Large curtains of ice covered the slopes bordering the Cheile Jiețului in Hunedoara (video), one of the most spectacular gorges in Romania, crossed by a national road.
Cheile Jietulu from Hunedoara. Photo: Daniel Guță. TRUTH
In winter, the sun's rays barely penetrate the deep valley, bathed by the waters of the Jieț river from Hunedoara, so the icicles that adorn the pass at the foot of the Parâng mountains last for a long time.
Above them, on the steep, forest-covered cliffs, black goats can sometimes be seen. The wild animals go down to the river Jieț, or cross the streams that form waterfalls and ice steps, in the steep fall into the Jieț.
Higher up, on the ridges of the mountains, the forests hide wild places almost untouched by humans, and in some places, at the end of little-known paths, open the small plateaus on which the momarlans – the people of the mountain – have established their stables and homes.
Cheile Jietului, to be seen in Romania
In some places, the ice curtains formed in Cheile Jietului in Hunedoara are thick and resistant, and some locals use them as places for climbing. But climbing is a risky activity that requires proper equipment and professional guidance.
“The Jietulu gorges in Hunedoara are like a land of ice, which you cross with emotion. We also had new emotions, passing under so many huge icicles, but in the end we were delighted with the appearance of them, the forest, the water, the two waterfalls and the mountains”, says a local woman from Petroșani.
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Cheile Jiețului from Hunedoara Photo Daniel Guță THE TRUTH (84) jpg
The Jiețului gorges in Hunedoara are crossed by the National Road 7A, which goes up from Valea Jiului to Transalipna, the highest road in Romania.
The road starts from the vicinity of the towns of Petrila and Petroșani, crosses the gorges for about 11 kilometers and then climbs to another spectacular land, the Parâng Mountains. Travelers can continue their journey on Transalpina, towards Rânca, or towards Obârsia Lotrului, through other spectacular places, which winter makes difficult to cross. The beauties of the mountain land are shared between the borders of Hunedoara, Alba, Sibiu, Vâlcea and Gorj counties.
Cheile Jietului, on the road to Transalpina
The Jietulu gorges in Hunedoara stretch over an area of about ten hectares, at the foot of the Parâng and Șureanu Mountains, near the towns of Petrila and Petroșani.
“The Cheile Jietului nature reserve, almost 11 kilometers long, with steep cliffs, waterfalls, mountain trails, a road that allows access to Transalpina. Little traveled and explored, new caves can also be discovered in the area”informs Petrila City Hall.
The Jiețu gorges in Hunedoara are crossed by the National Road 7A, which, after leaving behind the settlements in the Jiului Valley, accompanying the Jieţ stream towards its source, slips through the steep and rocky slopes, adorned with dense forests.
Waterfall in Cheile Jietului. Photo: Daniel Guță. TRUTH
From place to place, small waterfalls, such as the Bride's Veil and the Forest Shower, disturb the tranquility of the forest's hidden land, and in lesser-known places, caves and unexplored waterfalls enhance the charm of the wilderness.
In other places, rock walls are sought after by rock climbers, and in winter even frozen waterfalls are conquered by climbers.
From Cheile Jiețului, the paths go up to Curmăturile Jiețului and Muncelul Jiețului, where there are several archaic settlements from the Momârlani Land, the ancient inhabitants of the Jiului Valley.
In the Jiului Valley from Hunedoara and nearby many other deep valleys, the Jietului Gorge from Hunedoara competes in beauty. Here you can explore Cheile Tăii, Cheile Crivadie, Defileul Jiului and Cheile Băniței.
