Alpi Marittime meets Apuseni

The preparations for the two study visits between the Alpi Marittime Nature Park in Italy and the Apuseni Nature Park in Romania are under way. The two parks form the second Charter Partnership that was established in the framework of the EUROPARC project European CharterNet. Two study visits will enable representatives from each protected area to find out more about the sustainable tourism activities in both regions. Beginning of September the Alpi Marittime will visit the Apuseni for five days. We will keep you updated about the programme and outcomes of this first visit. The Alpi Marittime acts as a mentor in the partnership supporting and advising the Apuseni on its way towards the European Charter. Michela del Torchio in Italy and Paul Iacobas in Romania will assist the park administration as interns with the preparation and implementation of the study visit.

The Charter Partnership enables the exchange of expertise between a Charter Area and an interested protected area with the aim to start the Charter process in new countries and thereby enlarge the Charter Network - especially ot Eastern/Central Europe.

The Apuseni Nature Park

Located in the heart of Transylvania, and rather close to Cluj-Napoca, old university center, the area from the Apuseni Mountains presently included in the Apuseni Nature Park has been established in 2003 with a surface of 75.784 ha.

The Apuseni Natural Park of Mountains is guarded at north by the massive Vladeasa Mountain (more than 1800m high) and at west by the Curcubata Mare Peak with its 1849m. The central part of the region hosts one of Romania's most spectacular nature areas,  Padis, with beautiful touristic objectives such as Cetatile Ponorului, Focul Viu Cave or Barsa Pit. The eastern part of the Park is domintated by the Belis-Fintinele Lake which is the highest of a chain of four accumulation lakes on the Somes River, and is a beautiful location for fishing or boat trips. The enourmous forests are criss-crossed with thousands ofkilometers of forestry roads and trails, and filled with pristine natural areas, making this region perfect for hiking, biking and horseback-riding.

Caves are one of the main attractions in the Apuseni Mountains. There are thousands of them scattered all over the area. “Piatra Altarului” is considered by many to be the most beautiful cave in Europe“Pestera Vantului” is the longest in Romania, with 44km of galleries, while “Humpleu” has individual rooms extending up to 600m long and 50m high. Most of the caves can be visited with appropriate gear and specialized guides. The caves that are more accessible for tourists are “Pestera Ursilor” (Bear Cave), “Pestera Scarisoara” (Glacier Cave of Scarisoara), and “Pestera Ungurului” (Cave of the Hungarian).

Alpi Marittime Nature Park

The Alpi Marittime Nature Parkpis the largest Park in the region of Piedmont and one of the largest in Italy. Several peaks more than 3,000 m. high, lakes, grasslands, small glaciers, the abundance of Alpine fauna and of botanical species constitute a unique environmental heritage. It was created in 1995 from the union of Parco naturale dell'Argentera (established in 1980) with Riserva del Bosco e dei Laghi di Palanfré (established in 1979). The new and larger protected area covers 27,945 hectares and includes three valleys (Gesso, Stura, Vermenagna) and four towns (Aisone, Entracque, Valdieri, Vernante). Twinned with the French Mercantour National Park since 1987, it preserves an alpine area of 100,000 hectares which was awarded the "European Diploma for the Environment" in 1993.

The Park's high mountain landscape is characterized by the presence of more than eighty lakes. Each of these water stretches, where the surrounding summits reflect, has its particular features as far as shape, size, and color are concerned. Besides some very small and isolated lakes, such as the Valcuca and the Maledia, it is possible to find some very deep ones, like the Sella, which are particularly rich in fish.

The avifauna is extremely rich and varied, and it includes almost all the species typical of the Alpine chain, from the black grouse to the rock ptarmigan, and many migratory species.
There are seven couples of golden eagles living in the Park together with many other birds of prey, like the Bearded Vulture which has come back to Alpi Marittime thanks to a European reintroduction project.

Find out more about the parks:

Alpi Marittime Nature Park (I)

Apuseni Nature Park (RO)