Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zărnești: a forest for rescued bears

A forest for bears that lived in cages

The AMP Libearty Bear Sanctuary lies near the town of Zărnești in Brașov County, at the edge of a forest below the Piatra Craiului massif. It was created by the Romanian animal welfare association Millions of Friends (Asociația Milioane de Prieteni, AMP). It all began with Maya, a female bear kept in a filthy cage near Bran Castle: seeing her, the association's founder promised that no bear in Romania would ever again live in such conditions. Maya did not live to see freedom, but that promise became the basis of one of Europe's largest brown bear rescue projects.

The town made 69 hectares of forest available to the association for 49 years. There are streams, pools and old trees to climb — things most of the residents had never had. According to the association, more than 130 bears have been rescued: from cages on restaurant terraces, from chains at petrol stations, from illegal farms, substandard zoos and private yards. Orphaned cubs that would not survive alone in the wild also come here. The sanctuary receives no state funding and runs on tickets, donations and international partners.

One thing matters: this is not a zoo and not an amusement park. Animals are not fed for show or called to the visitors, and the tours are educational — they show what a bear really needs and why captivity is cruel to it. More than 40,000 people visit every year.

Why go

It is a rare chance to see brown bears up close without becoming part of their suffering. The tour follows a forest path along the enclosures, and the guide tells the stories of individual animals: where they were taken from and how they learned to climb trees and swim. For families with children aged five and over, it is one of the most meaningful outings in the Brașov area, especially combined with a hike in the Zărnești Gorge.

What to see and learn

• The classic tour — about 1 hour 15 minutes and 2 km along a forest path with a guide speaking Romanian or English.
• Bears living free in the forest — bathing in the pools, resting in the shade and climbing trees.
• A private or VIP tour — a longer route with access to an observation platform, a bunker and a small teddy bear exhibition (booking required).
• Rescue stories — guides explain how Romania ended the keeping of bears in cages by restaurants.

Practical information

Where: Zărnești, Brașov County; the entrance and ticket office are on a dirt road outside the town, with free parking for visitors next to them. From Brașov it is about 30 km via Râșnov. From Ukraine the most convenient route is through the Porubne – Siret border crossing, then via Suceava, Piatra Neamț and Miercurea Ciuc to Brașov, about 430 km to the sanctuary in total.

When (as of November 2026): Tuesday to Sunday, mornings only so as not to disturb the animals; the sanctuary is always closed on Mondays. Classic tours start at 9:45 and 11:15; the schedule changes with the season.

Tickets (as of November 2026): from 95 lei for adults and from 50 lei for children; sold online on the association's website and released 10 days before the date. Places are limited, so buy in advance. Children under 5 are not admitted — bring a document proving your child's age. Photography without flash is allowed; smoking is forbidden.

Phone: +40 268 471 202.

Nearby

• The trail Zărnești – Valea Crăpăturii – Gura Râului hut towards the Piatra Craiului massif.
• Zărnești Gorge – Curmătura hut — one of the most beautiful routes in the region.
• Routes from the village of Bran to the Omu hut, for example Bran – Poiana Gaura.
• Horse riding at the Equus Silvania riding centre in the village of Șinca Nouă.

Official website: millionsoffriends.org

Photos: DimiTalen, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; Nicolas Vollmer from Munich [Allemagne], CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons; Nicolas Vollmer, Munich, Germany, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons; Flominator, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.