The centre blends into the architecture of Romanian mountain villages, being a focus for eco-tourism and sustainable local development. The architecture is complex and gives the visitor, from the very first moments, an insight into the culture of the place, as well as an example of the beaver’s living space. The visit begins with a stop in a beaver’s lodge, a construction that mimics the ‘house’ the beaver builds within nature. Inside is an interactive exhibition that reveals a world slightly less known.

• It was built with local craftsmen using sustainable materials. The roof is made of traditional wood shingle from Rucăr
• The centre is equipped with photovoltaic panels and uses green energy
• Natural, locally produced materials were used in the construction: spruce beams, doors and windows made locally of wood and treated with ecological oils
• The centre is located over an area of 167 square metres, with 59 square metres of usable space
• The building process supported the local economy and had minimal impact on nature

We will be delighted to welcome you to the Visitor Centre during the following intervals:

Tuesday – Friday

09:00 – 12:00

14:00 – 18:00

Saturday – Sunday

10:00 – 13:00

14:00 – 18:00

Monday

Closed

Address

Comuna Rucăr, 117630

DN73 / Șoseaua E574 nr.124

Parking is limited and the national road does not allow parking nearby. We recommend parking at Podișor Park, 1300 m away, and then taking a short walk to the centre.

The Făgăraș Mountains still possess untouched landscapes, challenging mountain trails to explore and plant species long extinct in other parts of Europe. The natural forests, which cover almost 65% of the Făgăraș Mountains, are a paradise for lynx, bears, wolves, European bison, chamois, beavers, black goats, red and roe deer, wild boars, badgers and foxes. Numerous bird species can be spotted in this area.

At the foothills of the Făgăraș Mountains, the villages are laid out like a beautifully arranged string of beads. Farmers still preserve the rhythms of nature, which guide them in their labours throughout the year. Sheep-farming is one of the oldest human activities in these places, and the tradition of transhumance is still respected by the shepherds who continue to take their sheep to the highest mountain peaks.

What you can do in this area:

• Nature observation and nature observation tours (you can hire a local guide and choose to stay in a wildlife observatory)
• Hike on the mountain trails
• Taste local food at a local gastronomic spot
• Have a cultural experience at one of the guesthouses around the Făgăraș Mountains
• Stop at the visitor centres developed by Foundation Conservation Carpathia around the Făgăraș Mountains: the Beaver House Visitor Centre, open from July 2024, the Bison House Visitor Centre, planned to be open at beginning of 2025. The Foundation aims to develop a network of visitor centres to create new attractions for tourists. In this way nature becomes an engine for local development that benefits local communities.
• You can take home products made in the area to help local development. Fruit of the Mountains (www.roadelemuntilor.ro) has brought together local producers and supports their development by selling authentic products created with great pride and responsibility.

• The beaver is a vegetarian who eats no other animals, only fast-growing softwood trees – especially poplar and willow
• It is the largest semi-aquatic mammal in Europe and the second largest rodent in the world after the capybara
• The beaver’s eyes have a third eyelid, in the form of a transparent membrane, which helps them see underwater
• You can tell a beaver’s age by its position in the water. Adult beavers only keep their head above the surface, while the rest of their body is underwater
• Beavers are generous with other smaller species, such as mice or shrews, which they allow into their home for the winter