Location

Retezat National Park lies in the Southern Carpathians including a part of the RetezatGodeanu mountain range, between 45 15- 45 28 Northern latitude and 28 35- 23 3 Eastern longitude.

Most of Retezat National Park is located in the Hunedoara County, bordered by the Hateg Depression, the Tulisa Mountains, the Strei Valley, the Petrosani Depression, the West Jill Valley and the Rul Mare Valley (Retezat National Park Management Plan 2003). A part of the park area is located on the administrative territory of the Caras-Severin and Gorj Counties.

The park has a surface of 38.138 ha and a wilderness zone of 14.215 ha (37,27% of total area). The altitude ranges from 794 m to 2.509 m at the highest peak and main features are the beautiful landscapes with natural forests, alpine meadows, peaks, trees, mountain streams, ravines, gorges and glacial lakes. The park is rich in flora and fauna and houses more than 1.190 plant species and more than 50 mammal species including bears, wolves, lynx and chamois.

Zones

The protected area considered in 1935 was of about 100 square km. The buffer area was established by forest management plans starting with 1964, in order to ensure a better protection of the core area. The total area increased from the 10.000 ha (1935) to more than 20.000 ha in 1964 and 54.491 ha in 1990. In the present, Retezat National Park is represented by the Gemenele-Taul Negru Scientific Reserve (1.936 ha) which main objective is conservation and were scientific research with the park administration permit (public access is restricted) is the main activity. In the Scientific Reserve, administrated by the Romanian Academy, research is carried out on every aspect of wildlife. Retezat National Park has a Core Zone (19.551 ha) which main objectives are nature conservation, tourism and education. In the scientific reserve and in the core area no harvesting and no other productive activities are allowed (hunting, fishing, fruit and mushroom collecting). Local councils administrate the alpine area, but don't have wardens for the area. Here foresters' activity concerns only dwarf pine protection and wildlife. There is a Buffer Zone (18.587 ha) were people harvest sustainable timber, go for hunting and fishing (respecting annual quota) and participate in tourism. RNP also has a PAN Parks wilderness area scattered over Zone B and Zone C (10.075 ha) which main objectives are nature conservation, tourism and education, but activities regard tourism only.

Retezat National Park Zoning

Zone A
STRICTLY PROTECTED AREAS (1.936 ha)
areas for scientific research a.) Integral protection area monitored tourism,education alactivities, traditional activities (grazing)

Zone B
SPECIAL CONSERVATION AREA (CORE ZONE )
(19.551 ha)
b.) Areas of special interest from the point of view of the biodiversity

Zone C
BUFFER ZONE
(18.587 ha)
activities of administration and natural resouces are allowed

Scientific Reserves
Gemenele Scientfic Reserve

c.) Areas with tourists infrastruc ture

b.) Areas of special interest from the point of view of the biodiversity

c.) Areas with tourists infrastructure

Number of tourists Retezat National Park offers possibility for tourists to go hiking, walking, trekking, wildlife, camping, climbing, skiing, mountain biking, caving or do some bird watching. Despite being the oldest national park in Romania, Retezat National Park is a relatively new and still unknown destination (low visitor rate) competing against destinations that have high name identity (Retezat National Park STDS, 2006). Most tourists come during summer to RNP to relax in the park or do other nature related activities. During the winter the main activities are trekking and skiing. As those activities require a natural surrounding and often much luggage, most people like to stay in the park or as close by as possible. This means that people often travel straight to the park without taking the villages in consideration. Next to this comes the fact that people that are mostly interested in rural Romanian life are often foreigners; most visiting tourist in RNP (more then 75%) are Romanian by origin and already have knowledge about local culture and traditions. The foreigners are represented by European countries and mainly come from

France. In the summer of 2000, Retezat National Park had more than 8.000 visitors and in the last years the visitors rates increased up to 25.000 tourists/year.

Transport
Transportation infrastructure into National Parks and protected areas in general provides tourist the opportunity to visit and better understanding the nature within protected areas. Transportation represents a key factor into development of National Parks tourism as it is directly influencing the number of tourists into a certain area. Transportation infrastructure (roads, tracks, airstrips, boat landing, etc) often has very significant impacts on protected areas and sustainable development such as fragmentation of ecosystems that seriously affects the movements of wild animals. Individual transportation, mainly by car, seems to be the main form of transport to and from National Parks. As they are usually located in rather underdeveloped regions access by public transportation is limited. Due to relatively small numbers of potential users, and usually seasonal differences, the economic appeal for investments into the transportation sector is limited. The user- friendliness of public transportation for tourists usually travelling with outdoor equipment also faces a potential problem. It is a thin line between the necessity of improving the transportation infrastructure and protection of the wilderness. Transportation its a crucial factor for the sustainable development of protected ares

Retezat National Park acces

Because of the position of the mountain, the entrances in the Retezat National Park follow to main directions: Hateg depression and Jiu Valley.
Table: Entrances in Retezat National Park ENTRANCE POINTS WEST NORTH SOUTH

Entrance name

Gura Zlata

Gura Apei

Rausor

Carnic

Baleia

Stana de Rau

Buta

Campusel

Road acces

of

European Road E79

National Road DN 68

County Road

European Road E79

County Road

County Road

Forestry Road

European Road E79

National Road DN 66A

(category, name)

Localities

Hateg

Carnesti

Rau de Mori

Ohaba de Sub Piatra

Carnic

Hobita

Pui

Uricani

Campusel

Roads:
In Hateg depression the entrances are from Deva city by the national route 66, DN66, (Deva Simeria Hateg Pui Petrosani) and from Caransebes city by the national route, DN68 (Caransebes Hateg). In Jiu Valley the entrances are from Deva city by the national route, DN 66 (Deva Simeria Haeg Pui Petroani) and from Targul Jiu city also by the national route 66, DN 66 ( Tg. Jiu Filiai Petroani ).

Table: Access roads

Access Roads

Category

Condition

Lapusnicul Mare Valley

forestry

Rebuilt after the flood of 1999

Closed Carnic - Pietrele county

to

public

access;

partially restored, accessible only by tractor or off-road cars

Stana de Rau

forestry

Rebuilt after the flood of 1999

Buta

forestry

Public

access

only

until

Beciuri area

Jiul de Vest Valley

national

Very good

Railway:
Table: Access in Retezat National Paark from the railway station ACCES RAILWAY STATION ENTRANCE POINT IN PNR TOTAL DISTANCE OF ROAD WICH PUBLIC TRANSPORT FORESTRY

Gura Zlata

32 KM ____

unorganized from Rau de Mori or Brazi

Subcetate Gura Apei 40 KM

____ Rausor 23 KM unorganized

Ohaba de Sub Piatra Carnic 13 KM 6 KM

local entrepreneurs in touristic season

Pui

Baleia

16 KM

8 KM

unorganized

Stana de Rau

22 KM

unorganized

____ Lupeni Buta 20 KM

unorganized from Campul lui Neag

____ Campusel 35 KM

The most frequently used entrance in Retezat National Park was Carnic, 70% of visitors using this entry. This situation is acceptable because it is the most accessible entrance and it allows easy access to a route that allows a multiple number of trips a day. Less than 2% of visitors entered the Rotunda PNR, which allows us to consider this input in the middle of the park as an opportunity and a gateway for tourist experiences in nature.

Retezat region is a remote area that is hard to access. For some people remoteness adds to the excitement of the attraction but for many people ease of access is very essential. Depending upon the need of each area of the parl, infrastructural development is vital. There are not many roads that lead to the park and those that are there are in bad condition. This was concern that was expressed by local operators during the PAN Parks workshop in April 2006 (Retezat National Park STDS, 2006). Also public transportation to the park and in the area is lacking. If tourists come to Retezat National Park without own transport (car), it is difficult for them to move

around. When staying in a nearby town, it takes at least a 1,5 hour drive to Retezat National Park.

Transport inside Retezat National Park

Transportation inside National Parks is related to the trails and forestry roads. Trails are one of the most important infrastructure systems inside of protected areas because of the two components implied, the safety of the tourists and the safety of the wilderness. Finding the best solution for the trails network is one of the biggest challenges for the management of National Parks. An important factor is also the marking of the trails. In Retezat National Park exists a network of 27 trails that facilitate the access within the protected area. The trails are marked according to difficulty of the route and provide access to huts and shelters. There are two main directions that we should consider: the need of the tourists for a well developed network of trails and the safety of the ecosystems and environment. In Retezat National Park does not exist an environment problem because of the big density of the trails, contrary the management of the National Park wants to implement new trails for various activities such as climbing trails, equestrian trails, etc. All these new projects want to improve quality of the tourism and to increase the number of tourists. But all these new ideas have to be put in practice in a manner that will not affect the wilderness. Meanwhile, only 27 trails are available into Retezat National Park with various degree of difficulty, so that a large number of tourists can benefit from the wonders of wilderness. The second direction taken into consideration is the safety of the ecosystems and of the environment. In Retezat National Park, like in numerous protected areas from Romania, there is a problem with the making of the trails, more exactly, with the materials that they use for marking.

Retezat National Park has a glacial relief, where there is no vegetation but also a part with large forests. The network of trails in glacial part its marked with marks made of iron causing problems to the esthetic of the landscape. Other marks are on the rocks or on the trees.

Accommodation
Tourists expectations of their holiday accomodation does not necessarily relate to the concept of sustainability. The difficulties of usually isolated locations within National Parks need to be overcome. Issues that are faced include energy, waste, waste water, food supply.

Roofed accommodation
The accommodation possibilities are either within the parks territory or nearby to the entering points of the park. The check-in spaces are possessed by private owners or by the detour forest and have different check-in and services conditions, starting from mountain shelter regime (as Gentiana Shelter), and ending with three star check-in (Anita Pension, Iris, Rotunda Chalet). Chalets and Pensions, the great majority of them, have no continuous flux of clients. Many of the accommodation do not respect the terms of Retezat National Park or the terms of Pan Parks ( Retezat National Park is part of the network). There are some cases where

motorized vehicles enter inside the National Park to supply the huts with food, facilitating tourists transport, or for illegal deforestation (photo.). In this situation is the complex of Pietrele, which is endowed with motorized vehicle despite the fact that the huts are inside the park.

Table: Accommodation in Retezat National Park

Reception units

Location

Capacity

Shelters: Gentiana, Condor, Stevia, Buta, Salvamont Central Zone of RNP 130-150 seats

Zanoaga, Bucura and Poiana Pelegii

App. 10 hostels: Belvedere, National Park buffer zone Gura Zlata, Dumbravita, Anita, etc.

About 150 seats

-Baleia Hut -Buta Hut -Rotunda Hut -Complex of Pietrele -Complex of Carnic -Complex of Rausor The point of entry in the park

100 seats+ 65 seats+ 30 seats+ 120 seats+ 100 seats+ 100 seats

*authorized tourist cottage : Codrin , Sarmis, Dora,etc. *tourist complexes : Dorulet, Cheile Butii *local housing Adjacent areas more than 500 seats

Table : Roofed accommodation details Environmental Accommodation Capacity Construction Materials details Green practices/ unfriendly practices/ Facilities

equipment equipment 42 seats Hut with one floor, 2 rooms (24+18 seats) wood, stone, tin (external doors) solar panels _____ heating by fireplace

Gentiana Hut

Condor Shelter

Stevia Shelter

wood Buta

Salvamont Zanoaga Shelter

Poiana Shelter

Pelegii

one room construction, no electricity, no heating

wood

_____

______

______

Bucura Shelter

one room construction, no electricity, no heating

wood

_____

_____

_____ water and electricity from their own power station

Baleia Hut

68 seats

Rotunda Hut

20 seats

Hut with two floors, with rooms of 2 , 3 beds, 1 presidential suite

brick, stone, concrete,tile, wood, PVC windows with double glazing, plastic

_____

unknown

rooms with toilets, showers, wood and power station heating, restaurant

Buta Hut

20 seats

2 rooms with 6 beds,2 rooms with 4 beds, no electricity A complex with small cabins, 45 with fireplace

wood, brick

_____

_____

Complex Pietrele

of

102 seats, winter45 seats

wood, brick, stone, tin

_____

utilization of motorized vehicules for supply, inadequate toilets

permanent restaurant, electricity from their own power station

Complex Carnic

of

Complex Rausor

of

Camp - sites
Inside Retezat National Park there are several camp-sites, in places where does not exist roofed accommodation or where roofed accommodation dont handle with the number of tourists. The biggest problem encountered on camp-sites facilities from Retezat National Park is represented by the waste disposal. Waste disposal is an important issue for all camp- sites. Today, there are no recycling programs and the park management has no solution for this problem.

Other problem is represented by the lack of facilities in the camp-sites like toilets.
Table: Camping sites in Retezat National Park

Camping sites

Gura Zlata

Rotunda

Rausor

Pietrele

Buta

Campusel

Poiana Pelegii

Bucura Zanoaga

Stana de Rau

Over 50% of Retezat National Park visitors not use any of the accommodation facilities, but use their own tents. This situation has two reasons: lack of sufficient seats in huts and bad facilities offered inside roofed accommodation.

Therefore, with increasing number of tourists also it will be an increasing number of tourists in camp-sites. The problem comes with the lack of waste management and camp facilities like toilets (which are totally missing from camp-sites).