Bărăști

Issues: You might encounter some orientation difficulties on the Sălașu de Sus – Bărăștii Hațegului section.

Highlights: The medieval St. George Church in Sânpetru; In the village of Ohaba-Sibișel, you will find an old water mill and a water wheel.

The route starts in the center of Sălașu de Sus, crosses the river, passes the town hall, and leaves the village on a cobblestone road (likely to be paved soon). It crosses the commune's pasture and climbs a ridge from where it continues on a dirt road (photo 1, 2) to a pond from which you can admire some peaks of the Retezat Mountains. From the pond, you return to the ridge (5 min) and follow the dirt road descending into Bărăștii Hațegului village. From here, turn left through the village on an asphalted road until the entrance of Săcel village, where on the left are the ruins of Baron Nopcsa's mansion.

Pass through Săcel village, and at the first fork after crossing the river, turn left towards Sânpetru. At the intersection by the new church in Sânpetru, follow the left road to reach the medieval church in Sânpetru after a few hundred meters. From here, follow the asphalt road on the right (or the road just in front of the church, if you decide to visit it), and upon exiting the village, enter the 'Dinosaur Valley,' known for numerous fossil discoveries on the valley's slopes and for the thematic route of the same name established by the Dinosaur Geopark – Țara Hațegului. You pass by the dinosaur hill and granite fields, while a beautiful panorama of the Retezat Mountains opens ahead. The road continues to Sibișel, then Ohaba Sibișel where on the right you will find an old water mill and on the left a water wheel. Cross the bridge at the end of the asphalt road and the route follows a dirt road next to the last houses in the village. You cross a stream and the path continues 150m uphill, then enters an asphalt road leading to Nucșoara village (there are plans to pave the section between Ohaba Sibișel and Nucșoara). At the main road in the center of Nucșoara village, turn left and follow the asphalt road back to Sălașu de Sus.