Cindrel Natural Park

Cindrel Natural Park is a protected area in the Cindrel Mountains featuring mountain meadows, mixed forests, and glacial valleys shaped by ice ages. The park encompasses several mountain villages and contains varied forest types and open grassland habitats.

Romania's government created this protected area in 2000 to preserve the natural diversity of the Carpathian Mountains in this region. The designation responded to the need to safeguard fragile mountain ecosystems from intensive human use.

Village communities in Mărginimea Sibiului have maintained sheep farming traditions within this region, producing local dairy products that reflect local food culture. These practices shape how the landscape looks today and demonstrate long-established patterns of land use.

Information centers operate throughout the year in the villages of Sălişte, Cisnădie, and Răşinari to help orient visitors and provide local knowledge. Mountain rescue teams are stationed nearby for safety, and the main access points to trails begin from these towns.

The area contains the Devil's Plateau Peatbog and Iezerele Cindrelului Reserve, where rare bird species like the capercaillie find refuge. These specific habitats have importance for birdwatchers because such environments are not found in many other places.