TOURISTIC ATTRACTIONS IN THE AREA
Valea Draganului (Dragan Valley) seems at first sight nothing more than picturesque area but when you start exploring, it quickly reveals its true charm and beauty. Traverssed by the Dragan River, it boasts plateaus, hills, waterfalls and mountains and it abounds in touristic objectives.
DRAGAN DAM AND LAKE (FLOROIU)
The Dragan Lake with its dam is truly a sight to behold, placed in an exceptional natural setting. The Dragan / Floroiu Dam is the most important touristic attraction in the area and it constitutes the best belvedere point. The dam is set marginally lower to the river confluence, the narrow valley having provided the optimal conditions for the setting of this kind of concrete dam, due to the geological composition of rocks on both sides of the mountains. The artificial accumulating lake has a surface of 293 ha, a reception pool of 153 km² and an average annual flow in the section of the dam of 5,3 m³/s. This splendid lake was created in order to contain the flow from the Crisul Repede River and to provide water for the elecrtical company in Remeti. The dam offers an amazing view over the entire area. The Challet Pârâul Crucii (Stream of the Cross) is historically significant as it provided refuge to many Romanians from nearby villages when these localities were ceeded according to the Treaty of Vien in 1940. The walls of this Challet are now submerged in water, not far from the dam.
THE BOLOGA FORTRESS, THE WATER MILL
The still functioning Bologa Watermill can also be found in the same area. To the left of the watermill, looking towards the water-carved rocky cliff, over an acacia forest, one can spot the ruins of the Bologa Fortress.
THE MEMORIAL HOUSE "OCTAVIAN GOGA"
Close to Valea Draganului, the town of Ciucea is host to the Goga Castle, the place where the Romanian poet Octavian Goga spent the last years of his life. The Castle’s Estate is home to the Nasterea Maicii Domnului Monastery (The Monastery of the Lord’s Mother’s Birth), a place of worship bulit in wood where tourists can meditate in peace and quiet.
MOUNT VLĂDEASA, RĂCHIŢELE WATERFALL
For the active and nature loving visitors there are touristic routes leading up to Vladeasa Challet and further still to Rachitele Waterfalls and The White Stones, to the East and Valea Iadului (The Hell Valley) and Lesu Lake and further still towards the Meziad Cave and Challet to the West.
STÂNA DE VALE
Higher up the river beyond the place where the Dragan River flows into the lake there is an orchard containing the Forestry House of Ciripa. From here, a forest path towards the right leads to the resort of Stana de Vale. Lower down on the left, a road sign points the tourists towards the Moara Dracului (Mill of the Devil) Waterfall. On the other side of the lake on the Sebiselului Valley there are two other waterfalls to discover and admire: Caldărilor și Sebișel.
