Ialomita Cave (Ialomicioara): the legend, the monastery and how to get there

In the heart of the Bucegi mountains, where the Ialomita river rises, a deep cave opens beneath a tall limestone wall. Right at its mouth stands a small monastery, pressed against the rock. Ialomita Cave, known in the old days as Ialomicioara, is one of the most mysterious places in the Bucegi and lies about 127 kilometres from Gherghita.

A short history and legends

The cave has been known for hundreds of years. Monks settled here early on, and the hermitage at the entrance has a tradition several centuries old. It has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, most recently after a fire.

Many legends surround the cave. One of the best known says that Zalmoxis, the god of the Dacians, withdrew here; another, that rulers' treasures were hidden in the cave. The cave has also interested scientists: in the 20th century it was studied by speleologists, and remains of the cave bear, a species long extinct, were found inside.

What you can visit

The developed galleries of the cave, with walkways and lighting, over a length of several hundred metres
Halls with picturesque names linked to local legends, and limestone formations
Ialomita Cave Monastery, with its church built under the rock
The Ialomita Valley and the nearby Ursilor Gorge, good for short walks

It is cool and damp in the cave all year round; take a jacket and shoes that do not slip.

How to get there from Dracula Land

The distance from Gherghita to the cave is about 127 km, around 2 hours and 15 minutes to the car park in the area, depending on the route and the state of the road.

By car: the A3 to Ploiesti and the DN1 towards Sinaia, then the road that climbs to the Bucegi plateau and descends into the Ialomita Valley, to the Padina and Pestera area. Mountain roads can be closed in winter or after bad weather; check them before you go.
By cable car: from Busteni go up to Babele, and from there another cable car goes down to the Pestera area. Check the schedule of both before you set off.

Practical tips

Combine the visit with a walk along the Ialomita Valley or with Babele and the Sphinx, if you come up by cable car.
Modest dress is expected at the monastery.
In winter, access by car can be difficult or impossible; ask the local authorities or the Salvamont mountain rescue service.

What a visit to the cave is like

You go in through the wide mouth of the cave, right next to the monastery. Inside, a route with walkways and stairs takes you through galleries and halls whose names recall the local legends. In places water flows or drips from the ceiling, and the limestone formations take shapes that every visitor interprets in their own way. A visit usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes.

The air in the cave is cold and damp in every season. Even if it is warm outside, take a light jacket and closed shoes with good soles: the walkways can be slippery.

The Ialomita Valley and Ursilor Gorge

The area around the cave is one of the most beautiful in the Bucegi. The Ialomita Valley stretches between meadows and spruce forests, and Ursilor Gorge, a short way off, is a narrow canyon cut by water in the limestone. You can take a short walk along the valley road or continue on marked trails to other parts of the massif. In the warm season you often come across sheepfolds and flocks of sheep on the plateau and in the valley.

One-day itinerary

07:30 – leave Gherghita
10:00 – arrive in the Pestera area, visit the monastery
10:30 – visit Ialomita Cave
11:30 – walk along the Ialomita Valley towards Ursilor Gorge
13:30 – lunch at one of the huts or guesthouses in the area
15:00 – drive back towards Sinaia and Gherghita

With children

The cave is an adventure for children, and the developed route is relatively short. Hold their hands on the walkways and stairs, where the surface can be wet. For little ones, a small torch and warm clothes make the visit more pleasant.

The monastery at the cave entrance

Ialomita Cave Monastery is one of the most unusual places of worship in Romania: the church is built right under the limestone wall, at the mouth of the cave, and the rock shelters it like a natural roof. Over time the hermitage has been destroyed and rebuilt, but it has remained a place of pilgrimage for many believers. Visitors are expected to dress modestly and keep quiet, especially during services. For many, the combination of cave, monastery and surrounding mountains makes this one of the most peaceful places in the Bucegi.

Where to stay

Ialomita Cave is a full-day trip. In the evening, return to quiet accommodation in the Dracula Land area: see accommodation in and around Gherghita.