Runcu: Gorges, Trails and Culture

The Cheile Sohodolului lie in the northern part of the village of Runcu. Access is via the DN67D; the road through the gorges can be travelled by car, bicycle or on foot. This means there are three ways to travel along this section. When planning, it is worth distinguishing this road route from the individual trails and access information for other destinations: a marked trail, a footbridge followed by a trail, and a route without a trail each have different conditions.

Gorge Landscape, Plant Life and Climbing

The Valea Sohodolului is considered a floristic reserve, home to 345 species of vascular plants from 71 families. This botanical aspect complements the views of the gorges. One striking limestone formation is Inelul Doamnei, shaped by the wind and by changes to the relief over thousands of years. The Cheile Sohodolului also have numerous dedicated climbing routes. Plant life, geological formations and climbing offer different ways to explore Runcu; none requires all the destinations to be on the same route.

Trails and Different Access Routes

A marked trail leads to Inelul Doamnei; at a leisurely walking pace, it takes about an hour. The limestone formation and approximate walking time provide a clear framework for planning your visit. Weather and equipment remain important considerations when walking a trail. The time given is explicitly approximate and refers to a leisurely walking pace.

Izbucul Jalesului can be reached via the road of the same name, a small wooden footbridge over the Jaleș, and a trail beyond it. Access here therefore consists of several consecutive sections. The situation is different at the Toaia Dracilor waterfall: from the Cheile Sohodolului, access is through the Cheile Gropului cu Apa canyon. There is no trail there; it is preferable to continue along the streambed with a guide. This restriction is important for planning and clearly distinguishes this route from a marked trail.

There is also a specific access restriction for caves: the caves in the Cheile Sohodolului and on Muntele Pleșa are not open to the general public. They can be visited only with knowledgeable members of caving clubs. Peștera Popii lies at the entrance to the Cheile Sohodolului and contains black anthropomorphic rock paintings. The cave access restriction should be kept in mind; the description of the rock paintings does not mean that a visit is generally open to the public.

Culture and Historical Traces

The Maria Apostol Memorial House is in the centre of Runcu. It displays personal belongings of the folk singer, traditional objects from the Gorj region and her “Floarea din grădină” trophy. The ruins of a medieval structure dating from the 15th and 16th centuries are also located in the town centre. These places bring together different aspects of the area’s history: a collection of regional and personal objects, and medieval architectural remains.

Another historical reference is the archaeological settlement of La Cruce. It is attributed both to the Bronze Age Coțofeni culture and to the Geto-Dacian period of the 3rd to 2nd centuries BC. Runcu therefore has traces from several eras alongside its natural and hiking destinations. When weighing up your travel interests, you can distinguish between gorges and geological formations, trails with different access information, and cultural or archaeological subjects.

Discover more destinations: Săcelu, Aninişu din Deal, Aninoasa, Dobriţa, Baia De Fier, Țicleni, Tismana, Arcani

For the broader travel overview: Gorj.