ED Refnr. 2767077
- Cozo Fantu - log cabin in the Transylvanian Carpathians.
A former shepherd's hut without any special comforts in the high meadows of the Cindrel Carpathians - rustic, romantic, remote, and with plenty of fresh mountain air for stressed lungs. A spring springs a stone's throw away, cheese and milk are available from the shepherd next door, the silence is absolute and the view stretches for miles across the Transylvanian highlands.
A good choice for gourmets who want to enrich their holiday in Romania with the deceleration of untouched mountain landscapes. And the perfect mountain hut holiday for nature lovers on the edge of civilisation.
The log cabin is located above the village of Fantanele, 9 km from the small town of Orlat and 25 km from Sibiu. It is not accessible by a normal car, so we will take you up there. The ascent takes one hour in an off-road vehicle and just under three hours in a horse-drawn carriage, and is an adventure to remember in both cases. Once at the top, Nicu (our mountain specialist) will cook a traditional shepherd's goulash in a cauldron on the campfire on request.
If you come by train or plane, we will pick you up from Sibiu; if you come by car, you can leave it with us in Vale. We will reload your luggage and off you go.
You can bring your own provisions or buy some in the shops or on the market square in the small town of Saliste. For shopping in the meantime, walk along the torrent below the hut to Orlat, where the shops are open until 9 pm.
The mountain hut consists of a porch, a living room/kitchen and a bedroom with a platform bed. The equipment includes: Blankets and bed linen, towels and tea towels, a gas hob, plenty of pots and crockery, washing utensils and washing-up liquid, barbecue, kettle and trivet, soap, matches, spices, salt + sugar.
You can cook on the hob, the wood-burning stove in the kitchen or on the fireplace in front of the hut. Two photovoltaic panels provide light in the evening, charge smartphones, laptops, etc. and supply a small fridge. Otherwise:
- Outhouse in a wooden shed instead of a water closet.
- Washing with spring water instead of a shower and washing machine.
- Fine views instead of TV.
- Cool cellar instead of air conditioning.
We will provide you with the latest hiking map of the Zibins mountains. Getting lost is unlikely even without this. In summer, sheep frolic in the mountain meadows, and on every second hill you will meet a shepherd leaning on his stick.
High meadows, wooded mountains and valley aisles as far as the eye can see. Windswept wooden huts and shelters, sheep, cows and horses. Starting point for an excursion to the mountain lake at Gura Raului or further up into the Cindrel mountains. Lying on the hill, chewing on a blade of grass, savouring nature and letting your thoughts come and go ...
At a glance:
- Mountain hut with 2 rooms for 4 people
- Veranda, cellar, barn, outhouse
- Wood-burning stove, gas hob, barbecue
- Small photovoltaic system
- Platform bed, blankets, pillows, kitchen equipment
- Season: 1 April to 20 October
- Pick-up from Sibiu included
- Minimum rental period: 1 week
- Surcharge from 5th person and for pets
- Ascent/descent in horse-drawn or off-road vehicle: (2x 58)
- Transfer from/to Sibiu included
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- CASA VALE - Holiday homes in a rustic shepherd's village at the foot of the Carpathians
We offer 7 very different types of accommodation in the pastoral village of Vale in the heart of Romania. On the one hand, far away from the pace and tone of the big cities, on the other just around the corner from Sibiu-Hermannstadt, the European Capital of Culture 2007.
The village nestles against the mountains of the Pre-Carpathians with a view of the Transylvanian plateau. No through traffic, in an absolutely quiet location and surrounded by the oldest primeval beech forest on the continent. After just a few steps, you will find yourself climbing up to the mountain meadows with their unique flora and fauna. Alternatively, you can use the central location for excursions in all directions, for example to the castles and fortified churches of Transylvania.
A good choice for lovers of special places who want to spice up their holiday in Romania with a touch of the past and a pinch of Transylvanian tradition. And perfect for anyone who would rather savour the serenity of unspoilt nature than splash around in the chlorinated pool of a 5-star hotel.
We are neither traditional private landlords nor trained tourism experts. We live in Vale and work together in a family-run construction company under whose direction all the holiday homes were built. These include two sophisticated villas, a shepherd's hut in the mountains and two former farms, which we have completely renovated over the course of nine years. Always with attention to detail, with respect for the traditional style of the area, but also with modern building materials and modern living requirements in mind. The result is a meeting of different times and cultures in seven feel-good oases, each in its own unique location, which we hope some of the achievements of civilisation will be able to avoid for a long time to come.
The holiday homes at a glance:
- Casa Crina - 200m² holiday villa - 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, living room with fireplace & kitchen, south-facing terrace, garden - 8-10 pers.
- Casa Pelu - renovated farmhouse with cosy attic and roof terrace - 3 rooms, eat-in kitchen, 1 bathroom - 6 pers.
- Casa Nicu - the 120-year-old house with the same flair - 1 room, kitchen-living room, bathroom, terrace - 2-3 pers.
- Casa Zollo - holiday home on the mountain - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room with fireplace & kitchen, terrace, gardens - 6-8 pers.
- Casa Zollo II - cosy one-room holiday flat - with bathroom, terrace, garden and panoramic view - 2-3 pers.
- Casa Lopo - former farmhouse with barn, terrace, garden - 2.5 rooms, eat-in kitchen, bathroom - 6 pers.
- Cozo Fantu - shepherd's hut in the mountain meadows without comfort - bedroom, kitchen-living room, spring, outhouse, panoramic view - 4 pers.
Each accommodation has a fully equipped kitchen for self-catering, fast internet via WLAN and TV with German programmes. A washing machine, central heating (tiled stove, gas boiler, solar system) and at least one terrace or veranda also come as standard. The villas also offer spacious bedrooms and living rooms with fireplaces and gardens with a car park and brick barbecue.
Pick-up from the railway station or Sibiu airport is included, and you can also order a hire car or farm produce from the village. Breakfast and traditional menus prepared by the most dedicated chef on this side of the Carpathians are also available.
We will accommodate you as a team and are always available to answer any problems or questions you may have. We may be able to give you a tip or two, but we have also mastered the art of discreet retreat. We cultivate an atmosphere of free thinking and equal co-operation.
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The pastoral village of Vale
lies in the wooded mountains of the Pre-Carpathians. A tarmac road touches the village, but for the most part it is a stone pavement and a beaten track up into the hills. Traditional structures and unpretentious hospitality have largely survived the onslaught of modernity. Sheep, horses and poultry are still part of the village landscape, and the farmers pick up their scythes and plant potatoes, corn and vegetables, which they preserve for the winter.
There is a small shop in the village, other shops, restaurants and an open market in the small town of Saliste, 2 kilometres away. What is missing here can be found in Sibiu (20 km) at the Zibins market, in retail outlets or in supermarkets such as Real, Kaufland or Lidl.
An excursion can take an hour or a day. It can take you to the hillside above the village for a few views of the valley or to the jumping fish in the mountain lake of Gura Raului. You might also be interested in the old town centre of Sibiu, a Saxon fortified church or a day trip along the highest motorway route over the Carpathians, the Transalpina. Many things are possible, here are a few examples:
The Marmelada outdoor pool is just a hill and a 20-minute walk away, as is the first of five lakes in the valley. In 15 minutes you are above the village, pass the Poiana Soarelui (sun glade) with its dozens of hand-carved wooden sculptures on the ascent and after just under two hours you reach the mountain meadows, with a unique view of the expanse of the Transylvanian Plain. A flora and fauna that is considered unique in Europe awaits you here. If you are not careful, you might stumble over lizards or salamanders and the mountain goats will laugh their heads off.
There are opportunities to climb up into the mountains in every village. A gravel road leads from Saliste (2 km) to the Crint high plateau, and from Sibiel (2 km) you walk along the torrent to a remote monastery in the middle of the forest, from where you continue into the mountain meadows. Sibiel is home to Romania's largest icon museum with reverse glass paintings.
Those with a sweet tooth are drawn to the mountain lake near Gura Raiului (12 km). It is fed by several streams and rivers, along which you can hike up into the mountains. The lake lies in a mountain hollow surrounded by forest. The water is clear, and in the evening you can light a fire and watch the fish jump for mosquitoes. The serenity of this place cannot be captured in a picture - but once you've been here, you won't forget it in a hurry.
If you want to go really high, you can choose between two motorable north-south passes over the Carpathians:
--- The Transalpina - at 2,145m the highest motorable route over the Carpathians, sometimes above the clouds. It starts just two villages away from Vale. Created by the Romans during their campaign against the Dacians, it was refortified during the
