Foundation Conservation Carpathia announces the official opening of the Beaver House Visitor Centre in Rucăr, Argeș County. The Centre aims to offer a unique experience to both locals and visitors, who will have the opportunity to discover the fascinating world of the beaver.
Built by Foundation Conservation Carpathia with the support of the European Commission through the LIFE+ programme and the Arcadia Foundation, the ‘Beaver House Visitor Centre aims to become an important attraction for tourists and to contribute to the sustainable development of the local community. At the same time, the centre will be a place of environmental education for children and young people in the community.
The ‘Beaver House’ is the first in a series of visitor centres that Foundation Conservation Carpathia is building around the Făgăraș Mountains. The second centre, dedicated to bison, will be inaugurated this autumn in Lerești. In this way, we are developing the visitor infrastructure of the future Făgăraș Mountains National Park and at the same time encouraging visitors to contribute to nature conservation.
“The opening of the Beaver House Visitor Centre is an important step in protecting and promoting nature in the area,” said Barbara and Christoph Promberger, Executive Directors of Foundation Conservation Carpathia, “giving locals and visitors the opportunity to learn about beavers and their habitat while supporting community development. In an increasingly environmentally conscious world, this project not only encourages sustainable practices but also promotes environmental education and community involvement in biodiversity conservation”
A sustainable and authentic construction
The Beaver House Visitor Centre is carefully designed, taking into account the traditions and architecture of mountain villages in Romania, thus becoming a reference point for ecotourism and sustainable local development. In front of the centre, visitors are greeted by a construction that reproduces the beaver’s ‘holodge’, giving them a unique perspective on this natural habitat.
The Beaver House Visitor Centre is a construction made by local craftsmen using environmentally friendly and locally sourced materials. The construction used spruce beams, doors and windows made of wood treated with environmentally friendly oils, and a roof made from traditional shingle from Rucăr, supporting the local economy. Equipped with photovoltaic panels to use green energy, the centre was designed to have minimal impact on nature.
Covering an area of 167 sq m and 59 sq m of usable space, the centre hosts an interactive exhibition that reveals the secrets of the beaver’s world, giving visitors a unique insight into this natural habitat.
Visiting hours and Location
Tuesday – Friday: 10:00 – 17:00
Saturday: 10:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 18:00
Sunday: 9:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 17:00
Monday: Closed
Admission for adults (+16) is 10 lei and 5 lei for children.
Address: E574 124, Rucăr 117630
Location on map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1gEgK2TY4PbSDkgdA
Community open days
From 17th to 21st July, we invite the local community to the Open Days of the Beaver HouseVisitor Centre. The residents of the communes that have free access during the Open Days are:
Dâmbovicioara – Dâmbovicioara, Podu Dâmboviței, and Ciocanu
Dragoslavele – Dragoslavele, Hotar Valley
Lerești – Voinești, Lerești, Pojorâta
Rucăr – Sătic, Rucăr
Stoenești – Stoenești, Lunca Gârtii, Slobozia, Piatra, Bădeni, Valea Bădenilor, Cotenești
Valea Mare Pravăț – Valea Mare, Bilcești, Colnic, Fântânea, Gura Pravăț, Nămăești, Pietroasa, Șelari
Access to the Beaver House Visitor Centre is permanently free of charge for all residents of Rucăr on the basis of identity card.
About the project
This activity is carried out within the framework of the LIFE Carpathia project ‘Creation of a wilderness area in the southern Carpathian Mountains, Romania’ LIFE18 NAT/RO/00108. The main aim of the project is the reconstruction of degraded habitats and the implementation of conservation measures that allow the restoration of natural processes and at the same time benefit the local communities in the Făgăraș Mountains area. The project is implemented by Foundation Conservation Carpathia in partnership with the Carpathia Forestry Association, Piatra Craiului Făgăraș Conservation Hunting Association, SC Carpathia Agro & Finance SRL, Conservation Capital Consulting Ltd, Argeș County Gendarmerie Inspectorate – Basarab I, and ProPark – Foundation for Protected Areas between 2019-2024, with financial support from the European Commission through the LIFE Nature programme (www.ec.europa.eu) and the Arcadia Foundation through the ELSP (Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme www.endangeredlandscapes.org). The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union.
