Retezat National Park in Romania, Hunedoara

Introduction :
The Retezat National Park is located in the Hunedoara County of Romania in the Retezat Mountains near the city of Lupeni. Measuring over 380 square kilometres in area, the Retezat National Park is known for its glacier lakes that includes as many as 80 within the park with the biggest lake being the Bucara Lake and the deepest being the Zanoaga Lake. The park was often nominated as one of the seven natural wonders of Romania due to its expectional scenic beauty and was included in the international network of biosphere reserve of UNESCO in 1979. The park also shelters one of Europe’s last remaining primeval forest and largest single area of pristine forest in the continent.

Aerial view of the Retezat National Park and mountains

The Bucara Lake is the largest glacier lake among the 80 lakes in the park

Camping site near the Bucara Lake

History :
The Retezat National Park was first created in 1935 when the Romanian Government set aside an area of the Retezat Mountains to create the first ever national park in the country. In 1979, it was included into the international network of biosphere reserve in the Man and Bioshpere program of UNESCO before the national park was formally establish in 2000.

Beautiful flowers add further compliment to the scenic national park

The Lolaia Waterfalls located at the north of the park

One of the last remaining intact primeval forest in Europe

Getting there :
The nearest airport to the Retezak National Park is the Sibiu International Airport which is about 182 km away from the park which takes about 3 hours by car or bus to reach the destination.