Where do you think the place in Romania is located with the cleanest air, most natural mineral springs and mountains as you see? No, not Breaza (really, who invented this legend?), Neither are the bathrooms from the memories of the parents, nor a ultra-promoted tourist area. It's a quiet corner of the world, called Bilbor. And if you haven't heard of him so far, stay quiet-we didn't know either.
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Bilbor 1
The truth is that I came across Bilbor more out of play. We have a strange (healthy) habit: from time to time, we play with the atlas. Evening. Each one with a finger (don't joke, it's serious!). We close our eyes, we walk on the map and someone says “stop”. And ready, we have a new destination. This time, Bilbor came out. I admit, I didn't know anything about the locality, but I gave a small “search” and … surprise! The most northern locality in Harghita, but with an exclusively Romanian population. Two villages-Bilbor and Răchitiș-about 3000 people and a lot of flour mountains around: Giurgeu, Călimani, Bistriței.
So far from Bucharest there are little under 400 km – just for an extended weekend. Only life has always put the curmes-and bad weather, as well as not to kiss, as well as other plans. Until December 1, when I said, ready! If it is still the day of Romania, let's celebrate it in the “Szekler County”, in the heart of Harghita.
We avoided the Prahova Valley (thank you, DN1A) and started for Brasov, then Covasna and Harghita, on a light road, with more and more white landscapes. After bilingual plates appear, fun becomes … linguistic. In Romanian he writes simply “bixad”, but in Hungarian it is “Sepsibüszád” – almost does not fit on the table.
We reach Toplița, then turn left to Bilbor. The road is freshly paved and snaps through a story forest. At night, with the headlights cutting the darkness, you feel that a deer can appear at any time in the middle of the road or that the forest moves slightly towards you. And when, after about 8 km, the valley opens, you have the feeling that you have arrived in Vâlcea … but in the Fantasy version, from the “master of the rings”.
Hills, mountains, fresh snow, big houses, warm people, animals, meadows – and, everywhere, springs with mineral water. They are not clear, so ideal is to talk to a local. If you are lucky to meet Florin-the host of a pension, off-roader, joke and very talkative-you will have a true guided tour of local springs and stories.
Water is something dreamy – slightly acidified, perfect for refined splaces and wood fire stories. The names of the springs are like fairy tales: Şeștina, Fundoaia, Vâlcănești, Raita. Some are arranged with “knowing” (wooden chisel), others look like Shrek's bathing – we speak!
Although it looks like an isolated place, Bilbor is very well developed: cable, concrete, schools, shops – yes, without Mega Image, but nobody cries. In the summer you can make serious laps through the mountains (Călimanii pass 2000m), winter-slopes, ski or bob with neighbor (each with what they are).
If you arrive, you can tick two special places:
- Saint Nicholas' wooden church – Old over 250 years old, cocked on a hill, with smoked beams and a lot of peace.
- Dobreanu Peak -Easy to climb and with a panorama that cuts your breath. From above, the bilber looks like a painting moved by snowflakes-or a Christmas globe by an excited child.
This is Bilbor: a place that does not boast, but it gives you everything. Clean air, good water, fine people, dream landscapes. And a strange feeling of good you take with you long after you have left.
