Forests, water and mountains give Poiana Mărului its varied character. The Poiana Mărului Reservoir lies in a landscape shaped by coniferous and deciduous forests. Cascada Șucu is a notable spot by the water: it lies in Poiana Mărului at an altitude of 700 metres between the Țarcu Mountains and Muntele Mic. It is on the river of the same name, immediately before it flows into the lake. There are several waterfalls on the Șucu, including Cascada Șucu. Here, a single waterfall is part of a broader setting of river, lake and forested landscape.

Hiking trails with different routes

The Poiana Mărului–Piatra Scorilei–Muntele Mic Tourist Complex hiking trail begins at Poiana Mărului railway station. It follows the valley for about one kilometre before climbing the right-hand slope of Scorilei. Another landmark along the route is Poiana Boboraței, at the upper edge of the forest. From there, the horizon opens to the north, east and southeast, with views of the Țarcu Mountains. From Poiana Boboraței, the walk to the mountain lodge complex on Muntele Mic takes almost two more hours. The actual duration depends on conditions and your pace.

Another hiking route runs via Buza Nedeii, the Poiana Nedeii summit, the Bistricioara summit and the Mătania (Nedeia) summit. It connects Poiana Mărului with the main ridge of the Țarcu Mountains. The first route starts with a valley section of about one kilometre and takes almost two more hours from Poiana Boboraței to the mountain lodge complex; the second leads over several summits to the main ridge of the Țarcu Mountains. If you are planning a hike, bear in mind that trail conditions can change.

Monastery, pilgrimage and local interpretations

The “Nașterea Sfântului Ioan Botezătorul” Monastery in Poiana Mărului is a convent. The foundation stone for the monastery chapel was laid on 24 June 2013. Another religious tradition is the annual pilgrimage with the wonder-working icon of the Mother of God. It has been held since 2008 on the eve of the patronal feast of the Poiana Mărului skete. Check the specific dates and arrangements before visiting.

The mountain ridges also bring together natural and cultural themes. Pietrele lui Scorilo lies at an altitude of 1,200 metres on the northern slope of the Muntele Mic massif and is considered a Dacian pagan altar. On Muntele Mic, a monument erected in 1936 commemorates the heroes of the Banat who fought for reunification. These places add cultural points of interest to the hiking trails, though they do not share the same theme: Pietrele lui Scorilo represents a local historical interpretation, while the monument is a specific memorial.

Plan your journey and stay

The road to the Poiana Mărului holiday resort is via the DN68 Caransebeș–Hațeg; a turnoff is near the commune of Zăvoi. Check the route and road conditions before setting out. When choosing accommodation, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on during your stay: the hiking trails offer different route options, while the reservoir, waterfall and monastery appeal to other interests. This lets you tailor your holiday-apartment search to the things that matter for your trip, without combining the different places and activities into a fixed itinerary.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Liubcova, Zlagna, Novákfalva, Brebu, Kohldorf, Păltiniş, Băile Herculane, Berzasca.

Go to the main travel overview: Caraş-Severin.