God’s Palm

Even though it has a rather unpleasant sounding name, Ponorului Blind Pass is one of the most beautiful places in Romania. A shepherd once called this place God’s Palm. Those who love to get lost in nature, disconnect from technology and leave behind the urban rush and stress, will find this place an oasis of peace, and will fall in love with the gorgeous landscape that seems to belong in a fairytale.

The place is one of the most attractive regions in Hunedoara County, and part of the Gradistea Muncelului National Park in the Sureanu Mountains. Even though they don’t have a very impressive altitude, the Sureanu Mountains are endowed with gorgeous landscapes. This place is full of history: one of the older Dacian fortresses, Sarmisegetuza Regia is found in the area. The archaeological site and the ruins silently tell the story of culture, lifestyle and habits of bygone people.

The beauty of this basin is further enhanced by the rich and varied landscape, with rocks poking out from the sides of the hills and vast evergreen and deciduous forests. The river Ponor crosses the plain and disappears in the mountains, and opens the entrance to the caves Sura Mare and Sura Mica. The landscape is dotted with herds of sheep that spend the summer in this area.

To get to this wonderful place, you need to take the highway Hateg-Petrosani. After you leave the town of Ponor, turn left to the village Federi. From the village, you can walk or ride a bicycle to Ponorului Blind Pass; the trip takes about two hours one way. The path goes uphill and an amazing landscape opens up as you ascend to the pass.