Description
The Vaser River Valley with its length og approx. 50 kms running from Viseu de Sus to the end of line near Comanu, is not comparable with any other valley of the Carpathian mountains. Covering a huge, exept for some lumbermans’ camps completly unsettled area, it is only accessible by the railway and some logging roads which punctually guide to the railway. As a part of the natural preserve “Muntii Maramuresului” steht es unter europäischem Schutz; die forstwirtschaftliche Nutzung ist zwar erlaubt; ökologische Auflagen garantieren aber, dass der Wald in seiner jetzigen Grösse erhalten bleibt.
Starting in Viseu de Sus you will see some single houses next to a rugged natural road on a distance of approx. 8 kms. At the triangular junction „Delta Novat“ the railway branches into two parts: To the right the track leads approx. 7 kms into the Novat Valley; to the left the main branch leads next to Vaser River in the direction of Comanu. Between Cozia, Bardau, Botizu and Faina, where the summertime passenger trains terminate, the railway crosses the most spectacular landscape of the whole route. Narrow, rock lined canyon parts, wildly sparkling mountain brooks, the colourful game of the mixed forests, three (!) short tunnels befor the station of Botizu. In the meantime a lowly touristic infrastructure near Faina was built up with kiosk, fireplaces and some summer lodges. Located above the station, you can visit a small church, which was built by Austrian settlers and is dedicated to the famous empress Elisabeth (“Sissi”).
Some 5 kms behind the camp of Faina, near the station Macarlau, the railway passes the remains of an abundant retaining wall. At this point the Vaser River was retained to raft the timber down to the saw mills in former times.
Each visit of the Vaser River Valley, wether as a one-day-trip with the forestry railway or more-day-trips to hike with tent and sleeping bag, is still an adventure: With dark forests, sun-flooded mountain pastures, lonely railway stations and bustling lumberman’s camps you will explore a fascinating, different world.
