Heroes' Cross on Caraiman: a WWI memorial at 2,291 m

Remembering the battles of the Prahova Valley

The Heroes' Cross on Caraiman (Crucea Eroilor de pe Muntele Caraiman), officially the Commemorative Cross of the Romanian Heroes of the First World War, stands at 2,291 metres near Caraiman peak in the Bucegi Mountains, on the very edge of the cliff above the town of Bușteni. The 39.3-metre steel cross in the shape of a Latin cross was built in 1924–1928 to honour the memory of some 30,000 Romanian soldiers who died in the fighting in the Prahova Valley during the First World War. It is a listed historic monument of Romania, and in 2013 Guinness World Records recognised it as the tallest cross in the world standing on a mountain summit.

A legend grew up around the cross: Queen Marie supposedly dreamed of the Bucegi "sprinkled with the blood of heroes" and ordered the monument to be built. However, no documents confirm this. The researcher Paul Adrian Cristescu found an article in the Bușteni newspaper "Tricolorul" of 1 January 1922 showing that the initiative came from the local community of Bușteni. The design was by architect Ludovic Dolinschi, and the cross was built by workers of the bridge directorate of the Romanian railways together with volunteers of the "Cult of Heroes" society. Researchers found that the metal structure was made from recycled scrap iron at the Reșița works. Materials were carried to over 2,000 metres by hand and with pack animals.

Why go

The cross can be seen from all over the Prahova Valley — from Bușteni, from the terrace of Cantacuzino Castle, from the road to Brașov — but the real impression comes at the top. The platform at the foot of the cross hangs over the abyss: below are Bușteni and the Prahova Valley, opposite are the Baiului Mountains, and nearby the walls of Coștila and the Bucegi cliffs. It is a place of remembrance and at the same time one of the best-known mountain viewpoints in the Romanian Carpathians.

What to see

• The cross itself — an openwork steel structure 39.3 m tall on a stone pedestal with a memorial inscription.
• The panorama from the cliff edge: Bușteni, the Prahova Valley and the Baiului Mountains beyond.
• The Bucegi Plateau path from the Babele cable car: alpine meadows and the Babele and Sphinx rocks near the upper station.
• Caraiman peak (2,384 m) — half an hour's walk from the cross.
• The view of the cross from below — from Bușteni and the terrace of Cantacuzino Castle, especially in the evening.

Practical information

The cross stands in Bucegi Natural Park above the town of Bușteni (Prahova County), which lies on the DN1 road between Sinaia and Brașov, about 40 km from Brașov; from the Porubne — Siret border crossing via Brașov it is about 425 km. The easiest way up is the Bușteni — Babele cable car, then about 1–1.5 hours on foot across the plateau. The alternative for fit hikers is the steep route from Bușteni up the Jepii Mici valley, with steel cables on difficult sections, 3.5–4 hours of ascent. The monument is accessible at any time and free of charge; check the cable car timetable and prices before you go. Weather above 2,000 metres changes quickly: bring warm clothes, a rain jacket and water, and avoid the route in thunderstorms and fog. In winter the path from Babele to the cross is dangerous without technical equipment. Mountain rescue Salvamont: 0SALVAMONT (+40 725 826 668), general emergency number 112. Check before you go.

Nearby

• Caraiman peak and the Bucegi Plateau.
• Omu — the highest summit of the Bucegi.
• Urlătoarea Waterfall below Bușteni.
• Cantacuzino Castle — the palace in Bușteni with a view of the cross.

Photos: Dary22, CC BY-SA 3.0 ro, Wikimedia Commons; Al at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Amorphisman, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Dragoș Asaftei, CC BY-SA 3.0 ro, Wikimedia Commons; Papa3, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Lau27, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.