Nature

PAN Parks Wilderness area in Retezat is the first certified piece of wilderness in the Carpathian Mountains, a mountain range well-known in Europe for its extensive wild forests. Retezat’s wilderness presents the wildest and the best protected fragment of the Retezat mountains. It includes dense conifer forest plus treeline and alpine meadows topped by rocky peaks and ridges. Wilderness in Retezat provides homeland for all Carpathian wilderness iconic species: brown bears, the wolf, lynx and chamois. This area can satisfy the most demanding of wilderness enthusiasts: well marked trails and simple cabins provide great experience for visitors.

Flora

More than 1/3 of Romanian flora can be found in the Retezat Mountains. High meadows create a haven for rare alpine flora. In the mountain area, long, steep slopes are covered with different types of forest, especially beech, spruce and fir, with birch and rowen as pioneer species. At the sub-alpine level, slopes shaped by ice are often protected by dwarf pine. The forest line reaches 1900 m with some Spruce adapted to the harsh climate. Arolla pine (Pinus cembra) in the dwarf pine cover offer shelter and food to birds. Some areas are covered with Rhododendron kotschy, and Alnus viridis can be found. The higher peaks of the alpine level are covered in scree and stones. The rich alpine flora was the main reason for designating Retezat as a national park. Some of the species are quite rare e.g. pink (Dianthus glacialis), endemic whitlow-grass (Draba dornerii), louse wort (Pedicularis exaltata), bird’s eye primrose (Primula minima), milk-wetch (Astragalus australis), alpine fleabane (Erigeron acer) , wormwood (Artemisia campestris), black vanille orchid (Nigritella rubra). Retezat National Park is a genetic center for two important mountain plant genus: Hieracium and Poa.

Fauna

Hikers will find that they share trails with many animals, including chamois, red and roe deer, wild boar, bear, wolf, and fox, and may come across lynx tracks. Otters find good “homes” and “restaurants” in the park’s rivers. Chaffinch, song thrush, ring ouzel, red-breasted flycatcher, chiffchaff, nutcracker and the rare golden eagle, leaser spotted eagle, eagle owl, pigmy owl, crag martin, scarlet rosefinch, three toed woodpecker, horned lark are among the 120 nesting bird species of Retezat. Because of this Retezat National Park was included in the Important Bird Areas Network.
Butterflies are very abundant in Retezat, in number and species, and specialists designed two Prime Butterfly Areas in Retezat National Park.

Flagship species: golden eagle, brown bear, wolf, lynx