Discover Lupeni: Straja, mountain culture and hotels

Lupeni brings together the landscape of the Vâlcan Massif and a history of mining and culture. The Jiul de Vest flows through the town; the Vâlcan Massif lies to the south. The resort of Straja is in the northern part of the Vâlcan Mountains, at an altitude of 1,300 to 1,400 metres and about 8 kilometres from Lupeni.

Straja: ski area, gondola lift and mountain biking

The Straja ski area covers approximately 26 kilometres and is spread across 12 ski slopes. Each is equipped with a lift system and artificial snowmaking. Pârtia Straja is a single, 8.1-kilometre descent: it runs from Vârful Straja at 1,868 metres down to the gondola lift’s valley station at 750 metres. This distinguishes the overall size of the ski area from the length of this particular descent. As infrastructure details may change as facilities are expanded, it is worth checking the latest information before your trip.

The Straja gondola lift provides tourist access to the resort and runs for more than 2.5 kilometres. If you plan to use it, check the current timetable. For mountain bikers, two named routes can be distinguished by their length and profile: Traseul Lupilor is approximately 4 kilometres long and is located in the Straja resort near Lupeni. Traseul Baloo is 3.2 kilometres long and belongs to the All Mountain/Enduro discipline; its difficulty level is intermediate. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Festivals and cultural history

Nedeia Sânzienelor takes place every year on 24 June in the mountain resort of Straja near Lupeni. This traditional open-air festival is associated with the harvest, vegetation and fertility. It includes a horse-riding competition in which riders must wear authentic Romanian folk costume from their respective regions of origin. Festivalul Crailor takes place in Lupeni in December. It brings together groups of Christmas carol singers from the Jiu Valley and a large audience. If you plan to visit on a particular date, check the latest announcements. The Drumul Crucii procession has been held annually in Straja since 2000.

The buildings also reflect different eras and architectural styles. The “Sfintele Femei Mironosițe” Church in Lupeni was built between 1906 and 1908 in the Neo-Byzantine style and has a Baroque bell tower. The “Sf. Ierarh Nicolae” Church was built between 1922 and 1928; its floor plan is triconch, with semicircular apses. The Roman Catholic church on Muntele Carmel was built between 1842 and 1848 in the Classical style and contains an organ by Mátisfalvi Szocs Sámuel.

Near Peștera Belona on Straja Hill is a settlement dating from the Neolithic and Eneolithic periods. Two monuments commemorate different chapters in mining history: the Lupeni 29 monument was created by sculptor Ion Irimescu in 1968; it depicts the 1929 miners’ strike in the Jiu Valley. A memorial and funerary monument commemorates the miners who died on 27 April 1922 in a serious mining accident at Mina Aurelia. Palatul Cultural Lupeni, also known today as Palatul Cultural „Minerul”, was built by Societatea Anonimă Română „Lupeni” based on the model of the Golden Hall of the Vienna Philharmonic.

Founded in 1999, Schitul din Straja comprises a wooden church and several monks’ cells. The Tunelul sfinților ortodocși connects the wooden church of the hermitage with the resort of Straja. The 54-metre-long tunnel contains painted religious scenes and an Orthodox calendar.

Discover more destinations: Cib, Petroșani, Ilia, Hărău, Uricani, Sălaşu De Sus, Râu Bărbat, Brad

For the overview of the wider region: Hunedoara.