Transylvania

Covasna

Alba County - Brasov County - Bistrita Nasaud County - Cluj County - Covasna County - Harghita County - Hunedoara County - Mures County - Salaj County - Sibiu County

Hotels in Covasna - Travel Agencies in Covasna

Other zones : Crisana and Banat - Dobrogea - Maramures - Moldova and Bucovina - Muntenia and Oltenia

     - geographical situation: in the central part of Romania, in the inner area of the Carpathic arch;
     - neighbours: in the north-Harghita; in the north-east-Bacau; in the east-Vrancea; in the south-east-Buzau; in the south-west-Brasov;
     - surface: 3,710 square km (respectively 1, 6 % of the country's surface);
     - population: 232,000 inhabitants;
     - towns: SF. GHEORGHE-capital of the county (with 67,000 inhabitants, on the bank of the Olt river, at the foot of the Baraolt Massif); Baraolt; Covasna; Intorsura Buzaului; Tg. Secuiesc.
     - relief: it belongs to the north-eastern sector of the Barsa Depression and is predominantly a mountain structure (60 %) including the Bodoc and Baraolt Mountains (in the south), most of the ήtorsurii and Bretcu Mountains (in the east) and prolongations of the Southern Harghita Mountains (in the north), of the Nemira, Vrancea (with Lacauti peak, 1,777 m), Buzau, Persani and Siriului Mountains (in the south). The low region (400-600 m) consists in depressions and tectonic corridors;
     - climate: it is moderate, with rather hot summers and frosty winters The local wind Nemira causes snowstorms and frequent thermic inversions during the cold season;
     - watercourses: they are represented by the Western Olt and the Raul Negru, its tributary on the left side, with other tributaries: Tarlungul, Zgonul-in the south, Casinul-in the north. A feature of this county are the mineral water springs, famous for their healing properties: Malnas, Bodoc, Bicsad.

- The Puciosul Cave-near Balvanyos, in the Puciosu Massif, with strong emissions of hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide, as a result of the volcanic activity a million years ago. This gas is highly noxious for people and animals alike. Very close there is a place called "Birds Cemetery";
     - Cave 9-(in the Varghis Gorges), with cave pearls and Neolithic pottery;
     - The Cave from Turia-with sulphur emissions.
    

- Valea Iadului (The Hell's Valley)-Turia, on the eastern side of the Bodoc Mountains, south of the Bixad-Targu Secuiesc road, interesting natural preserve due to its mineral water springs and mofettes (emissions of carbon dioxide, sign of a post-volcanic activity in these mountains);
     - The Varghis Gorges-they stretch east to the Persani Mountains on a length of 3 km. In their vecinity we find numerous caves and a preserve of daffodils.

     - Mestecanisul de la Reci-botanical preserve, situated in the meadow of the Raul Negru. The birch trees grow on a sandy land (sand dunes) where the scientists discovered rare vegetal and animal species. The lakes formed in this area, appreciated by fishermen, contribute to the originality of the forest.

- Covasna-(31 km away from Sfantu Gheorghe and 60 km from Brasov), permanent spa, of international fame, is situated at an altitude of 550-600 m (at the foot of the Western slope of the Bretcul Mountains). The post-volcanic mineralisations have given it springs, mineral mud and mofettes (emissions of carbon dioxide). The mineral water springs have considerable flows (there are more than 1,500 springs). The mofettes have a particular healing value and are scattered on a surface of 40 hectares. Covasna has a climate of mountain depression, with chilly summers and cold winters. The air is rich in negative ions. Among the treatment facilities of the spa, we could mention: the devices for mofettes, facilities for warm mineral water baths, for internal mineral water cure, devices for aerosols and inhalations, paraffin treatments. The spa also has a cardiology hospital and two children sanatoriums (recovery after cardiovascular rheumatism and hepatitis). One can visit the ruins of the Dacian fortress on the Dealul Zanelor and the strange geological preserve "Balta dracului"-"Devil's Swamp" (downtown), declared monument of nature, being an emission of mofette gas which has intercepted a water layer. Access: by train, the Covasna station on the Sfantu Gheorghe-Bretcu line, by road DN 11, Brasov-Bacau with deviation at Reci, DN 10 Sfantu Gheorghe-Targu Secuiesc through Reci.;
     - Balvanyos-(67 km away from Sf⮴u Gheorghe and 81 km away from Brasov), permanent spa, situated on the eastern slope of the Bodoc mountains (775-800 m in altitude). Among the treatment facilities, we can mention: devices for mofettes, for warm mineral water baths in tubs and pools, facilities for baths with plants, open air pools with mineral water. Here are organized trips to the ruins of the Pagans' Fortress, 10th-13th centuries, or to the interesting nearby caves (with concentrated emissions of carbonic acid and hydrogen sulphide). Access: by train-Targu Secuiesc station on the Sfantu Gheorghe-Bretcu line, then by road to the spa, by road DN 12 from Brasov or Miercurea Ciuc, until Bixad, then by local road;
     - Valcele-seasonal spa situated on the Baraolt massif (at an altitude of 695 m, 12 km away from Sf. Gheorghe and 25 km away from Brasov);
     - Sugag-seasonal spa, (at an altitude of 750 m, 9 km west of Sfatu Gheorghe);
     - Bodoc-permanent spa, (at an altitude of 550 m, 15 km north of Sfantu Gheorghe);
     - Biborteni-seasonal spa, (at an altitude of 490 m, 45 km north-west of Sfantu Gheorghe);
     - Ozunca Bai-seasonal spa, (at an altitude of 750 m, 12 km west of Malnas);
     - Malnas Bai-spa, on the Olt Valley, downstream of the Tusnad narrow path, at an altitude of 565 m.

     - The Fortress from Ilieni-(15th century), stone building which can be admired even today;
     - "The Fairies' Fortress"-Covasna, the ruins of the Dacian fortress of the 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.;
     - Rural Fortress-Aita Mare (16th century);
     - "Pagans' Fortress"-Balvanyos (13th century), only ruins in present;
     - Roman Camp-Bodoc (2nd century), only ruins;
     - "The Herecz" Fortress-Bodoc (13th century), only ruins;
     - "Miko" Castle-Olteni;
     - "Kalnoky" Castle- Miclosoara (16th century), in Renaissance style.

     - Roman-Catholic Church-Ghelita, valuable due to its age (1245), architectural style (late Romanesque) and inside wall paintings (painted in 1330);
     - Reformed Church-Sfantu Gheorghe (14th-15th century);
     - Church Fortress-Ghidfalau (13th century), in Romantic style;
     - Fortified Church-Biborteni (15th century), it was painted in Italian Renaissance style, preserving original fragments of the fresco;
     - Fortified Church-Olteni (15th century);
     - Fortified Church-Baraolt (1569);
     - Church-Aita Mare (1520-1541).