Caraiman Cross: the story of the Heroes' Cross and how to climb up from Busteni

If you look up at the Bucegi from the centre of Busteni, you see it at once: a huge metal cross high up on the sheer edge of the mountain. This is the Cross of the Nation's Heroes, known to everyone as the Caraiman Cross, one of the most moving monuments in Romania. Busteni, the starting point, is about 106 kilometres from Gherghita.

A short history

The cross was raised between 1926 and 1928, on the initiative of Queen Marie and King Ferdinand, in memory of the Romanian heroes who fell in the First World War. Heavy fighting took place in the Prahova Valley in 1916, and the monument was designed to be seen from afar, from the whole valley.

Building it was a real challenge for the time: the steel parts were carried up to over 2,200 metres, in mountain conditions, and the cross was assembled on the spot. The structure is almost 40 metres tall and is lit at night, so it can be seen from Busteni.

In 2014 the monument was recognised by Guinness World Records as the tallest cross on a mountain peak in the world.

How to reach the cross

There are two main options:

By cable car: from Busteni take the cable car up to Babele, then walk across the plateau on a marked trail, about an hour to the cross. This is the right choice for families and for people without mountain experience.
On foot, via Jepii Mici: a steep trail starts from Busteni, with sections fitted with cables and chains, climbing straight up the mountain wall. It is beautiful but demanding; recommended only for people in good physical shape, with mountain boots and in stable weather.

What you see from up there

The Prahova Valley from over 2,000 metres, with Busteni and Sinaia below
The Caraiman cliffs and, on clear days, the surrounding ridges
At Babele, the Sphinx and the rock formations carved by the wind, a short way from the trail

Safety tips

Mountain weather changes fast: check the forecast and set off early in the morning.
Take warm, waterproof clothes even in summer; it can be cold and very windy on the ridge.
In winter the trails can be covered in snow and ice, with avalanche risk. Do not go up without equipment and experience.
In an emergency call 112. Check the cable car schedule before you set off.

How to get there from Dracula Land

From Gherghita to Busteni it is about 106 km, around an hour and 45 minutes: the A3 to Ploiesti, then the DN1 up the Prahova Valley, through Sinaia. The cable car station is in the upper part of town and is signposted.

The Busteni – Babele cable car

The cable car leaves from the upper part of Busteni and climbs to Babele, at over 2,000 metres, in a few minutes. In high season and at weekends long queues form, especially in the morning, so it is best to arrive early. The schedule can change with the weather and maintenance work; strong wind can stop the cable car temporarily. Check before you go that it is running on the day you have chosen.

One-day itinerary

07:30 – leave Gherghita for Busteni
09:15 – cable car up to Babele
10:00 – stop at Babele and the Sphinx, the best-known rock formations in the Bucegi
10:30 – walk across the plateau to the Caraiman Cross, about an hour
12:00 – a break with a view of the Prahova Valley, then back towards Babele
14:00 – cable car down and lunch in Busteni
16:00 – optionally, Cantacuzino Castle, a few kilometres away

What to take with you

layers of clothing, a waterproof jacket and a hat, even in summer
mountain footwear with soles that do not slip on rock
water and some food; there are few places to buy supplies on the plateau
sunscreen and sunglasses: at altitude the sun burns faster
a charged phone and, ideally, a trail map downloaded for offline use

With children

The plateau trail from Babele to the cross is suitable for children who walk well, provided the weather is good. Keep them close to you around the cross, where the edge of the cliff is very near. The Jepii Mici trail is not recommended for children.

What the monument means

For many Romanians the Caraiman Cross is more than a tourist attraction. It was raised as a sign of gratitude to those who gave their lives in the First World War, in an area where the fighting of 1916 left deep scars. Standing on the edge of the cliff above the Prahova Valley, the cross has become one of the symbols of the Bucegi and a place many people climb to for a moment of quiet and reflection, not just for the view. If you get there, respect the memorial character of the place.

Where to stay

After a day in the mountains, rest in quiet accommodation in the Dracula Land area. See accommodation in and around Gherghita.