Lunca de Sus Commune combines ski slopes and a summer toboggan run with church and museum heritage. There is also a longer hiking route to a pilgrimage chapel and another chapel that hosts annual pilgrimages. This gives you a range of options when planning your trip: sporting activities, culture or a longer day of hiking. If you are looking for a holiday rental, first consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay.
SKIGYIMES and the summer toboggan run
The SKIGYIMES slopes are at an altitude of 1,060 metres and have a vertical drop of 160 metres. The SKIGYIMES complex is located on national road DN12A, which connects Miercurea-Ciuc with Comănești, near the Trotuș River.
Another activity is the summer toboggan run in Lunca de Sus. It is located in the commune and offers an adrenaline-fuelled ride. Its seasonal operating schedule may vary. If you are planning to visit the run during your stay, check in advance whether it will be operating during your travel dates.
Nature and hiking
A distinctive natural feature is the Munții Ciucului Natura 2000 site, which protects 14 species covered by nature conservation directives. The number of species covered by nature conservation directives may change. This protected-area aspect adds to the region’s sporting and cultural attractions.
The Bagolyvár–Szent Benedek Chapel route is 8 kilometres long, takes about 5 to 6 hours and has an elevation gain or loss of plus or minus 40 metres. It is classified as easy. The hike is recommended for families with children and grandparents; conditions and suitability may vary by season. The stated duration is a more useful planning guide for the hiking day than the distance alone.
Chapels and pilgrimages
Szent Benedek Chapel in Görbepataka is a local pilgrimage site for vows and lies along the route from Bagolyvár to the chapel. Another religious landmark is the Holy Spirit Chapel on Muntele Frumos. It is one of two religious buildings on the mountain ridge between Ciuc and Ghimeș, built in honour of the king who protected the border. Annual pilgrimages are held there in his memory; dates and arrangements may vary.
Parish church and ethnographic museum
The Roman Catholic St. Andrew’s Parish Church in Lunca de Sus dates from 1902. It was extended in 1977 and renovated and embellished inside and out in 1978. The dates mark two different phases of construction: first the extension, then the work on the interior and exterior. Marble plaques inside the church name its builders and the donor of the main altar.
At the ethnographic museum in Lunca de Sus, the traditional Csángó house reflects the way of life in the Ghimeș Valley. Visitors can see traditional furniture, rare items of clothing and household objects there. They can also try weaving and spinning; participation depends on local arrangements. If you would like to take part during your visit, check in advance whether these activities will be available during your travel dates.
Choose the focus of your stay
When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to weigh up the activities you have planned: are the SKIGYIMES slopes and the summer toboggan run your main focus, or would you like to set aside more time for the church and museum? A hike to Szent Benedek Chapel adds a longer day on the trail. This way, you can plan your accommodation around the kind of stay you want, rather than trying to fit every activity into a rigid schedule.
Discover more destinations: Comiat, Varsag, Lueta Commune, Păuleni-Ciuc Commune, Ciucsângeorgiu Commune, Corund, Capalnita, Zetea.
For the broader travel overview: Harghita.
