Nera Gorge-Beusnita National Park

The 90,830-acre Nera Gorge -Beușnița National Park has been declared a protected natural area since 1990 and is located in the southwestern Carpathian Mountains of Romania, called the Banat Region. The complex landscape, characterized mainly by beech forests, rocky slopes and various shrublands, forms a well-established national park since 1990. The limestone substrate, the low altitude (150-1150 m), the temperate continental climate with sub-Mediterranean influences, along with the presence of thermophilic species, create interesting travertine formations, and the rivers and the waterfalls make the park quite famous.

15 km from Sasca Montană, where we set up base for a few days, is Sasca Română. Sisters in appearance and remoteness, these two villages were probably more famous 2000 years ago, when the Romans called this area “Centum putae”, meaning The region of a Hundred Mines. And if not, it would still be one of the most beautiful national parks in Romania where you can go chasing waterfalls!

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The legend says that, when Banat region was still under Ottoman occupation, a handsome and rich bey with blue eyes was hunting in the Flower Meadow. There, he met a local girl from the village of Potoc, who was guarding her grazing sheep. The young prince’s father did not approve of the love between the two young people, so he sent his servants to kill the girl. Fighting for his love, the young bey lost an eye in the battle. In that place, a small lake appeared, with waters as blue as the bey’s blue eyes: the lake of the Bey’s eye, and his tears turned into the Bey’s Spring.

Definition: Bey = a title given to senior officers and/or high officials of a city or province in the former Ottoman Empire