Water has shaped this cave like a fortress – Cetățile Ponorului means "the Citadels of the Ponor" – with a huge portal, three deep sinkholes and viewing balconies above them.
The cave
Cetățile Ponorului is one of the most spectacular karst complexes in the Apuseni Mountains. The entrance portal is more than 70 m high and 30 m wide and opens onto three sinkholes, in a hollow about 300 m deep. The cave is around 7.5 km long, of which about 2 km is an active gallery with a river running through it.
The sinkholes are linked by metal ladders, and from their rims four wooden balconies let you look into the depths without climbing down to the river.
Getting there from the guesthouse
From Vârtop the journey takes about 1 h 20 min, by forest road and footpath (10.6 km). The official Apuseni Natural Park trail starts at Cabana Padiș (the Padiș mountain hut) and goes through Glăvoi. It is waymarked with a blue dot, takes about 5 hours and is rated difficult.
Good to know
- The trail is off-limits in winter. Go between late spring and autumn.
- The ladders and rocks are wet and slippery; hiking boots are a must.
- Combine the visit with a day on the Padiș Plateau.