Valea Sâmbetei Chalet – Hiking Gateway to Moldoveanu Peak

Hidden in the wild beauty of the Făgăraș Mountains, Valea Sâmbetei Chalet (Cabana Valea Sâmbetei) has been a key stop for hikers since 1927. Located at 1,401 m altitude, the chalet is the main access point to Moldoveanu Peak (2,544 m), the highest mountain in Romania.

The Old chalet

🥾 Hiking to the chalet

• Starting point: Brâncoveanu Monastery, Sâmbăta de Sus
• Marking: red triangle
• Duration: 2.5–3 hours (moderate hike)
• Highlights: forests, waterfalls, Father Arsenie Boca’s spring, and stunning alpine views.

From the chalet you can continue towards:

• Fereastra Mare a Sâmbetei (2,200 m)
• Moldoveanu Peak (2,544 m)
• Long ridge hikes towards Viștea Mare or Podragu.

🏡 The chalet today

• The old building, dating back to 1927, has been demolished in 2024 due to poor condition.
• A new, modern mountain hut is under construction and is expected to reopen in the coming years (earliest estimate: summer 2026).
• In the meantime, hikers still use the area as a stop on the way to the main ridge of the Făgăraș Mountains.

🚧 Access road controversy

A new forest road has been built to support reconstruction, which has raised debates among environmentalists. Authorities say the road is temporary and that access will remain mainly pedestrian after the works are completed.

👉 Read the full article in Romanian here: Cabana Valea Sâmbetei – Trecut, prezent și viitor