul lucru ce ne-a atras atentia atunci cand am ajuns a fost aerul tare si curat,explicatia fiind padurile dese din localitate. Ospitalitatea personalului din hotelul unde noi am rezervat camerele a fost pe masura asteptarilor noastre,de altfel si conditiile si igiena de apreciat,insa ne-am comfruntat cu o problema…mancarea din restaurantul hotelului nu era pe placul tuturor.Asa ca am ales restaurantul Zaganu,aflat la 500 m de hotelul unde noi eram cazati,si unde am gasit o gama variata de preparate culinare si bauturi alcoolice si nealcoolice “ca la mama acasa”.

Activitati Turistice

Una din activitatile turistice ce le-am desfasurat pe parcursul sederii noastre acolo a fost o provocare aceea de a urca la muntele Rosu,un loc superb,cu o cabana frumoasa,unde ne-am distrat practicand diverse sporturi de iarna.

De altfel in localitate puteti vizita urmatoarele obiective turistice de mare interes:

-          Manastirea Cheia,un lacas de cult minunat,cu picturi frumoase,un loc in care primiti liniste sufleteasca si binecuvantare.

-          Muzeul Florilor de Mina un alt obiectiv de neratat,unde puteti admira frumusetea pietrelor naturale pretioase si semipretioase,si de unde sigur veti pleca cu o impresie buna si suveniruri pe alese.

-          Muzeul Naturii Vaii Superioare A Teleajanului,care expune publicului vizitator toate animalele,pasarile si insectele existente in zona,iar ce ne-a impresionat cel mai mult a fost existenta in fiecare camera a unui anotimp.

In concluzie,a fost o vacanta minunata,distractiva dar si relaxanta iar localitatea Cheia este un loc in care poti uita de unde ai venit insa nu poti uita de unde ai plecat.

Rent A Car from EuroCars Romania and drive to Prahova Valley

The easy way to arrive in Prahova Valley is by renting a car from Bucharest / Otopeni Airport/ Baneasa Airport or to rent a car from Ploiesti. Usually to road is crowded and put your patience to test, but definitely worth the effort and your reward will come once you arrive at your destination.

The Prahova Valley is a wide, deep cleft carved by the Prahova River into the granite of the southern Carpathians. It is a corridor between Transylvania and Walachia, an ancient route that is traversed today by the railway and a major road. Its breathtaking scenery and pervading sense of history make it a major tourist attraction. The Prahova Valley, in the realm of the Bucegi Massif, is an unforgettable display of the splendors nature most generously holds out. The impression is overwhelming when stepping in its kingdom. The bare Bucegi Massif towers over the forested Prahova Valley with their splendid, various forms. The lines drawn on the sky by their calm, simple crests are in harmony with the Furnica (2 103 m), Jepii Mici (2 148 m), Jepii Mari (2 071 m), Caraiman (2 284 m), Costila (2 498 m) and Vanturis (1 942 m) high peaks.

Prahova Valley highlights – What to See

In the complexity of the Prahova Valley landscape, next to the mighty mountains, stand out also the symbols of a permanent and eternal past materialized in the Sinaia and Predeal monasteries, in the majesty of the Peles Castle in Sinaia is something you wont miss and in so many other witnesses of the past.

Considered to be one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, Peles Castle was the summer residence for Romania’s Kings. Built by King Carol I in 1883 the castle is a masterpiece of German-Renaissance architecture with an exquisite exterior, and is surrounded by fir forests and the towering peaks of the Carpathian range. Its 160 rooms are magnificent; lavishly decorated in ebony, mother of pearl, walnut and leather with crystal chandeliers, fine collections of sculptures, paintings and tapestries, stained glass windows and furniture. It is set within a large park with a statue garden in front. Further up the hill from the main palace is the smaller Pelisor Palace, built for Carol I’s son and decorated in the Art Nouveau style.

Sinaia

Sinaia is situated in the subalpine area and because it is surrounded by large forests of beech and fir, it provides a very clean and fresh air that contains no dusts or smoke. Sinaia is a resort for all ages, in all seasons. It is the ideal resort for the winter sports: ski, snowboarding, sledging, bobsledging on specially built slopes for tourists and contests. There are modern cable cars for the mountain access or ski slopes access.

Also we recommend transfer with tele-cabin at 2000 m altitude to Bucegi Mountain, walking to Sinaia Monastery (where you can find some old icons and old scrolls from the XVII century) and a trip to “Cota 1400″ where you can take the dinner in a lot of taverne with romanian traditional cuisine. Sinaia is one of a few European ski resort where you can find a royal castle, a great casino, 19th Century Hotels as Palace and a great place to spend quality time in clubs, or night clubs.

More Attractions : nice restaurants with Romanian and German specific, German Pub, Bars, Discos – Blue Angel Disco and Black Horse Disco are well-known, swimming pools, sauna and fitness center, billiard, table tennis, Sinaia Casino Palace having billiard and games is a big attraction.

The fancy houses and villas which were built by prestigious architects for the Romanian elite and the other monuments which are situated in parks full of flowers, gave the name of The Pearl of Carpathians to this locality. On an imaginary trip around the famous European palaces, Sinaia would definitely stand among them. All these sights of Prahova Valley and many others are worth seeing at any time of the year.

Busteni

Known as “the alpine paradise” and it is located at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains, the heart of hiking and climbing in the Romanian Carpathians. This resort is a favourite place for mountain lovers in any season. It offers access to 44 different trails in the Bucegi, Leaonta, Garbova, Piatra Mare and Barsei Mountains. Alpine skiing, beginner and advanced, and sledding can be found on natural, untended slopes. You can organize different kind of trips on trails with different levels of difficulty.

A cable car connect Busteni to Babele Chalet. Here you can find unusual rock formations which for many years have put the scientists from around the world to wonder if it is the work of an ancient civilization. Those wind-modeled stone shapes are known as the Sfinx and Babele. This location is considered to be one of special energy, one of earths energy poles. Don’t forget to visit also the Urlatoarea waterfall and the unique Monastery in the cave.

Above Busteni you can see The National Heroes Cross situated in Caraiman Valley, at 2291 meters. This cross was built in 1926 by King Carol in memory of the heroes from the First World War. The height of the cross is 40 meters and it’s the world largest construction of this kind, at this altitude.

Also you can visit here The Cesar Petrescu Memorial Museum, house which was built in Brancovenesc style or you can enjoy a theatre performance at cultural center Unesco.

Poiana Tapului

Situated in the middle of the way between Sinaia and Busteni, the locality Poiana Tapului offers the same spectacular views and fresh air as the rest of the resorts from Prahova Valley but goes ahead them in the serenity and tranquility necessary for a mountain rest owing to the lack of agglomeration.

Azuga

Azuga city and resort is situated between Sinaia international resort (12 km) and Predeal ski resort (6km) at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains ( Carpathians- Transylvanian Alps), elevation 1.110m. In the North-East part of town there is the largest ski facilities in this mountains: Sorica Slope – the biggest in Romania, and Cazacu slope. Ski chairs are on every slope, and at the bottom there are bars, restaurants, ski rentals and cottages.

Azuga and Busteni resorts are recommended for recovery treatment : anaemia, nervous asthenia, physical and intellectual strain.

Comarnic

In Comarnic, in Posada neighbourhood, you can visit the Matha Bibescu Castle.Today it serves as Restoration Centre for Art, and since 1992, inside the new wing there is the Cinegetic Museum of this kind in the country.The Comernic Cave is the biggest cave of Banat (the mountains area in the south western corner of Romania, north of the Danube) and it has three different levels. The tour shows most of the upper level, which is rich in speleothems.

On the way between Predeal and Sinaia, you can stop the car and make some shopping from some small boutiques with romanian traditional items and presents for your friends and family. Another beautiful place is at Posada pass. This used to be a strategic point in the past for the battles between us and the enemies of our country. It was the best way to conquer the battles because of the geographic position and the mountains that surround the region.

Predeal

Predeal could be your base for explore Prahova Valley, mountain trails hike and, in winter, for skiing down the Clabucet and Cioplea slopesand very sunny summers. Predeal Mountain Resort is situated in Transylvania-Romania, 25 km from Brasov, 147km (100miles) from Bucharest. The resort altitude is 1033 m, being Romania’s highest town.

Predeal is a magnet for skiers who want a vast choice of runs combined with the elegance of a truly cosmopolitan resort. The Casa Taraneasca restaurant at B-dul Libertatii 63 is the top place in town; Ceausescu used to dine here and it still serves up fine rustic cuisine such as pheasant soup. Alternatively, Mama Maria, Str. Eminescu 28 (closed Tues), serves good standard Romanian fare, or for those prefering to cater for themselves, there’s a food shop opposite the Hotel Carmen . The Fulg de Nea at Str. Teleferic 1, on the way to the Clabucet chairlift, has the best bar in town, and good food too. The only ATM in town is at the huge modern BRD building south of the centre.

Like Sinaia, Predeal too is a very appreciated romanian ski resort, restaurants with Romanian and German specific, German Pub, Bars, Discos The Office Disco a very appreciated and visited disco on Prahova Valley.

Other propose for Prahova Valley Tour is Curtea de Arges – about 130km northwest of Bucharest, Curtea de Arges is a town held dear by many Romanians. It was the former capital of Walahia in the 14th century, place of highly significant events and buildings for Romanian history.

Here you can visit the ruins of St. Nicoara church (late 13th century) and the church of St. Nicholas, one of the oldest churches in Walachia, with an exceptional ensemble of interior frescoes, witnesses to the rich history of these places.

Curtea de Arges is also a place of pilgrimage for many Romanians. Here stands a legendary church built in 1517 by Prince Neagoe Basarab and Lady Despina. This architecural jewel carries on the legend of Manole the Craftsman. He had to sacrifice his own wife, sealing her alive in the wall so that the construction would stand. This sad ballad tells that a masterpiece cannot be achieved unless hard work and great efforts are incorporated.

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to start with a fresh page!

EuroCars Romania