The bilingual photobook ‘Memorable encounters in the Făgăraș Mountains’ was launched alongside the opening of the exhibition of the same name at the ‘Dimitrie Gusti’ Village Museum in Bucharest.
This volume narrates a journey through the Făgăraș Mountains, beginning in the villages scattered around the massif. It captures encounters with people who preserve traditions and crafts, as well as with those who have chosen to intertwine their destiny with that of the mountains. The journey then continues along the trails of Făgăraș, through virgin forests, ridges, and valleys, offering encounters with wildlife, including species that had disappeared but have recently returned through significant conservation efforts, such as beavers and bison.
The ‘Memorable encounters in the Făgăraș Mountains’ photobook showcases the work of 25 Romanian photographers, members of ‘Forona’ – the Romanian Nature Photographers Association – who have immortalised the uniqueness of the Făgăraș Mountains in 140 stunning images. These photographs highlight the breathtaking landscapes, wildlife, and the vibrant local life of a region that could one day become a national park.
At the end of each photobook, readers will find a set of detachable postcards featuring snapshots of this partially undiscovered world, which can be shared as an invitation to explore the Făgăraș Mountains.
Printed in a limited edition of 2,000 copies by Curtea Veche Publishing, the album will be distributed free of charge as part of initiatives to promote the Făgăraș Mountains. It will also be shared with local communities, libraries, cultural institutions, and guesthouses.
This project was developed under the ‘Creating a Wilderness Area in the Southern Carpathian Mountains’, Romania initiative, with financial support from the European Commission through the LIFE Nature Programme.
Living Human Treasures in the Făgăraș Mountain Community
The people who live and work in the Făgăraș Mountains are the guardians of these protected areas. In this massif, surrounded by 28 localities deeply connected to its landscape, lies one of Europe’s last unfragmented wildernesses.
Foundation Conservation Carpathia, a Romanian environmental NGO, aims to create the largest national park of wild forests in Central Europe, where biodiversity can flourish while providing sustainable development opportunities for local communities and preserving cultural traditions.
“The photobook ‘Memorable encounters in the Făgăraș Mountains’ is a celebration of the beauty and the unique connections that define life in this region,” said Victoria Donos, Communications and Communities Director, Foundation Conservation Carpathia. “Through these images and stories, we highlight the exceptional heritage of the Făgăraș Mountains and the profound bond between people and nature. From pristine forests to vibrant communities, this treasure can be enjoyed by future generations, and a national park would ensure its preservation.”
The photobook includes inspiring stories of individuals who keep Romanian traditions alive. Among them is Angela Lungociu, a caretaker of the traditional whirlpools in Lisa and recipient of the honorary title ‘Living Human Treasure’. The stories also feature a young artisan continuing the craft of making traditional leather footwear (opinci), a librarian in Avrig who organises tea parties for children, a female rhapsodist preserving songs inherited from her parents, a mayor safeguarding ancient beech trees, and entrepreneurs developing sustainable businesses in their villages.
Photographer Vlad Dumitrescu captured portraits of the local people, while Dan Dinu, the director of the acclaimed documentary Wild Romania, curated the stunning images in the album.
Nature and wildlife in the Făgăraș Mountains: a national responsibility
“Romania still holds some of Europe’s last virgin forests, and it is our duty to protect them,” said Mihai Zotta, Conservation Director of Foundation Conservation Carpathia. “Forests are nature’s greatest engineers, with roles far beyond timber production, offering essential protective functions that sustain us in the long term,”
Wild nature is vanishing at an alarming rate worldwide, with less than 2% of Europe’s landscapes remaining untouched. The Carpathian Mountains, home to wolves, lynx, and brown bears, are one of the last strongholds of wilderness on the continent. The Făgăraș Mountains encompass 7,000 hectares of virgin forest, with over 1,100 hectares already listed in Romania’s National Catalogue of Virgin and Quasi-Virgin Forests. However, further efforts are needed to secure their survival.
After nearly 15 years of conservation initiatives, Foundation Conservation Carpathia has protected over 27,000 hectares of alpine forests and meadows in the Făgăraș, Piatra Craiului and Leaota Mountains. Once the Romanian state establishes the Făgăraș Mountains National Park, the Foundation is committed to donating its protected lands to ensure their perpetual safeguarding.
The exhibition ‘Memorable encounters in the Făgăraș Mountains’ is open to visitors at the ‘Dimitrie Gusti’ Village Museum in Bucharest until 1st November. Admission is free.
