LOCATION

  Within the Romanian Carpathians, lies the rock fortress of the Bucegi Mountains, dominating the eastern sector of the Prahova Valley, which separates them from the Baiului Mountains.

RELIEF

  The eastern side, which rises above the Prahova Valley, is considered as the main range of Bucegi Mountains. The western wall is called Strunga and the northern sector which includes Omu Peak (2505m) spreads a series of ridges.

The main range
  Set between the deep depressions of the Prahova Valley and Ialomiţa Valley, the features of the main rainge are completely opposite: the abruptness of the eastern wall and the flatness of the Bucegi Plateau. The first is characterized by steep and abrupt rocks, measuring an altitude difference of 500-900m, on a total length of over 10km.
  The last, the Bucegi Plateau, with a width of 1-3km, covers an area of 10km, with an average altitude of 1600-2400m and a N to S slope angel. The plateau is run across by the depression of Izvorul Dorului, which sprigs from under the Babele Ridge.
  The Izvorul Dorului Valley, along with the ravine that forms the origin of the Jepilor Valley separates the two parallel ridges: to the east - the Prahova Ridge and to the west - the Ialomiţa Ridge.

Geology
  The Bucegi Mountains are a large synclinal spreading on a north to south direction. They contain Mezozoic sedimentary deposits, laid in the transgression period, over a crystalline base layer. Situated near the eastern edge of the massif, in the lower sector of the ridge, over Cretacic deposits, marn and gritstones, lay the Bucegi conglomerates.

FLORA AND FAUNA

  On a surface of almost 30sqkm, the Bucegi gather over 1185 vascular plants, which make about one third of Romania's total. Like any other mountain area, the Bucegi have different floors of vegetation: the forests of beech, spruce and fir; then the higher mountain floor of shrubs and bushes and last, the alpine floor with open meadows. There are several plants that grow here and are under law protection: the edelweiss, Nigritella rubra, Gentiana lutea, etc.

Natural reservations in Bucegi

• The most important reservation stretches along the exterior walls of the massif, has one end near Sinaia and the other one near Şeaua Strunga. It includes: the entire eastern wall, the northern ridges up to Ţigăneşti Valley, Gaura Mount, the upper basin of Gaura Valley and the Gutanu and Grohotişu Mountains, the shrubs on the Piatra Arsă Plateau, on Jepii Mari and Jepii Mici.
• The "Ialomiţa Cave" reservation in Cocora Mountains, which includes the Ialomiţa cave and its surroundings: Urşilor Gorges, Peşterii Gorges, Horoaba Valley and a part of the subalpine region of Mount Bătrâna.
• "Zănoaga" reservation in Zănoaga Mountains.

  As fauna, there are many specimens of mammals such as: deer, stag, wild boar, wolves, lynx and bears. Along the Jepii Mici and Grohotişu you are able to admire the beautiful specimens of chamois. The skies are natural habitat for the mountain cock, the grey and brown eagle, etc. The Ialomiţa River is very rich in trout and carp.

  In the period before the Second World War and of the royal family's abdication, Sinaia held the status of favorite holiday destination for the Romanian aristocracy. The town emerged around the Monastery of Sinaia (1695), which is a replica erected through the initiative and great efforts of Mihail Cantacuzino (son of Constantin Cantacuzino), after the "St. Helene" Monastery on Mount Sinai. Throughout the centuries, it has become the town's spiritual symbol.

  A chain of mountain resorts has developed along the eastern wall of the Bucegi Mountains: Breaza, Sinaia, Poiana Ţapului, Buşteni, Azuga and Predeal -in Braşov County, this being known as the most picturesque tourist area in Romania.
  Among the elements that turned into such a popular tourist spot are: a dense network of marked trails, with numerous extensions, the cable railway of Sinaia - Cota 1400 - Vârful cu Dor and Buşteni - Babele - Ialomiţa Cave, which ease the tourist access towards the Bucegi Plateau, where nature has shaped bizarre forms like the Sfinx and Babe; also quite accessible are the ascent trails to Omu Peak (2505m) and Caraiman (2384m) etc.

Sinaia - Winter sports
  The county's infrastructure is well developed and prepared for the intense practice of winter sports:

• A bobsleigh slope, measuring 1500m in length (13 turns and an altitude difference of 132m);
• Ski slopes of various levels: Carp-2500m, difficult; Papagal- 2140m, difficult; Tourist-2800m, intermediary level;
• Sleigh slopes;
• A modern road, which allows driving up to 1400m;
• The cable railway, rendered in use in 1971, with 35 seats (Sinaia - Cota 1400) and 28 seats (Cota 1400 - Vârful cu Dor Cabine, situated at 2000m in altitude);
• The chair railway, which links the centre of Sinaia to the Bucegi Plateau
    Sinaia is virtually the starting point for the cabins in Bucegi:Cota 1.500; Vârful cu Dor- 2.000 m alt.; Cuibul Dorului-1.200 m; Babele-2.206 m; Omu-2.505 m; Padina-1.525 m ; Piatra Arsă -1.950 m, Peştera-1.610 m and in Baiului Mountains: Piscul Câinelui-950 m etc.

Tourist Sights

• The Peleş Castle was built during 1873-1883, by King Carol I de Hohenzolleren, the first king of Romania, who wanted to have his personal summer residence at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains. Both the first floor (1873-1883), as well as the second one (1896-1914), have been built in the German Renaissance style, following the plans of Vienese arhitect Wilhelm von Doderer and of the German architect Johann Schultz from Lemberg (Lovov), with transformations added by the Czech architect Karinel Liman between 1896-1914. Its exterior architecture belongs to the German Renaissance, with Italian influences in the style of the amphitheatre like terraces, the artesian wells, balustrades, marble vases and statues sculpted by the Italian Romanelli of Florence, which are typical for the Italian Renaissance.
    It has 160 rooms and an imposing 66m central tower. The Castle was a royal residence (until 1947) and today it hosts a museum with paintings, sculptures, carpets, furniture and tapestry.
  
• The Pelişor Castle(Little Pelisor) - situated next to Peleş Castle, initially destined for prince Ferdinand I, is today a museum.
  
• The Sinaia Monastery - with the old church, under the "Assumption of the Virgin" patronship (15m in lenght and 6m in width). Even today, after 300 years of existence it continues to stand as the spiritual symbol of the town.