Overview
Ţimbalele (Dulcimer)
Piatra Craiului (ro)
Királykő (hu)
Königstein (de)
rising just east of the Făgăraş and Iezer mountains, is usually regarded as the east end of the Făgăraş group (part of the South Carpathians) and has always been regarded highly, which is reflected in the name of the mountains that translates as the Royal Rock, or King's Stone.
The Royal Rock is - in a nutshell - over a dozen kilometers long, narrow ridge of Jurassic limestone, which runs NNE to South like a stately sawtooth wave. Its sister range – a lookalike at the other, north end of the Carpathian arc – is the part of the Tatras called the Bela Tatras. Piatra Craiului's little sister inside the South Carpathians is the massif of Buila-Vănturariţa in the Căpăţînii Mountains, beyond the other, west end of the Făgăraş group. All these limestone mountains – thanks to their jaggedness – have remained fairly untouched by the pastoral economy that has shaped the landscapes of nearly all Carpathian ranges for centuries, if not millennia. No wonder Piatra Craiului is home to many a bear, wolf and lynx as well as endemic flower species, such as the pink named Dianthus callizonus.
 North Ridge: Ţimbalul Mare, 2177m |  North Ridge: western walls |  North Ridge in summer Far right: Piatra Mică |
The King's Stone is every Carpathian scrambler's dream. Those who prefer technical climbing also frequently scale its sheer limestone walls and towers, although the Bucegi Mountains, which sit about 20km to the south-east, are much more popular with climbers. Piatra Craiului is a compact mountain range, perfect for day hikes or climbs. Weather permitting, you can hike along the marked trail from a hut at the foot of the mountains (at 750 to 850m) up onto the crest whose highest summit, La Om or Piscul Baciului (Pásztor-csúcs/Hirtenspitze/Shepherd's Peak), is 2,239m high, and come back down within one long summer day. The main ridge trail is normally covered in two days. Talking of difficulty, the trail is mostly the British scrambling grade 1, and at a few spots grade 2. NB There is no water anywhere on or near the crest.
 Creasta Nordică, i.e. the North Ridge, on a January 24th  The western walls |
 Chamois  Deubel Holes  aka La Zaplaz |
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It is only intersected by two marked trails running across the ridge (from its west foot to the eastern foothills): Plaiul Foii-Padina Popii-Cabana Curmătura near its north end, and Plaiul Foii-Refugiul Grind near its center (and its highest summit). The latter trail forms a dividing line between what is called Creasta Sudică and Creasta Nordică, that is to say the North and the South ridges of Piatra Craiului. This is a split for convenience as there is no natural divide between these areas. What is meant by the main ridge trail here extends between the passes (pass = şa/şaua) of Crăpăturii in the north and Funduri in the south. In summertime, in good weather conditions, no heavy pack on one's back, a hike along the marks (which traverse the most difficult parts of the crest) takes over 10 hours. However, the actual length of the whole main ridge, including the southernmost section, is nearly 25km – twice as much as the length of the main ridge trail as depicted above.
 South Ridge in April |  East face south of La Om |  South Ridge: mid-autumn |
The waymarked route within the northern chunk of the South Ridge (primary image) is more exposed, therefore it is often considered to be a little bit more difficult than the marked path along the North Ridge, which is in fact harder to scale if you are feeling like sticking to the crest proper all along the way (no chance without the necessary gear). The west half of the trail that forms the division line is a scenic route known as La Lanţuri ("Chains"), passing by some beautiful limestone arches at a spot called La Zaplaz. The west face of Piatra Craiului is an imposing wall whose highest parts are virtually inaccessible for non-technical climbers, except for a few routes, such as La Lanţuri (marked with red and white stripes, secured with metal cables at several spots) and a couple of unmarked paths reaching UIAA grade II, that is to say more or less YDS 5.2 or perhaps 5.3 in terms of technical difficulty. (In wet conditions the limestone gets very slippery and hazards can increase drastically.) This western flank of the mountains is cut by steep ravines, elaborately decorated with thousands of limestone walls and towers, among which you can get lost easily. The east face is much gentler except for a couple of places, such as the northernmost section of the South Ridge. The northeast edge of the mountains, several hundred meters lower (1,816m) but no different in shape from what runs to the south-west from it, is named Piatra Mică, i.e. the Little (Royal) Rock and towers right over the town of Zărneşti.
East face of the South Ridge in winter.
East face of the South Ridge in summer.
National Park & Red Tape
The Royal Rock Bear
The mountains have been designated a National Park so you are only allowed to camp at the campsites by the huts. If you get caught off the waymarked trail, you are likely to incur a fine of several hundred euros! Here's more about the Park rules
Garofiţa Pietrei Craiului, i.e. Dianthus callizonus - an endemic species
The chamois
When To Go
On the South Ridge in April
In wintertime relatively few people go climbing in Piatra Craiului, on the other hand, among those few people the percentage of SP members seems to be a little higher, not to mention the percentage of SP dogs.:) In June there can still be plenty of snow in the couloirs and ravines. In July and August, the trails can get crowded in places. July can be rainy, depending on the year. Late summer and the first half of autumn seem to offer the best chance of your enjoying whatever snowless fun you have come for.
- mid-May video: up Ciorânga Canyon (4 parts)
- June trad climbing: photo-TR plus a video at the very end
Weather Forecast
The summer rain's over.
Rescue Team & Guides
The national Salvamont dispatcher is: 0 salvamont or 0725 826668
| Area covered | Rescue team | Name | Phone number |
A rescue team member's huskies
You can hire a guide, such as this.
Accommodation
Refuge Lehmann on Vf. Ascuţit (Sharp Peak), 2150m, in the N part of the N Ridge
In summertime, finding accommodation at the foot of Piatra Craiului is not difficult. There are several huts (in winter they are usually packed with people), often with an adjacent camping ground, around the mountains. The town of Zărneşti offers a range of guesthouses. The mountains are dotted with characteristic refuges, most of which look like halved soccer balls. These refuges are unmannned, rudimentary and unlocked. They offer shelter if the weather gets foul or if it's getting dark and the hut/campground is still a long way away. Two of the refuges are located on the main ridge, both at above 2,000m. The first huts and refuges in Piatra Craiului were built toward the end of the 19th century by the Siebenbürgischer Karpaten Verein: More about the history on the NP page as well as on SP.
 Curmătura Hut in the background |  Hut owner's double bear hug |  Refuge at Grind Saddle and nearby La Om at 2239m |
The most convenient base for the North Ridge area is a place called Plaiul Foii, where a hut has stood for over a century and where today there are several facilities in which rooms/beds can be rented, plus a campground where one can pitch the tent (do not count on peace and quiet). For the South Ridge area, Cabana Garofiţa Pietrei Craiului (cabana = hut) can be a nice place to stay. The most convenient hut for Piatra Mică is no doubt Cabana Curmătura at 1470m, the only problem being the quality of service and cleanliness, of which there have been some not very enthusiastic opinions in recent decades, so to some a cozy guesthouse in Zărneşti may be a more appealing option.
Foot of the west wall down below; Plaiul Foii on the left
Getting There
NNW gate
- Romanian Railways (improved greatly over the last few years):
Braşov-Zărneşti and Zărneşti-Braşov timetables - German Railways (all Europe covered)
- Romania's roads - from Bucharest, follow E60 (DN1) to Sinaia, then past Sinaia to Predeal, where you should turn off onto DN73A leading to Râşnov
- Bucharest airports
Zărneşti
The very top of La Om a.k.a. Piscul Baciului, 2239m
Maps & Books (plus a Movie:))
Freezing in September
:-(
- online map - names in Romanian (and a few in Hungarian)
- another map online - easier to see the whole area
- 3D map - click a few times on the"C" in the "Bucegi", then a few times a bit to the left of the "B"
- interesting online map by an SP member
- paper 1:30,000 to be purchased online - published in 2001, on the back the marked trails described in English
, 2009 edition available here - click Harti on the left - paper 1:70,000 Piatra Craiului and other nearby ranges - to be purchased online
- The Mountains of Romania by James Roberts
- Transylvania by Lucy Mallows
- You may have seen these mountains before:
This movie was made around the Piatra Craiului.
Le Slaubeause
- "Piatra Craiului" by Emilian Cristea, 1984 edition, not published anymore. Contains detailed routes (marked and unmarked) description and topos.
- Climbing guidebook Romania by Dimension Vertical (Gerald Krug)
Bucegi skyline
East face of the North Ridge
More External Links
W foot of S Ridge
Head in the clouds
- A few dozen pix - to view them full screen as a slide show, click the arrow in the bottom right-hand corner
- video TR (4 parts)
- Királykő by SP member Peterbud
- Rockclimbing in Romania
- A few climbing topos
- alpinet.org
Piatra Craiului - home to the lucky bear and the lucky man
 January 2009; Andreea: lots of photos, experience, up-to-date info |
 August 1978; Jacek: layout, 1 photo, good memories, research |
