Situated in the Northern part of Romania, the Bistrita-Nãsãud County has a surface of 5'355 sq.km. Its capital city is Bistrita. According to the last census, the population of this county is of 326'820 inhabitants - Romanians, Magyars and Germans.
The predominant hilly and mountainous relief determined a diversified flora. In depressions. along the rivers, in river meadows and terraces situated in the South-West of the county there are farming fields where cereal and technical crops and vegetables prevail.
The mountains host a rich fauna protected by law as: Carpathian bear, Carpathian stag, hazel hen birch tree cock, white and black stork, black eagle, which are natural monuments.
In the limestone areas of the Rodna Mountains the edelweiss grows. Other species protected by law like mountain marigold, yew tree, yellow gentian, mountain narcissus are in the Alpine zone.
The touristic potential of the Bistrita-Nãsãud County is extremely rich. The mountainous zone is visited by tourists who love excursions, rest, cure and sports. The karst zone of the Rodna Mountains includes some caves of a great speleologic value: the Fairy Cave, the Izvorul Tausoarelor Cave (the deepest one in Romania), the Jgheabul lui Zailan Cave.
Points of touristic interest are also: Sângeorz-Bai Spa with its table and medicinal waters, Piatra Fântânele zone with the "Dracula" castle-hotel, the Colibila area with its man-made lake and dam situated on the Bistrita River; the Wine Valley; the Arcalina Dendrologic Park with a lot of autochtonous and exotic plants and the Iezerele Bumbãiescului, Taul Petros, Taul Lala Mare Lakes.
There are also a lot of historic and architectural monuments in this county.
Interesting archeological finds can be visited at Ardan, Bistrila, Coldãu, Dumitrita, Saralel as well as the ruins of Ciceu and Rodna fortresses.
Among the County's architectural monuments we mention the wooden churches in Sãrata, Silivasu de Câmpie, Spermezeu, Sãlcuta, Tigãu, Zagra, the Evangelic churches in Henna, Dipsa, Bistrita as well as the "Sugalete" area from the XV-XVIth century.
In the village of Salva, located 4 km far from Nãsãud, there are two unique customs: the girls plait their hair in tens and tens of pigtails; the young men use a special kind of hats adorned with peacock feathers.
In this country a number of 35 peasant houses were licensed for the international tourism with possibilities to 5 organize special holidays for foreign tourists.
Images from Bistrita Nãsãud