Hermannstadt Mountain Horses: horse rides below the Făgăraș

Horses in the Avrig Valley below the Făgăraș

Hermannstadt Mountain Horses (Hermannstadt is the old German name of Sibiu) is a riding stable in the Avrig Valley (Valea Avrigului), about 7 km from the town of Avrig in Sibiu County. The valley climbs straight up to the northern slopes of the Făgăraș ridge, so the rides here lead through meadows, forests and neighbouring villages with views of Romania’s highest mountains.

The owners say that in 2000 they turned a hobby into a profession. Since then they have combined leisure riding, trail rides and camps with show jumping: the team has competed since 2010. Three generations of horses have been born and raised on the farm, and stallions from Germany are used for breeding. The instructors are riders and trainers Bogdan Matieș, who has ridden since childhood and competes in national and international show-jumping events, and Sophia Rast, who grew up with horses in Germany. Lessons are supervised by a licensed instructor.

The leisure horses have their own names and characters — Savu, Dora, Indianca and others are lovingly described on the website by the children of the club team. This is a small family yard rather than a conveyor-belt attraction, and that is exactly why people come back.

Why go

To see Transylvania from the saddle. There are options both for people who have never sat on a horse and for experienced riders. The shortest ride lasts an hour, the longest take several days, with nights in tents, a campfire and goulash from the kettle. Children can join a day camp or a multi-day camp where they learn horse care through games. The official Sibiu County tourism portal also mentions pony rides for children and carriage rides at the foot of the Făgăraș.

What to try

• The “Brândușa” ride — about 5 km, roughly an hour at walk and trot around the stables; suitable for children and beginners, gallop on request.
• The “Clay Castle” ride — about 15 km with a 20-minute stop at the Clay Castle (Castelul de Lut) in the Fairy Valley (Valea Zânelor) for coffee or pancakes; 4 hours for beginners, 3 hours for advanced riders.
• A day in the saddle — about 30 km through meadows, forests and villages around Sibiu, with a hot lunch.
• Multi-day trails — “Happy Kids” for 2 days (about 20 km a day), “Horse Experience” for 3 days along the Olt (about 30 km a day), “Transilvania” for 5 days; nights in tents, three meals a day.
• Riding lessons and camps for children and adults, plus photo sessions with the horses.

Practical information

Address: Avrig Valley (Valea Avrigului), at the Brândușa guesthouse, Avrig, Sibiu County — about 7 km up the valley from the town of Avrig.

Getting there: from Sibiu to Avrig about 25 km on the DN1 (E68) towards Făgăraș, then up the Avrig Valley. From Ukraine a convenient route is via the Solotvyno – Sighetu Marmației border crossing, then via Cluj-Napoca to Sibiu — about 400 km in total.

Prices on the website (the day-tours page was updated in June 2025): one-hour ride 100 lei, Clay Castle ride 300 lei, a day in the saddle with lunch 450 lei, discount for groups of more than 6; photo session 100 lei per horse (about an hour). Prices may change — check when booking.

Booking: by prior arrangement only, phone +40 749 479 686 or +40 742 611 862, e-mail [email protected]. Bring long trousers, boots or closed shoes and clothing suited to the weather; a helmet is recommended (can be hired). Own saddles are not allowed — the horses have their own tack.

Nearby

• The trail up the Avrig Valley to the Suru hut and the Făgăraș main ridge — starts nearby.
• Suru peak — about 10 km to the south.
• The Porumbacu de Jos – Cleopatra saddle trail in the neighbouring valley.
• The Clay Castle in the Fairy Valley near Porumbacu de Sus — the goal of one of the rides.

Official website: hmhorses.ro

Photos: Hermannstadt Mountain Horses, official website.