The Roșia Trail
Start and finish: Budeşti (village centre);
Reference points: Budeşti – Râul Mare – Gura Râielor – Roşia Monastery;
Distance: 15.7 km (round trip); Elevation difference: 250 m; Trail grade: maximum – 16.7%; average –3%;
Difficulty level: M-D
Anyone seeking to learn about Budeşti will find out that in this village on the Cosău there are two old wooden churches, the one in Josani being a UNESCO monument, authentic households, and many places which recall the name of the legendary Pintea the Brave. Then, one knows that the soils of Budeşti hide “treasures” of gold, once exploited in the mines now closed. The Roşia Trail reveals of the picturesque quality of this village, leading us through the landscape offered by the volcanic caldera, meadows, and little wooden houses perched on hills, all the way to the Roşia Monastery and the mouth of the springs which form the river called Râul Mare. The route has a drawback: it is solely uphill. But that always comes bundled with a big advantage: the return is an easy descent, all you have to do is sit on the bike saddle and exclaim, “This is so cool!”
Highlights:
The wooden church of Budești Susani (1760)
Enchanting landscape
Traditional households
The church of the Roşia Monastery
