Cheile Sohodolului lies in the northern part of the village of Runcu. Access is via the DN67D; the road through the gorges can be travelled by car, bicycle or on foot. When planning, it is worth distinguishing the road route from the marked trails and the caves with restricted access.
Gorges, limestone and trails
The Valea Sohodolului area is considered a floristic reserve. Its plant diversity includes 345 vascular plant species from 71 families. Inelul Doamnei also offers a distinctive feature: the limestone formation was shaped over thousands of years by wind and changes in the terrain. A marked trail leads there; at a leisurely walking pace, it takes approximately one hour.
To reach Izbucul Jalesului, take the road of the same name, cross a small wooden footbridge over the JaleÈ™, and then follow a path. The access routes therefore differ: an approximate walking time is given for Inelul Doamnei, while at Izbucul the sequence of road, footbridge and path provides the directions. These are two different details for planning your time and do not combine into a single route.
Climbing and special access conditions
Cheile Sohodolului has numerous dedicated climbing routes. For climbing enthusiasts, this is a distinct focus alongside walking on the road through the gorges or taking the marked trail to Inelul Doamnei. The activities differ in kind: a road section, hiking trail and climbing route are not interchangeable outings.
Toaia Dracilor Waterfall can be reached from Cheile Sohodolului through the Cheile Gropului cu Apa canyon. There is no path there; a guide is recommended for continuing along the streambed. This is an important condition when planning a visit to this destination and makes access clearly different from the marked trail to Inelul Doamnei.
Peștera Popii, at the entrance to Cheile Sohodolului, contains black anthropomorphic rock paintings. A clear access restriction applies to caves in Cheile Sohodolului and Muntele Pleșa: they are not open to the general public and can only be visited together with knowledgeable members of caving associations. Bear this in mind when planning cave visits.
Local history and cultural heritage
The Maria Apostol Memorial House is in the centre of Runcu. It displays personal belongings of the folk singer, traditional objects from the Gorj region, and her “Floarea din grădină†trophy. The village centre is also home to the ruins of a medieval structure dating from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Another trace of history is the archaeological settlement at La Cruce. It is attributed both to the Bronze Age Coțofeni culture and to the Geto-Dacian period of the 3rd to 2nd centuries BC. Along with the medieval ruins and the memorial house, it presents a range of historical themes that can be considered separately when planning your trip.
When looking for a hotel in Runcu, choosing your main focus can be a practical starting point: would you like to include Cheile Sohodolului and its climbing routes, the approximately one-hour trail to Inelul Doamnei, or the memorial house and ruins in the village centre? This way, you can tailor your search to the sights that matter most for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Țicleni, Tismana, Dobriţa, Ţânţăreni, Rânca, Muşeteşti, Polovragi, Aninoasa.
For the broader travel overview: Gorj.
