Hohe Rinne: Hiking, winter trails and culture

Hohe Rinne (Păltiniș) offers a variety of experiences for your trip: mountain scenery, hiking trails, winter activities and historic sites. You can plan which of these will shape your stay based on the season and your interests. The trails and sights offer a range of specific ways to do so.

Mountain trails and views

Păltiniș lies in the heart of the Cindrel Mountains, surrounded by dense, fresh forests, spectacular mountain peaks and wide pastures. The circular trail via Poiana Găujoara passes through spruce and conifer forests and offers views of the Făgăraș Mountains, the city of Sibiu and the Cindrel Mountains. This route therefore combines forest sections with views of the mountains and the city.

Păltiniș offers numerous hiking trails, including one to the summit of Bătrâna. A marked trail leads from Stațiunea Păltiniș via Poiana Găujoara to Șaua Bătrâna. The trail can also be used for ski touring in winter. When choosing a tour, this trail offers both a specific hiking route and an option for a winter ski tour.

Winter activities and ski touring

Păltiniș has ski runs with low to intermediate levels of difficulty. Winter activities also include artificial snowmaking, night lighting and a snow park. The ski runs are an alternative to the marked trail towards Șaua Bătrâna, which can also be used for ski touring. This means there are two different types of winter activity to consider when planning: ski runs and a tour along the trail mentioned above.

Historic buildings and Noica

Păltiniș’s historic buildings include Casa turiștilor, dating from 1894, Casa medicilor, dating from 1895, and Sala Monaco, dating from 1898. All three are listed as historic monuments. The dates place the three buildings in chronological order and distinguish them from one another.

The church of Schitul de la Păltiniș also has a distinctive architectural feature: it is built of fir wood and roofed with shingles that imitate the style of old Transylvanian wooden churches. The materials and roof design provide two specific links to this building tradition. The grave of the philosopher Constantin Noica lies right next to the hermitage. Noica spent the last 13 years of his life in Păltiniș; his biography is therefore another cultural and historical theme of the destination, alongside its buildings.

Seasonal planning and routes

Poiana Oncești lies along the Primprejurul Păltinișului route. In spring, the meadow becomes a garden landscape of crocuses and snowdrops. The spring blossoms are a distinct seasonal highlight on this route and can be taken into account when planning the timing of your hikes.

On the Primprejurul Păltinișului route, hikers can shorten the ascent to Vf. Oncești by taking the chairlift from the chairlift station in Păltiniș. If you plan to use this option, check availability and operating conditions locally. This will help you distinguish the route option described from the conditions for using it.

TURSIB line 22 runs to Păltiniș every day. Check the timetable before travelling so you can include this connection in your daily plans.

Discover more destinations: Grossau, Slimnic, Mediasch, Cârţişoara, Avrig, Apoldu de Sus, Sadu, Dealu Frumos

For the broader travel overview: Hermannstadt.