Nera Gorge-Beușnița National Park: 20 kilometers of surprises in seemingly ordinary place (PHOTO, VIDEO)

The once hidden pearl of southwest Romania, located only 25 kilometers from the border with Serbia, has become a true tourist attraction. That’s why you can often meet groups of enthusiasts and mountaineers from Serbia on its paths and hear Serbian more frequently than Romanian.

This is the nature reserve Nera Gorge-Beușnița National Park, located in the Banat Mountains, on the slopes of the Carpathians.

It can be reached by driving through Bela Crkva and the Kaludjerovo-Naidas crossing. It is recommended to set off as early as possible, so as to spend as little time as possible waiting at the border.

There are two options for approaching this nature oasis – from the village of Sasca Romana and from the village of Potoc. If you opt for the former, you will arrive at a parking lot and a restaurant from where you can go on a tour over a hanging bridge, go to the most beautiful parts and go back the same way.



If you choose Potoc, you will first encounter a section of about an hour’s walk through pastures, where you will meet flocks of sheep and a strong wind, until you reach a forest. In case you are coming as part of an organized tour or have an option for somebody to drive the car from one location to another, you can have a nice round tour.

What awaits you in the national park? A footpath of slightly over 20 kilometers and an altitude difference of 200 meters upward and 193 meters downward. To put it simply, this is a path that those who are less prepared, and also children, can take. If you walk at a light pace, with shorter breaks, you will need around seven hours. Numerous surprises await you during the walk!

If you set off from the village of Sasca Romana, you will first encounter a hanging bridge, which can be an obstacle for those who fear heights. In that case, you can bring along somebody you can trust, because the bridge is stable, although you may get an impression that it’s not. Next to the bridge is a nice outdoor café, where you can refresh yourself before the trip. Just don’t forget that Romanians don’t use the euro, but the leu.



Then, after a bit of walking, you will reach a tunnel, through which you can pass on narrow paths. The view from the height you find yourself on is truly incredible! This is one of the biggest attractions of this national park.



With a lot of greenery and along the river, you will reach the Vaioaga Waterfall. Depending on how lucky you are and the time you set off on this adventure, you will either see the waterfall in its full glory and strength or only get a hint of what it can look like. But in any case, the emerald green color of this area will delight you.

Farther on, you will get to Ochiul Beiului – a lake whose beautiful color will remind you of Serbia’s Krupajsko Vrelo. An ideal place for taking photographs, especially since there is also a wooden bridge here. For many, this is the most beautiful part of the national park.



Finally, there is the Beusnita cascade. This is a string of small waterfalls, covered in moss. If you are coming from the village of Potoc, this will be the first attraction that will delight you, so give yourself time to enjoy this place as much as possible. Interestingly, however crowded it is, it’s not felt here and everyone will find their place with a view to this natural highlight.

Along the way, you will enjoy the greenery, medicinal herbs, the scent of ramsons, and you will also see many smaller waterfalls and streams. A feast for the eyes, but also the ears. If you like this type of activity, you will certainly not be disappointed, and you will return full of impressions from a seemingly ordinary place.

Nera Gorge Beușnița National Park

Sasca Romana

Potoc

Nera Gorge hanging bridge

Vaioaga Waterfall

Ochiul Beiului

Beusnita cascade