Vulcanul stins, Şumigu

Regotrans:

Timisoara-Resita: 7:35-8:26

Banatul de câmpie, a peaceful place with fields that have the best soil in the country, chernozem, appears undisturbed in its eternity, but in its depths swirl marshes and volcanoes that once shaped the current structure of the earth's crust through their activities. About all this, like any beautiful story, there are legends. Such a place is the Șumig Hill at Semlacu Mare (near the town of Gătaia), which had its period of glory and now appears as a mound of earth raised and green in spring, but towards which the elderly locals look with fear, because it is never known when the "giant" may awaken.

In the 13th century, to defend Banat against Tatar invasions, King Bela IV of Hungary erected several fortresses, including the Somlyo-Selacu Mare fortress, which was of particular strategic importance "as it was built on Șumig Hill (205 meters altitude) and thus dominated the surrounding territory up to Vârşeţ", say medieval historians.

One of the most beautiful legends about Șumig Hill tells of the "iron grass" that supposedly grows here, but is only visible on the night of Saint John's Day.

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TO REMEMBER:

ROAD SEGMENTS:

Rovinita Mare - Percosova = macadam

Şoşdea - Tormac = macadam + ballast + dirt (I struggled to pass with the trekking bike, as the mud was dry).

The rest of the road is asphalted.